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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/75644-0.txt b/75644-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6787348 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11200 @@ + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75644 *** + + + The Sacred Theory of the Earth + +[Illustration: The Sacred Theory of the Earth.] + +[Illustration: Effigies Authoris.] + + + + + The Sacred Theory of the Earth + + Containing an Account of the + + Original of the Earth, + + And of all the + General Changes which it hath already + undergone, or is to undergo, till the Consummation + of all Things. + + In Two Volumes. + + The Two First Books + Concerning the DELUGE + AND + Concerning PARADISE + + The Two Last Books + Concerning the Burning of the WORLD, + AND + Concerning the New Heavens and New Earth + + With a REVIEW of the THEORY, and of its + Proofs; especially in reference to Scripture. + + The Sixth Edition. + + To which is added, + + The Author’s Defence of the WORK, from + the Exceptions of Mr. Warren, and the Examination + of Mr. Keil. + + AND + + An ODE to the Author by Mr. _Addison_. + + LONDON: Printed for J. HOOKE, at the _Flower-de-Luce_ + against St. _Dunstan’s-Church_ in _Fleet-street_. MDCCXXVI. + + + + +Ad Insignissimum Virum + +D. THO. BURNETTUM, + +_Sacræ Theoriæ Telluris Autorem_. + + Non usitatum carminis alitem, + BURNETTE, poscis, non humiles modos: + Vulgare plectrum, languidæque + Respuis officium camœnæ. + Tu mixta rerum semina conscius, + Molémque cernis dissociabilem, + Terrámque concretam, & latentem + Oceanum gremio capaci: + Dum veritatem quærere pertinax + Ignota pandis, sollicitus parùm + Utcunque stet commune vulgi + Arbitrium & popularis error. + Auditur ingens continuò fragor, + Illapsa tellus lubrica deserit + Fundamina, & compage fractà + Suppositas gravis urget undas. + Impulsus erumpit medius liquor, + Terras aquarum effusa licentia + Claudit vicissim: has inter orbis + Reliquiæ fluitant prioris. + Nunc & recluso carcere lucidam + Balæna spectat solis imaginem, + Stellasque miratur natantes, + Et tremulæ simulacra lunæ. + Quæ pompa vocum non imitablis! + Qualis calescit spiritus ingenî! + Ut tollis undas! ut frementem + Diluvii reprimis tumultum! + Quis tam valenti pectore ferreus + Ut non tremiscens & timido pede + Incedat, orbis dum dolosi + Detegis instabiles ruinas? + Quin hæc cadentûm fragmina montium + Natura vultum sumere simplicem + Coget resingens, in priorem + Mox iterum reditura formam. + Nimbis rubentem sulphureis Jovem + Cernas; ut udis sævit atrox Hyems + Incendiis, commune mundo + Et populis meditata Bustum! + Nudus liquentes plorat Athos nives, + Et mox liquescens ipse adamantinum + Fundit cacumen, dum per imas + Saxa fluunt resoluta valles. + Jamque alta cœli mœnia corruunt, + Et vestra tandem pagina (proh nefas!) + BURNETTE, vestra augebit ignes, + Heu socio peritura mundo. + Mox æqua tellus, mox subitus viror + Ubique rident: En teretem Globum! + En læta vernantis Favonî + Flamina, perpetuósque flores! + O pectus ingens! O animum gravem, + Mundi capacem! si bonus auguror, + Te, nostra quo tellus superbit, + Accipiet renovata civem. + +_Jo. Addison, è Coll. Magd. Oxon. 1699._ + + + + + AN ODE + + To the LEARNED + + Dr. _Thomas Burnet_, + + AUTHOR of _The Sacred Theory of + the EARTH_. + +I. + + _No common Height the Muse must soar, + That wou’d thy Fame in Numbers try; + Nor dare in humble Verse adore, + But rise with Thee above the Sky: + You ask a bold and lofty Strain, + And what we meanly sing, disdain._ + +II. + + _You Nature’s early Birth explore, + Her disunited Frame disclose, + From what mix’d Cause, and jarring Power, + The Infant Earth to Being rose: + How, in her circling Bosom sleep + Th’ imprisoned Seas, and bounded Deep._ + +III. + + _Resolv’d great hidden Truths to trace, + Each learned Fable you despise; + And, pleas’d, enjoy the fam’d Disgrace, + To think, and reason singly wise: + Each Tale reject by Time allow’d, + And nobly leave the erring Crowd._ + +IV. + + _Hark! from her weak Foundations tore, + The bursting Earth asunder flies, + And, prop’d by yielding Seas no more, + The dreadful Crack alarms the Skies: + Whose Arches rent, their Weight forego, + And plunge in opening Gulphs below._ + +V. + + _Now rushing from their watry Bed, + The driving Waves disdain a Shore; + And with resistless Force o’erspread + That Orb, which check’d their Rage before: + While scatter’d o’re the foamy Tide, + All Nature’s floating Ruins ride._ + +VI. + + _New Heavens disclos’d, the silver Train + The SUN beneath their Waves admire; + And gliding thro’ the enlight’ned Main, + Gaze at each Star’s diminish’d Fire, + Well pleas’d, the MOON’s bright Orb survey, + Trembling along their azure Play._ + +VII. + + _How strong each Line, each Thought how great, + With what an Energy you rise! + How shines each Fancy? with what Heat + Does every glowing Page surprize? + While spouting Oceans upward flow, + Or sink again to Caves below._ + +VIII. + + _As Nature’s Doom you thus impart, + The moving Scene we scarce endure; + But, shrinking, ask our anxious Heart, + If on our Earth we tread secure? + Whose Fate, unmov’d, as you persue, + We start and tremble but to view_. + +IX. + + _Yet these Remains we now behold, + Which tow’ring once in Hills arose; + Shall from a new and fairer Mould + A new and fairer Earth compose: + Which to her Fate shall owe her Bloom, + And rise more lovely from her Tomb._ + +X. + + _Yet see This beauteous Fabrick end, + This second Pride of Fate expire; + While gushing from the Clouds descend + The burning Storm, the liquid Fire; + Where Worlds and Men consuming lie, + And in one bright Confusion die._ + +XI. + + _Their naked Tops the Hills admire, + No longer white with fleecy Dew; + And as they moan the spreading Fire, + Add to the Flames dissolving too; + While Rocks from melting Mountains flow, + And roll in Streams thro’ Vales below._ + +XII. + + _And now the kindling Orbs on high + All Nature’s mournful End proclaim; + When thy great WORK, (Alas!) must die, + And feed the rich victorious Flame: + Give Vigour to the wasting fire, + And with the World TOO SOON expire._ + +XIII. + + _Once more her Bloom the Earth renews, + Smooth’d into Green, eternal Vales; + Her Glebe still moist with fragrant Dews, + Her Air still rich with balmy Gales: + No Change her flow’ry Seasons breed, + But Springs retire, and Springs succeed._ + +XIV. + + _Oh say, Thou Great, Thou sacred Name, + What Scenes Thy thoughtful Breast employ, + Capacious as that mighty Frame + You raise with Ease, with Ease destroy? + Each World shall boast thy Fame; and YOU, + Who charm’d the OLD, should grace the NEW._ + + + + + TO THE + KING’s + MOST + Excellent Majesty. + +_SIR_, + +New-found Lands and Countries accrue to the Prince whose Subject makes +the first Discovery; and having retriev’d a World that had been lost for +some thousands of Years, out of the Memory of Man, and the Records of +Time, I thought it my Duty to lay it at your Majesty’s Feet. ’Twill not +enlarge your Dominions, ’tis past and gone; nor dare I say it will +enlarge your Thoughts; but I hope it may gratify your Princely Curiosity +to read the Description of it, and see the Fate that attended it. + +We have still the broken Materials of that first World, and walk upon +its Ruins; while it stood, there was the Seat of _Paradise_, and the +Scenes of the _Golden Age_; when it fell, it made the Deluge; and this +unshapen Earth we now inhabit, is the Form it was found in when the +Waters had retir’d, and the dry Land appear’d. These things, Sir, I +propose and presume to prove in the following Treatise, which I +willingly submit to your Majesty’s Judgment and Censure; being very well +satisfied, that if I had sought a Patron in all the List of Kings, your +Contemporaries, or in the Roll of your Nobles of either Order, I could +not have found a more competent Judge in a Speculation of this Nature. +Your Majesty’s Sagacity, and happy Genius for natural History, for +Observations and Remarks upon the Earth, the Heavens, and the Sea, is a +better Preparation for Inquiries of this kind, than all the dead +Learning of the Schools. + +SIR, This Theory, in the full Extent of it, is to reach to the last +Period of the Earth, and the End of all Things; but this first Volume +takes in only so much as is already past, from the Origin of the Earth, +to this present Time and State of Nature. To describe in like manner the +Changes and Revolutions of Nature that are to come, and see thorough all +succeeding Ages, will require a steady and attentive Eye, and a Retreat +from the Noise of the World; especially so to connect the Parts, and +present them all under one View, that we may see, as in a Mirror, the +several Faces of Nature, from first to last, throughout all the Circle +of Successions. + +YOUR Majesty having been pleas’d to give Encouragement to this +Translation, I humbly present it to your gracious Acceptance. And ’tis +our Interest, as well as Duty, in Disquisitions of this Nature, to +address our selves to your Majesty, as the Defender of _Philosophick +Liberties_, against those that would usurp upon the fundamental +Privilege and Birthright of Mankind, _The free Use of Reason_. Your +Majesty hath always appear’d the Royal Patron of Learning and the +Sciences; and ’tis suitable to the Greatness of a Princely Spirit to +favour and promote whatsoever tends to the Enlargement of human +Knowledge, and the Improvement of human Nature. To be Good and Gracious, +and a Lover of Knowledge, are, methinks, two of the most amiable Things +in this World: And that your Majesty may always bear that Character in +present and future Ages; and after a long and prosperous Reign enjoy a +blessed Immortality, is the constant Prayer of + + _Your MAJESTY’s + Most Humble and + Most Obedient Subject_, + +THOMAS BURNET. + + + + + PREFACE TO THE READER. + + +Having given an Account of this whole Work in the first Chapter, and of +the Method of either Book, whereof this Volume consists, in their proper +Places, there remains not much to be said here to the Reader. This +Theory of the Earth may be called _Sacred_, because it is not the common +Physiology of the Earth, or of the Bodies that compose it, but respects +only the great Turns of Fate, and the Revolutions of our natural World; +such as are taken notice of in the Sacred Writings, and are truly the +Hinges upon which the Providence of this Earth moves; or whereby it +opens and shuts the several successive Scenes whereof it is made up. +This _English_ Edition is the same in Substance with the _Latin_, +though, I confess, ’tis not so properly a Translation, as a new +Composition upon the same Ground, there being several additional +Chapters in it, and several new-moulded. + +As every Science requires a peculiar Genius, so likewise there is a +Genius peculiarly improper for every one: And as to Philosophy, which is +the Contemplation of the Works of Nature, and the Providence that +governs them, there is no Temper or Genius, in my Mind, so improper for +it, as that which we call a _mean_ and _narrow Spirit_; and which the +_Greeks_ call _Littleness of Soul_. This is a Defect in the first Make +of some Mens Minds, which can scarce ever be corrected afterwards, +either by Learning or Age. And as Souls that are made little and +incapacious cannot enlarge their Thoughts to take in any great Compass +of Times or Things; so what is beyond their Compass, or above their +Reach, they are apt to look upon as fantastical, or at least would +willingly have it pass for such in the World. Now as there is nothing so +great, so large, so immense, as the Works of Nature, and the Methods of +Providence, Men of this Complexion must needs be very unfit for the +Contemplation of them. Who would set a purblind Man at the Top of the +Mast to discover Land? Or upon an high Tower to draw a Landskip of the +Country round about? For the same Reason, short-sighted Minds are unfit +to make Philosophers, whose proper Business it is to discover and +describe in comprehensive Theories the _Phænomena_ of the World, and the +Causes of them. + +This Original Disease of the Mind is seldom cur’d by Learning, which +cures many others; like a Fault in the first _Stamina_ of the Body, it +cannot easily be rectified afterwards. ’Tis a great Mistake to think +that every sort of Learning makes a Man a competent Judge of Natural +Speculations: We see unhappy Examples to the contrary amongst the +Christian Fathers, and particularly in St. _Austin_, who was +unquestionably a Man of Parts and Learning; but interposing in a +Controversy where his Talent did not lie, shew’d his Zeal against the +_Antipodes_ to very ill purpose, though he drew his Reasons partly from +Scripture. And if within a few Years, or in the next Generation, it +should prove as certain and demonstrable that the _Earth is mov’d_, as +it is now, that there are _Antipodes_; those that have been zealous +against it, and engag’d the Scripture in the Controversy, would have the +same Reason to repent of their Forwardness, that St. _Austin_ would have +now, if he was alive. ’Tis a dangerous thing to engage the Authority of +Scripture in Disputes about the Natural World, in Opposition to Reason; +lest Time, which brings all Things to Light, should discover that to be +evidently false which we had made Scripture to assert: And I remember +St. _Austin_, in his Exposition upon _Genesis_, hath laid down a Rule to +this very purpose, though he had the Unhappiness, it seems, not to +follow it always himself. The Reason also, which he gives there for his +Rule, is very good and substantial: For, saith he[1], _if the +Unbelievers or Philosophers shall certainly know us to be mistaken, and +to err in those things that concern the Natural World, and see that we +alledge our (Sacred) Books for such vain Opinions, how shall they +believe those same Books when they tell them of the RESURRECTION of the +Dead, and the World to come, if they find them to be fallaciously writ +in such things as lie within their certain Knowledge?_ + +We are not to suppose that any Truth concerning the Natural World can be +an Enemy to Religion; for Truth cannot be an Enemy to Truth, God is not +divided against himself; and therefore we ought not upon that Account to +condemn or censure what we have not examin’d or cannot disprove; as +those, that are of this narrow Spirit we are speaking of, are very apt +to do. Let every thing be try’d and examin’d in the first Place, whether +it be _True_ or _False_; and if it be found false, ’tis then to be +consider’d whether it be such a Falsity as is prejudicial to Religion or +no. But for every new Theory that is propos’d, to be alarm’d, as if all +Religion was falling about our Ears, is to make the World suspect that +we are very ill assur’d of the Foundation it stands upon. Besides, do +not all Men complain, even these as well as others, of the great +ignorance of Mankind? how little we know, and how much is still unknown? +and can we ever know more, unless something new be discover’d? It cannot +be old when it comes first to light, when first invented, and first +propos’d. If a Prince should complain of the Poorness of his Exchequer, +and the Scarcity of Money in his Kingdom, would he be angry with his +Merchants, if they brought him home a _Cargo_ of good Bullion, or a Mass +of Gold out of a foreign Country? and give this Reason only for it, He +would have no _new Silver_; neither should any be current in his +Dominions but what had his own Stamp and Image upon it: How should this +Prince or his People grow rich? To complain of Want, and yet refuse all +offers of a Supply, looks very sullen, or very fantastical. + + * * * * * + +I might mention also upon this occasion another Genius and Disposition +in Men, which often makes them improper for Philosophical +Contemplations; not so much, it may be, from the Narrowness of their +Spirit and Understanding, as because they will not take Time to extend +them. I mean Men of Wit and Parts, but of short Thoughts and little +Meditation, and that are apt to distrust every Thing for a Fancy or +Fiction that is not the Dictate of Sense, or made out immediately to +their Senses. Men of this Humour and Character call such Theories as +these philosophick Romances, and think themselves witty in the +Expression; they allow them to be pretty Amusements of the Mind, but +without Truth or Reality. I am afraid if an Angel should write the +Theory of the Earth, they would pass the same Judgment upon it; where +there is Variety of Parts in a due Contexture, with something of +surprizing Aptness in the Harmony and Correspondency of them, this they +call a Romance; but such Romances must all Theories of Nature and of +Providence be, and must have every Part of that Character with +Advantage, if they be well represented. There is in them, as I may so +say, a _Plot_ or _Mystery_ pursued thro’ the whole Work, and certain +grand Issues or Events upon which the rest depend, or to which they are +subordinate; but these Things we do not make or contrive our selves, but +find and discover them, being made already by the great Author and +Governor of the Universe: And when they are clearly discover’d, well +digested, and well reason’d in every Part, there is, methinks, more of +Beauty in such a Theory, at least a more masculine Beauty, than in any +Poem or Romance; and that solid Truth that is at the Bottom gives a +Satisfaction to the Mind, that it can never have from any Fiction how +artificial soever it be. + +To enter no further upon this Matter, ’tis enough to observe, that when +we make Judgments and Censures upon general Presumptions and Prejudices, +they are made rather from the Temper and Model of our own Spirits, than +from Reason; and therefore, if we would neither impose upon our selves, +nor others, we must lay aside that lazy and fallacious Method of +censuring by the Lump, and must bring things close to the Test of _True_ +or _False_, to explicit Proof and Evidence; and whosoever makes such +Objections against an _Hypothesis_, hath a Right to be heard, let his +Temper and Genius be what it will. Neither do we intend that any thing +we have said here should be understood in another Sense. + +To conclude, This Theory being writ with a sincere Intention to justify +the Doctrines of the _Universal Deluge_, and of a _Paradisiacal_ State, +and protect them from the Cavils of those that are no Well-wishers to +sacred History, upon that Account it may reasonably expect fair Usage +and Acceptance with all that are well-dispos’d; and it will also be, I +think, a great Satisfaction to them to see those Pieces of most ancient +History, which have been chiefly preserv’d in Scripture, confirm’d anew, +and by another Light, that of Nature and Philosophy; and also freed from +those Misconceptions or Misrepresentations, which made them sit uneasie +upon the Spirits even of the best Men that took Time to think. _Lastly_, +In things purely speculative, as these are, and no Ingredients of our +Faith, it is free to differ from one another in our Opinions and +Sentiments; and so I remember St. _Austin_ hath observ’d upon this very +Subject of _Paradise_; wherefore as we desire to give no Offence our +selves, so neither shall we take any at the Difference of Judgment in +others; provided this Liberty be mutual, and that we all agree to study +_Peace_, _Truth_, and a _good Life_. + +Footnote 1: + + Gen. ad lit. lib. 1. c. 19. Plerumque accidit ut aliquid de Terrâ de + Cœlo, de cæteris hujus mundi elementis, _&c._ Cùm enim quenquam + Christianorum in eâ re quam optimè nôrunt, errare deprehenderint, & + vanam sententiam suam ex nostris libris asserere, quo pacto illis + libris credituri sunt de Resurrectione Mortuorum, & spe vitæ æterne + regnoque cœlorum, quando de bis rebus quas jam experiri vel + indubitatis numeris percipere potuerunt, fallaciter putaverint esse + conscriptos? + + + + + CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS. + +The FIRST BOOK. + +CHAP. I. + +_The Introduction: An Account of the whole Work, of the Extent and +general Order of it._ ... Page 1 + +CHAP. II. + +_A general Account of Noah’s Flood. A Computation what Quantity of Water +would be necessary for the making of it; That the common Opinion and +Explication of that Flood is not intelligible._ ... 10 + +CHAP. III. + +_All Evasions concerning the Flood answer’d; That there was no Creation +of Waters at the Deluge, and that it was not particular or national, but +extended throughout the whole Earth. A Prelude and Preparation to the +true Account and Explication of it. The Method of the first Book._ ... +25 + +CHAP. IV. + +_That the Earth and Mankind had an Original, and were not from Eternity; +prov’d against Aristotle. The first Proposition of our Theory laid down, +viz. That the Antediluvian Earth was of a different Form and +Construction from the present. This is prov’d from divine Authority, and +from the Nature and Form of the Chaos, out of which the Earth was made._ +... 47 + +CHAP. V. + +_The second Proposition is laid down, viz. That The Face of the Earth +before the Deluge was smooth, regular and uniform; without Mountains, +and without a Sea. The Chaos out of which the World rose is fully +examin’d, and all its Motions observ’d, and by what Steps it wrought it +self into an habitable World. Some things in Antiquity relating to the +first State of the Earth are interpreted, and some things in the sacred +Writings. The divine Art and Geometry in the Construction of the first +Earth is observ’d and celebrated._ ... 71 + +CHAP. VI. + +_The Dissolution of the first Earth: The Deluge ensuing thereupon. And +the Form of the present Earth rising from the Ruins of the first._ ... +89 + +CHAP. VII. + +_That the Explication we have given of an universal Deluge is not an +IDEA only, but an Account of what really came to pass in the Earth, and +the true Explication of Noah’s Flood. An Examination of Tehom-Rabba, or +the great Abyss, and that by it the Sea cannot be understood, nor the +subterraneous Waters as they are at present. What the true Notion and +Form of it was, collected from Moses and other sacred Writers. +Observations on Deucalion’s Deluge._ ... 103 + +CHAP. VIII. + +_The particular History of Noah’s Flood is explain’d in all the material +Parts and Circumstances of it, according to the preceding Theory. Any +seeming Difficulties remov’d, and the whole Section concluded with a +Discourse how far the Deluge may be lookt upon as the Effect fect of an +ordinary Providence, and how far of an extraordinary._ ... 129 + +CHAP. IX. + +_The second Part of this Discourse, proving the same Theory from the +Effects and the present Form of the Earth. First, by a general Scheme of +what is most remarkable in this Globe, and then by a more particular +Induction; beginning with an Account of Subterraneous Cavities and +Subterraneous Waters._ ... 146 + +CHAP. X. + +_Concerning the Channel of the Sea and the Original of it; The Causes of +its irregular Form and unequal Depths: As also of the Original of +Islands, their Situation and other Properties._ ... 172 + +CHAP. XI. + +_Concerning the Mountains of the Earth, their Greatness and irregular +Form, their Situation, Causes and Origin._ ... 188 + +CHAP. XII. + +_A short Review of what hath been already treated of, and in what +manner. All Methods, whether philosophical or theological, that have +been offer’d by others for the Explication of the Form of the Earth, are +examin’d and refuted. A Conjecture concerning the other Planets, their +Natural Form and State compar’d with ours; especially concerning Jupiter +and Saturn._ ... 206 + +The SECOND BOOK. + +CHAP. I. + +_The Introduction and Contents of the Second Book. The general State of +the Primæval Earth, and of Paradise._ ... 235 + +CHAP. II. + +_The great Change of the World since the Flood, from what it was in the +first Ages. The Earth under its present Form could not be Paradisiacal, +nor any Part of it._ ... 251 + +CHAP. III. + +_The Original Differences of the Primitive Earth from the Present or +Postdiluvian. The three Characters of Paradise, and the Golden Age, +found in the Primitive Earth. A particular Explication of each +Character._ ... 264 + +CHAP. IV. + +_A Digression concerning the Natural Causes of Longævity. That the +Machine of an Animal consists of Springs, and which are the two +principal. The Age of the Antediluvians to be computed by Solar, not +Lunar Years._ ... 277 + +CHAP. V. + +_Concerning the Waters of the Primitive Earth: What the State of the +Regions of the Air was then, and how all Waters proceeded from them. How +the Rivers arose, what was their Course, and how they ended. Several +things in sacred Writ that confirm this Hydrography of the first Earth, +especially the Postdiluvian Origin of the Rainbow._ ... 307 + +CHAP. VI. + +_A Recollection and Review of what hath been said concerning the +Primitive Earth, with a more full Survey of the State of the First +World, Natural and Civil, and the Comparison of it with the present +World._ ... 329 + +CHAP. VII. + +_Concerning the Place of Paradise; It cannot be determin’d from the +Theory only, nor from Scripture only; What the Sense of Antiquity was +concerning it, as to the Jews and Heathens, and especially as to the +Christian Fathers. That they generally plac’d it out of this Continent, +in the Southern Hemisphere._ ... 345 + +CHAP. VIII. + +_The Uses of this Theory for the Illustration of Antiquity; The Chaos of +the Ancients explain’d; The Inhabitability of the Torrid Zone; The +Change of the Poles of the World; The Doctrine of the Mundane Egg; How +America was first peopled; How Paradise within the Circle of the Moon._ +... 363 + +CHAP. IX. + +_A general Objection against this Theory, viz. That if there had been +such a Primitive Earth, as we pretend, the Fame of it would have sounded +throughout all Antiquity. The Eastern and Western Learning consider’d, +the most considerable Records of both are lost; what Footsteps remain +relating to this Subject. The Jewish and Christian Learning consider’d, +how far lost as to this Argument, and what Notes or Traditions remain. +Lastly, How far the Sacred Writings bear witness to it. The Providential +Conduct of Knowledge in the World. A Recapitulation and State of the +Theory._ ... 379 + +CHAP. X. + +_Concerning the AUTHOR of NATURE._ ... 401 + +CHAP. XI. + +Concerning NATURAL PROVIDENCE. + +_Several Incroachments upon natural Providence, or Misrepresentations of +it, and false Methods of Contemplation. A true Method propos’d, and a +true Representation of the Universe. The Mundane Idea, and the universal +System of Providence. Several subordinate Systems. That of our Earth and +sublunary World. The Course and Periods of it. How much of this is +already treated of, and what remains. Conclusion._ ... 432 + + + + + THE THEORY OF THE EARTH. + BOOK I. + Concerning the Deluge, and the Dissolution of the EARTH. + + + CHAP. I. + The INTRODUCTION. + + + _An Account of the whole Work; of the Extent and general Order of + it._ + + +Since I was first inclin’d to the Contemplation of Nature, and took +Pleasure to trace out the Causes of Effects, and the Dependance of one +thing upon another in the visible Creation, I had always, methought, a +particular Curiosity to look back into the Sources and ORIGINAL of +Things; and to view in my Mind, so far as I was able, the Beginning and +Progress of a RISING WORLD. + +AND after some Essays of this Nature, and as I thought, not +unsuccessful, I carried on my Enquiries further, to try whether this +_Rising World_, when form’d and finish’d, would continue always the +same; in the same Form, Structure, and Consistency; or what Changes it +would successively undergo, by the continued Action of the same Causes +that first produc’d it; and, lastly, what would be its final Period and +Consummation. This whole Series and Compass of Things taken together, I +call’d a COURSE OF NATURE, or, a SYSTEM OF NATURAL PROVIDENCE; and +thought there was nothing belonging to the external World more fit, or +more worthy our Study and Meditation, nor any thing that would conduce +more to discover the Ways of Divine Providence, and to shew us the +Grounds of all true Knowledge concerning Nature. And therefore, to clear +up the several Parts of this Theory, I was willing to lay aside a great +many other Speculations, and all those dry Subtilties with which the +Schools and the Books of Philosophers are usually fill’d. + +BUT when we speak of a _Rising World_, and the Contemplation of it, we +do not mean this, of the _Great Universe_; for who can describe the +Original of that vast Frame? But we speak of the _Sublunary World_, this +Earth, and its Dependencies, which rose out of a Chaos about Six +Thousand Years ago. And seeing it hath fallen to our Lot to act upon +this Stage, to have our present Home and Residence here, it seems most +reasonable, and the Place design’d by Providence, where we should first +employ our Thoughts, to understand the Works of God and Nature. We have +accordingly therefore design’d in this Work to give an Account of the +Original of the Earth, and of all the great and general Changes that it +hath already undergone, or is hence forwards to undergo, till the +Consummation of all things. For if from those Principles we have here +taken, and that Theory we have begun in these two first Books, we can +deduce with Success and Clearness the Origin of the Earth, and those +States of it that are already past; following the same Thread, and by +the Conduct of the same Theory, we will pursue its Fate and History +thro’ future Ages, and mark all the great Changes and Conversions that +attend it _while Day and Night shall last_; that is, so long as it +continues an Earth. + +By the States of the Earth that are already past, we understand chiefly +_Paradise_ and the _Deluge_; Names well known, and as little known in +their Nature. By the future States we understand the _Conflagration_, +and what new Order of Nature may follow upon that, ’till the whole +Circle of Time and Providence be compleated. As to the first and past +States of the Earth, we shall have little help from the Ancients, or +from any of the Philosophers, for the Discovery or Description of them: +We must often tread unbeaten Paths, and make a Way where we do not find +one; but it shall be always with a Light in our Hand, that we may see +our Steps, and that those that follow us may not follow us blindly. +There is no Sect of Philosophers that I know of, that ever gave an +Account of the Universal Deluge, or discover’d, from the Contemplation +of the Earth, that there had been such a Thing already in Nature. ’Tis +true, they often talk of an Alternation of _Deluges_ and +_Conflagrations_ in this Earth, but they speak of them as Things to +come; at least, they give no Proof or Argument of any that hath already +destroyed the World. As to _Paradise_, it seems to be represented to us +by the _Golden Age_; whereof the Ancients tell many Stories, sometimes +very luxuriant, and sometimes very defective: For they did not so well +understand the Difference betwixt the new-made Earth and the present, as +to see what were the just Grounds of the _Golden Age_, or of _Paradise_; +though they had many broken Notions concerning those Things, as to the +_Conflagration_ in particular. This hath always been reckon’d one +amongst the Opinions, or Dogmata of the Stoicks, _That the World was to +be destroyed by Fire_, and their Books are full of this Notion; but yet +they do not tell us the Causes of the Conflagration, nor what +Preparations there are in Nature, or will be, towards that great Change. +And we may generally observe this of the _Ancients_, that their Learning +or Philosophy consisted more in Conclusions, than in Demonstrations; +they had many Truths among them, whereof they did not know themselves +the Premises or the Proofs: Which is an Argument to me, that the +Knowledge they had, was not a Thing of their own Invention, or which +they came to by fair Reasoning and Observations upon Nature, but was +delivered to them from others by Tradition and ancient Fame, sometimes +more publick, sometimes more secret: These Conclusions they kept in +Mind, and communicated to those of their School, or Sect, or Posterity, +without knowing, for the most part, the just Grounds and Reasons of +them. + +’TIS the Sacred Writings of Scripture that are the best Monuments of +Antiquity, and to those we are chiefly beholden for the History of the +first Ages, whether Natural History or Civil. ’Tis true, the Poets, who +were the most ancient Writers among the _Greeks_, and serv’d them both +for Historians, Divines, and Philosophers, have delivered some Things +concerning the first Ages of the World, that have a fair resemblance of +Truth, and some Affinity with those Accounts that are given of the same +Things by Sacred Authors, and these may be of Use in due Time and Place; +but yet, lest any thing fabulous should be mix’d with them, as commonly +there is, we will never depend wholly upon their Credit, nor assert any +Thing upon the Authority of the Ancients which is not first prov’d by +natural Reason, or warranted by Scripture. + +IT seems to me very reasonable to believe that besides the Precepts of +Religion, which are the principal Subject and Design of the Books of +Holy Scripture, there may be providentially conserved in them the Memory +of Things and Times so remote, as could not be retrieved, either by +History, or by the Light of Nature; and yet were of great Importance to +be known, both for their own Excellency, and also to rectify the +Knowledge of Men in other Things consequential to them: Such Points may +be, _Our great Epocha_, or the Age of the Earth, The Origination of +Mankind, The First and Paradisiacal State, The Destruction of the old +World by an Universal Deluge, The Longevity of its Inhabitants, The +manner of their Preservation, and of their Peopling the second Earth; +and lastly, The Fate and Changes it is to undergo. These I always look’d +upon as the Seeds of great Knowledge, or Heads of Theories fix’d on +Purpose to give us Aim and Direction how to pursue the rest that depend +upon them. But these Heads, you see, are of a mix’d Order, and we +propose to our selves in this Work only such as belong to the natural +World, upon which I believe the Trains of Providence are generally laid; +and we must first consider, how God hath order’d Nature, and then, how +the Occonomy of the Intellectual World is adapted to it; for of these +two Parts consist the full System of Providence. In the mean Time, what +Subject can be more worthy the Thoughts of any serious Person, than to +view and consider the Rise and Fall, and all the Revolutions, not of a +Monarchy or an Empire, of the _Grecian_ or _Roman_ State, but of an +entire World? + +THE Obscurity of these Things, and their Remoteness from common +Knowledge, will be made an Argument by some, why we should not undertake +them; and by others, it may be, the very same Thing will be made an +Argument why we should. For my Part I think _There is nothing so secret +that shall not be brought to Light_, within the Compass of _our World_; +for we are not to understand that of the whole Universe, nor of all +Eternity, our Capacities do not extend so far; but whatsoever concerns +this Sublunary World in the whole Extent of its Duration, from the Chaos +to the last Period, this I believe Providence hath made us capable to +understand, and will in its due Time make it known. All I say, betwixt +the first Chaos and the last Completion of Time and all Things +temporary, this was given to the Disquisitions of Men: On either Hand is +Eternity, before the World and after, which is without our reach: But +that little spot of Ground that lies betwixt those two great Oceans, +this we are to cultivate, this we are Masters of, herein we are to +exercise our Thoughts, to understand and lay open the Treasures of the +Divine Wisdom and Goodness hid in this part of Nature and of Providence. + +AS for the Difficulty or Obscurity of an Argument, that does but add to +the Pleasure of contesting with it, when there are Hopes of Victory; and +Success does more than recompense all the Pains. For there is no sort of +Joy more grateful to the Mind of Man, than that which ariseth from the +Invention of Truth; especially when ’tis hard to come by. Every Man hath +a Delight suited to his Genius, and as there is Pleasure in the right +Exercise of any Faculty, so especially in that of Right-Reasoning; which +is still the greater, by how much the Consequences are more clear, and +the Chains of them more long: There is no Chace so pleasant, methinks, +as to drive a Thought, by good Conduct, from one end of the World to the +other; and never to lose Sight of it till it fall into Eternity, where +all things are lost, as to our Knowledge. + +THIS Theory being chiefly Philosophical, Reason is to be our first +Guide; and where that falls short, or any other just Occasion offers it +self, we may receive further Light and Confirmation from the Sacred +Writings. Both these are to be look’d upon as of Divine Original, God is +the Author of both; he that made the Scripture made also our Faculties, +and ’twere a Reflection upon the Divine Veracity for the one or the +other to be false when rightly used. We must therefore be careful and +tender of opposing these to one another, because that is, in effect, to +oppose God to himself. As for Antiquity and the Testimonies of the +Ancients, we only make general Reflections upon them, for Illustration +rather than Proof of what we propose; not thinking it proper for an +_English_ Treatise to multiply Citations out of _Greek_ or _Latin_ +Authors. + +I am very sensible it will be much our Interest, that the Reader of this +Theory should be of an ingenuous and unprejudiced Temper, neither does +it so much require Book-learning and Scholarship, as good natural Sense +to distinguish _True_ and _False_, and to discern what is well prov’d, +and what is not. It often happens that Scholastick Education, like a +Trade, does so fix a Man in a particular Way, that he is not fit to +judge of any thing that lies out of that Way; and so his Learning +becomes a Clog to his natural Parts, and makes him more indocile, and +more incapable of new Thoughts and new Improvements, than those that +have only the Talents of Nature. As Matters of Exercise had rather take +a Scholar that never learn’d before, than one that hath had a bad +Master; so generally one would rather chuse a Reader without Art, than +one ill instructed with Learning, but opinionative, and without +Judgment; yet it is not necessary they should want either, and Learning +well plac’d strengthens all the Powers of the Mind. To conclude, just +Reasoning and a generous Love of Truth, whether with or without +Erudition, is that which makes us most competent Judges what is true. +And further than this, in the Perusal and Examination of this Work, as +to the Author, as much Candor as you please; but as to the Theory, we +require nothing but Attention and Impartiality. + + + + + CHAP. II. + + + _A general Account of NOAH’s Flood; a Computation what Quantity of + Water would be necessary for the making of it; that the common + Opinion and Explication of that Flood is not intelligible._ + + +’TIS now more than five Thousand Years since our World was made, and +tho’ it would be a great Pleasure to the Mind, to recollect and view at +this Distance those first Scenes of Nature; what the Face of the Earth +was, when fresh and new, and how Things differ’d from the State we now +find them in, the Speculation is so remote, that it seems to be +hopeless, and beyond the reach of human Wit. We are almost the last +Posterity of the first Men, and fallen into the dying Age of the Worlds; +by what Footsteps, or by what Guide can we trace back our Way to those +first Ages, and the first Order of Things? And yet, methinks, it is +reasonable to believe, that Divine Providence, which sees at once +throughout all the Ages and Orders of the World, should not be willing +to keep Mankind finally and fatally ignorant of that part of Nature, and +of the Universe, which is properly their Task and Province to manage and +understand. We are the Inhabitants of the Earth, the Lords and Masters +of it; and we are endow’d with Reason and Understanding; doth it not +then properly belong to us to examine and unfold the Works of God in +this part of the Universe, which is fallen to our Lot, which is our +Heritage and Habitation? And it will be found, it may be, upon a +stricter Enquiry, that in the present Form and Constitution of the +Earth, there are certain Marks and Indications of its first State; with +which if we compare those Things that are recorded in Sacred History, +concerning the first Chaos, Paradise, and an Universal Deluge, we may +discover, by the help of those Lights, what the Earth was in its first +Original, and what Changes have since succeeded in it. + +AND tho’ we shall give a full Account of the Origin of the Earth in this +Treatise, yet that which we have propos’d particularly for the Title and +Subject of it, is to give an Account of the primæval _Paradise_, and of +the Universal _Deluge_, those being the two most important things that +are explained by the Theory we propose. And I must beg leave in treating +of these two, to change the Order, and treat first of the _Deluge_, and +then of _Paradise:_ For though the State of Paradise doth precede that +of the Flood in Sacred History, and in the Nature of the Thing, yet the +Explication of both will be more sensible and more effectual, if we +begin with the Deluge; there being more Observations and Effects, and +those better known to us that may be referr’d to this, than to the +other; and the Deluge being once truly explain’d, we shall from thence +know the Form and Quality of the Ante-diluvian Earth. Let us then +proceed to the Explication of that great and fatal Inundation, whose +History is well known; and according to _Moses_, the best of Historians, +in a few Words is this—— + +SIXTEEN Hundred and odd Years after the Earth was made, and inhabited, +it was over-flowed and destroyed in a Deluge of Water. Not a Deluge that +was National only, or over-run some particular Country or Region, as +_Judea_ or _Greece_, or any other, but it over-spread the Face of the +Whole Earth, from Pole to Pole, and from _East_ to _West_, and that in +such Excess, that the Floods over-reacht the tops of the highest +Mountains; the Rains descending after an unusual Manner, and the +Fountains of the _Great Deep_ being broke open; so as a general +Destruction and Devastation was brought upon the Earth, and all Things +in it, Mankind and other living Creatures; excepting only _Noah_ and his +Family, who by a special Providence of God was preserved in a certain +Ark, or Vessel made like a Ship, and such kinds of living Creatures as +he took in to him. After these Waters had rag’d for some time on the +Earth, they began to lessen and shrink, and the great Waves and +Fluctuations of this _Deep_ or _Abyss_ being quieted by degrees, the +Waters retir’d into their Channels and Caverns within the Earth; and the +Mountains and Fields began to appear, and the whole habitable Earth in +that Form and Shape wherein we now see it. Then the World began again, +and from that little Remnant preserv’d in the Ark, the present Race of +Mankind, and of Animals, in the known Parts of the Earth, were +propagated. Thus perish’d the Old World, and the present arose from the +Ruins and Remains of it. + +THIS is a short Story of the greatest Thing that ever yet hap’ned in the +World, the greatest Revolution and the greatest Change in Nature; and if +we come to reflect seriously upon it, we shall find it extreamly +difficult, if not impossible, to give an Account of the Waters that +compos’d this Deluge, whence they came, or whither they went. If it had +been only the Inundation of a Country, or of a Province, or of the +greatest part of a Continent, some proportionable Causes perhaps might +have been found out; but a Deluge overflowing the whole Earth, the whole +Circuit and whole Extent of it, burying all in Water, even the greatest +Mountains in any known Parts of the Universe, to find Water sufficient +for this Effect, as it is generally explained and understood, I think is +impossible. And that we may the better judge of the whole matter, let us +first compute, how much Water would be requisite for such a Deluge; or +to lay the Earth, consider’d in its present Form, and the highest +Mountains, under Water. Then let us consider whether such a Quantity of +Water can be had out of all the Stores that we know in Nature: And from +these two, we will take our Ground and Rise, and begin to reflect, +whether the World hath not been hitherto mistaken in the common Opinion +and Explication of the general Deluge. + +TO discover how much Water would be requisite to make this Deluge, we +must first suppose enough to cover the plain Surface of the Earth, the +Fields and lower Grounds; then we must heap up so much more upon this, +as will reach above the tops of the highest Mountains; so as drawing a +Circle over the tops of the highest Mountains quite round the Earth, +suppose from Pole to Pole, and another to meet it round the middle of +the Earth, all that Space, or Capacity, contain’d within these Circles, +is to be fill’d up with Water. This I confess will make a prodigious +Mass of Water, and it looks frightfully to the Imagination; ’tis huge +and great, but ’tis extravagantly so, as a great Monster: It doth not +look like the Work of God or Nature: However let’s compute a little more +particularly how much this will amount to, or how many Oceans of Water +would be necessary to compose this great Ocean rowling in the Air, +without Bounds or Banks. + +IF all the Mountains were pared off the Earth, and so the Surface of it +lay even, or in an equal Convexity every where, with the Surface of the +Sea, from this Surface of the Sea, let us suppose that the height of the +Mountains may be a Mile and a half; or that we may not seem at all to +favour our own Opinion or Calculation, let us take a Mile only for the +perpendicular height of the Mountains. Let us on the other side suppose +the Sea to cover half the Earth, as ’tis generally believ’d to do; and +the common Depth of it, taking one Place with another, to be about a +quarter of a Mile, or 250 Paces. I say, taking one Place with another, +for though the middle Channel of the great Ocean be far deeper, we may +observe, that there is commonly a Descent or Declivity from the Shore to +the middle Part of the Channel, so that one comes by Degrees into the +Depth of it; and those shory Parts are generally but some Fathoms deep. +Besides, in Arms of the Sea, in Straits and among Islands, there is +commonly no great Depth, and some Places are plain Shallows. So as upon +a moderate Computation, one Place compar’d with another, we may take a +quarter of a Mile, or about an hundred Fathoms, for the common Measure +of the Depth of the Sea, if we were cast into a Channel of an equal +Depth every where. This being suppos’d, there would need four Oceans to +lie upon this Ocean, to raise it up to the top of the Mountains, or so +high as the Waters of the Deluge rise; then four Oceans more to lie upon +the Land, that the Water there might swell to the same height; which +together make eight Oceans for the Proportion of the Water requir’d in +the Deluge. + +’TIS true, there would not be altogether so much Water required for the +Land as for the Sea, to raise them to an equal height; because Mountains +and Hills would fill up part of that Space upon the Land, and so make +less Water requisite. But to compensate this, and confirm our +Computation, we must consider in the first Place, that we have taken a +much less height of the Mountains than is requisite, if we respect the +Mediterraneous Mountains, or those that are at a great distance from the +Sea; for their Height above the Surface of the Sea, computing the +Declivity of the Land all along from the Mountains to the Sea-side (and +that there is such a Declivity is manifest from the Course and Descent +of the Rivers) is far greater than the Proportion we have taken: The +height of Mountains is usually taken from the Foot of them, or from the +next Plain, which if it be far from the Sea, we may reasonably allow as +much for the Declension of the Land from that place to the Sea, as for +the immediate Height of the Mountain: So, for Instance, the Mountains of +the Moon in _Africa_, whence the _Nile_ flows, and after a long Course +falls into the Mediterranean Sea by _Egypt_, are so much higher than the +Surface of that Sea, first, as the Ascent of the Land is from the Sea to +the Foot of the Mountains, and then as the Height of the Mountains is +from the bottom to the top: For both these are to be computed when you +measure the Height of a Mountain, or of a mountainous Land, in respect +of the Sea: And the Height of Mountains to the Sea being thus computed, +there would be need of six or eight Oceans to raise the Sea alone as +high as the highest Inland Mountains: And this is more than enough to +compensate the less Quantity of Water that would be requisite upon the +Land. Besides, we must consider the Regions of the Air upwards to be +more capacious than a Region of the same Thickness in or near the Earth, +so as if an Ocean pour’d upon the Surface of the dry Land, supposing it +were all smooth, would rise to the Height of half a quarter of a Mile +every where; the like Quantity of Water pour’d again at the Height of +the Mountains would not have altogether the same effect, or would not +there raise the Mass half a quarter of a Mile higher; for the Surfaces +of a Globe, the farther they are from their Center, are the greater; and +so accordingly the Regions that belong to them. And, lastly, we must +consider, that there are some Countries or Valleys very low, and also +many Caverns or Cavities within the Earth, all which in this Case were +to be first fill’d with Water. These Things being compar’d and +estimated, we shall find, that notwithstanding the Room that Hills and +Mountains take up on the dry Land, there would be at least eight Oceans +required, or a Quantity of Water eight times as great as the Ocean, to +bring an Universal Deluge upon the Earth, as that Deluge is ordinarily +understood and explained. + +THE Proportion of Water for the Deluge being thus stated, the next thing +to be done, is to enquire where this Water is to be found; if any part +of the Sublunary World will afford us so much: Eight Oceans floating in +the Air make a great Bulk of Water, I do not know what possible Sources +to draw it from. There are the Clouds above and the Deeps below, and in +the Bowels of the Earth; and these are all the Stores we have for Water; +and _Moses_ directs us to no other for the Causes of the Deluge. _The +Fountains (he saith) of the great Abyss were broken up, or burst +asunder_, and the Rain descended for Forty Days, the _Cataracts_, or +_Floodgates_ of Heaven being opened. And in these two, no doubt, are +contain’d the Causes of the great Deluge, as according to _Moses_, so +also according to Reason and Necessity; for our World affords no other +Treasures of Water. Let us therefore consider, how much this Rain of +Forty Days might amount to, and how much might flow out of the Abyss, +that so we may judge whether these two in conjunction would make up the +eight Oceans which we want. + +AS for the Rains, they would not afford us one Ocean, nor half an Ocean, +nor the tenth part of an Ocean, if we may trust to the Observations made +by others concerning the Quantity of Water that falls in Rain. +_Mersennus_ gives us this Account of it, _Cog. Phys. Mech._ p. 221. “It +appears by our Observations, that a Cubical Vessel of Brass, whereof we +made use, is fill’d an Inch and an half in half an Hour’s Time; but +because that sucks up nothing of the Moisture as the Earth doth, let us +take an Inch for half an Hour’s Rain; whence it follows, that in the +Space of Forty Days and Nights Rain, the Waters in the Deluge wou’d +rise, at four Feet in 24 Hours, 160 Feet, if the Rains were constant and +equal to ours, and that it rain’d at once throughout the Face of the +whole Earth.” But the Rain of the Deluge, saith he, should have been 90 +times greater than this, to cover, for Instance, the Mountains of +_Armenia_, or to reach 15 Cubits above them. So that according to his +Computation, the Forty Days Rain would supply little more than the +hundredth Part of the Water requisite to make the Deluge. ’Tis true, he +makes the Height of the Mountains higher than we do; but, however, if +you temper the Calculation on all Sides as much as you please, the Water +that came by this Rain would be a very inconsiderable part of what was +necessary for a Deluge. If it rain’d Forty Days and Forty Nights +throughout the Face of the whole Earth, in the Northern and Southern +Hemisphere all at once, it might be sufficient to lay all the lower +Grounds under Water, but it would signify very little as to the +overflowing of the Mountains. Whence another Author upon the same +Occasion hath this Passage, _Auct. cat. in_ Gen. 7. 4. “If the Deluge +had been made by Rains only, there would not have needed Forty Days, but +Forty Years Rain to have brought it to pass.” And if we should suppose +the whole middle Region condens’d into Water, it would not at all have +been sufficient for this Effect, according to that Proportion some make +betwixt Air and Water; for they say, Air turn’d into Water takes up a +hundred times less Room than it did before. The Truth is, we may +reasonably suppose, that all the Vapours of the middle Region were +turn’d into Water in this Forty Days and Forty Nights Rain, if we admit, +that this Rain was throughout the whole Earth at once, in either +Hemisphere, in every Zone, in every Climate, in every Country, in every +Province, in every Field; and yet we see what a small Proportion all +this would amount to. + +HAVING done then with these superior Regions, we are next to examine the +inferior, and the Treasures of Water that may be had there. _Moses_ +tells us, that the Fountains of the great Abyss were broke open, or +_clove asunder_, as the Word there us’d doth imply; and no doubt in this +lay the great Mystery of the Deluge, as will appear when it comes to be +rightly understood and explained; but we are here to consider what is +generally understood by the great _Abyss_, in the common Explication of +the Deluge; and ’tis commonly interpreted either to be the Sea, or +subterraneous Waters hid in the Bowels of the Earth: These, they say, +broke forth and rais’d the Waters, caus’d by the Rain, to such an +Height, that together they over-flowed the highest Mountains. But +whether, or how this could be deserves to be a little examined. + +AND in the first Place, the Sea is not higher than the Land, as some +have formerly imagin’d, fancying the Sea stood, as it were, upon a heap, +higher than the Shore; and at the Deluge a Relaxation being made, it +overflow’d the Land. But this Conceit is so gross, and so much against +Reason and Experience, that none I think of late have ventured to make +use of it. And yet on the other Hand, if the Sea lie in an equal +Convexity with the Land, or lower generally than the Shore, and much +more than the Midland, as it is certainly known to do, what could the +Sea contribute to the Deluge? It would keep its Channel, as it doth now, +and take up the same Place: And so also the subterraneous Waters would +lie quiet in their Cells. Whatsoever Fountains or Passages you suppose, +these would not issue out upon the Earth, for Water doth not ascend, +unless by Force. But let’s imagine then that Force us’d and apply’d, and +the Waters both of the Sea and Caverns under Ground drawn out upon the +Surface of the Earth, we shall not be any whit the nearer for this; for +if you take these Waters out of their Places, those Places must be +fill’d again with other Waters in the Deluge; so as this turns to no +Account upon the whole. If you have two Vessels to fill, and you empty +one to fill the other, you gain nothing by that, there still remains one +Vessel empty, you cannot have these Waters both in the Sea and on the +Land, both above Ground and under; nor can you suppose the Channel of +the Sea would stand gaping without Water, when all the Earth was +overflow’d, and the tops of the Mountains cover’d. And so for +subterraneous Cavities, if you suppose the Water pumpt out, they would +suck it in again when the Earth came to be laid under Water; so that +upon the whole, if you thus understand the _Abyss_, or _great Deep_, and +the breaking open its _Fountains_ in this manner, it doth us no Service +as to the Deluge, and where we expected greatest Supply, there we find +none at all. + +WHAT shall we do then? Whither shall we go to find more than seven +Oceans of Water that we still want? We have been above and below; we +have drained the whole middle Region, and we have examined the Deeps of +the Earth; they must want for themselves, they say, if they give us any; +and, besides, if the Earth should disgorge all the Water that it hath in +its Bowels, it would not amount to above half an Ocean, which would not +at all answer our Occasions. Must we not then conclude, that the common +Explication of the Deluge makes it impossible? There being no such +Quantity of Water in Nature as they make requisite for an universal +Deluge. Yet to give them all fair Play, having examined the Waters above +the Earth or in the Air, the Waters upon the Earth, and the Waters under +the Earth; let us also consider if there be not Waters above the +Heavens, and if those might not be drawn down for the Deluge. _Moses_ +speaks of Waters _above the Firmament_, which though it be generally +understood of the middle Region of the Air, yet some have thought those +to be Waters plac’d above the highest Heavens, or _Super-celestial_ +Waters; and have been willing to make use of them for a Supply, when +they could not find Materials enough under the Heavens to make up the +great Mass of the Deluge. But the Heavens, above, where these Waters +lay, are either solid or fluid; if solid, as Glass or Crystal, how could +the Waters get through them to descend upon the Earth? If fluid, as the +Air or Æther, how could the Waters rest upon them, for Water is heavier +than Air or Æther? So that I am afraid, those pure Regions will prove no +fit Place for that Element, upon any Account. But supposing these Waters +there, how imaginary soever, and that they were brought down to drown +the World in that vast Quantity that would be necessary, what became of +them, when the Deluge ceased? Seven or eight Oceans of Water, with the +Earth wrapt up in the middle of them, how did it ever get quit of them? +How could they be dispos’d of when the Earth was to be dry’d, and the +World renew’d? It would be a hard Task to lift them up again among the +Spheres, and we have no Room for them here below. The Truth is, I +mention this Opinion of the Heavenly Waters, because I would omit none +that had ever been made use of, to make good the common Explication of +the Deluge; but otherwise, I think, since the System of the World hath +been better known, and the Nature of the Heavens, there are none that +would seriously assert these _Super-celestial_ Waters, or, at least, +make use of them so extravagantly, as to bring them down hither for +Causes of the Deluge. + +WE have now employ’d our last and utmost Endeavours to find out Waters +for the vulgar Deluge, or for the Deluge as commonly understood; and you +see with how little Success; we have left no Corner unsought, where +there was any Appearance or Report of Water to be found, and yet we have +not been able to collect the eighth part of what was necessary upon a +moderate Account. May we not then with Assurance conclude, that the +World hath taken wrong Measures hitherto, in their Notion and +Explication of the general Deluge? They make it impossible and +unintelligible upon a double Account, both in requiring more Water than +can be found, and more than can be dispos’d of if it was found; or could +any way be withdrawn from the Earth when the Deluge should cease. For if +the Earth was encompass’d with eight Oceans of Water heapt one upon +another, how these should retire into any Channels, or be drain’d off, +or the Earth any way disengag’d from them, is not intelligible; and that +in so short a time as some Months: For the Violence of the Deluge lasted +but four or five Months, and in as many Months after the Earth was dry +and habitable. So as upon the whole Enquiry, we can neither find Source +nor Issue, Beginning nor Ending, for such an excessive Mass of Waters as +the vulgar Deluge required; neither where to have them, nor if we had +them, how to get quit of them. And I think Men cannot do a greater +Injury or Injustice to Sacred History, than to give such Representations +of things recorded there, as make them unintelligible and incredible; +and on the other Hand, we cannot deserve better of Religion and +Providence, than by giving such fair Accounts of all things proposed by +them, or belonging to them, as may silence the Cavils of Atheists, +satisfy the Inquisitive, and recommend them to the Belief and Acceptance +of all reasonable Persons. + + + + + CHAP. III. + + + _All Evasions answered; That there was no new Creation of Waters at + the Deluge: And that it was not Particular or National, but extended + throughout the whole Earth. A Prelude and Preparation to the true + Account and Explication of it: The Method of the first Book._ + + +THOUGH in the preceding Chapter we may seem to have given a fair Trial +to the common Opinion concerning the State of the Deluge, and might now +proceed to Sentence of Condemnation: Yet having heard of another Plea, +which some have us’d in its Behalf, and another way found out by +recourse to the Supream Power, to supply all Defects, and to make the +whole matter intelligible, we will proceed no farther ’till that be +consider’d; being very willing to examine whatsoever may be offer’d, in +that or any other way, for resolving that great Difficulty which we have +proposed, concerning _the Quantity of Water requisite for such a +Deluge_. And to this they say in short, that _God Almighty created +Waters on purpose to make the Deluge, and then annihilated them again +when the Deluge was to cease_; and this, in a few Words, is the whole +account of the Business. This is to cut the Knot when we cannot loose +it; they shew us the naked Arm of Omnipotency; such Arguments as these +come like Lightning, one doth not know what Armour to put on against +them, for they pierce the more, the more they are resisted: We will not +therefore oppose any thing to them that is hard and stubborn, but by a +soft Answer deaden their Force by degrees. + +And I desire to mind those Persons, in the first Place, of what St. +_Austin_ hath said upon a like Occasion, speaking concerning those that +disproved the Opinion of Waters above the Heavens (which we mention’d +before) by natural Reasons. “We are not, saith he, to refute those +Persons, by saying, that according to the Omnipotence of God, to whom +all things, are possible, we ought to believe there are Waters there, as +heavy as we know and feel them here below; for our Business is now to +enquire according to his Scripture, how God hath constituted the Nature +of Things, and not what he could do or work in these Things by a Miracle +of Omnipotency.” I desire them to apply this to the present Argument for +the first Answer. + +_Secondly_, LET them consider, that _Moses_ hath assign’d Causes of the +Deluge; _Forty Days Rain, and the Disruption of the Abyss_; and speaks +nothing of a new Creation of Water upon that Occasion. Those were Causes +in Nature which Providence had then dispos’d for this extraordinary +Effect, and those the Divine Historian refers us to, and not to any +Productions out of nothing. Besides, _Moses_ makes the Deluge increase +by degrees with the Rain, and accordingly makes it cease by degrees, and +that the Waters _going and returning_ as the Waves and great Commotions +of the Sea use to do, retir’d leisurely from the Face of the Earth, and +settled at length in their Channels. Now this manner of the Beginning or +Ceasing of the Deluge doth not at all agree with the instantaneous +Actions of Creation and Annihilation. + +_Thirdly_, LET them consider, that Saint _Peter_ hath also assign’d +_Causes_ of the Deluge, _2 Pet. 3. 6._ namely the particular +Constitution of the Earth and Heavens before the Flood; by _reason +whereof_, he saith, _the World that was then perish’d in a Deluge of +Water_; and not by reason of a new Creation of Water. His Words are +these: “The Heavens and the Earth were of old, consisting of Water, and +by Water; whereby, or by reason whereof, the World that then was, being +overflowed with Water, perished.” + +_Fourthly_, They are to consider, that as we are not rashly to have +recourse to the Divine Omnipotence upon any Account, so especially not +for new Creations; and least of all for the Creation of new Matter. The +Matter of the Universe was created many Ages before the Flood, and the +Universe being full, if any more was created, then there must be as much +annihilated at the same time to make Room for it; for Bodies cannot +penetrate one another’s Dimensions, nor be two or more within one and +the same Space. Then, on the other Hand, when the Deluge ceas’d, and +these Waters were annihilated, so much other Matter must be created +again to take up their Places. And methinks they make very bold with the +Deity, when they make him do and undo, go forward and backwards by such +countermarches and retractions, as we do not willingly impute to the +Wisdom of God Almighty. + +LASTLY, I shall not think my Labour lost, if it be but acknowledg’d, +that we have so far clear’d the Way in this Controversy, as to have +brought it to this Issue; that either there must be new Waters created +on purpose to make a Deluge, or there could be no Deluge as it is +vulgarly explained; there not being Water sufficient in Nature to make a +Deluge of that kind. This, I say, is a great step, and, I think, will +satisfy all Parties, at least, all that are considerable; for those that +have recourse to a new Creation of Waters, are of two sorts, either such +as do it out of Laziness, and Ignorance, or such as do it out of +Necessity, seeing they cannot be had otherwise; as for the first, they +are not to be valued or gratified; and as for the second, I shall do a +thing very acceptable to them, if I free them and the Argument from that +Necessity; and shew a way of making the Deluge fairly intelligible, and +accountable without the Creation of new Waters; which is the Design of +this Treatise. For we do not tie this Knot with an Intention to puzzle +and perplex the Argument finally with it; but the harder it is ty’d, we +shall feel the Pleasure more sensibly when we come to loose it. + +IT may be, when they are beaten from this new Creation of Water, they +will say, the Element of Air was chang’d into Water, and that was the +great Store-house for the Deluge. Forty Days Rain we allow, as _Moses_ +does, but if they suppose any other Transelementation, it neither agrees +with _Moses_’s Philosophy, nor St. _Peter_’s; for then the _Opening of +the Abyss_ was needless, and the Form and Constitution of the +Antediluvian _Heavens_ and _Earth_, which St. _Peter_ refers the Deluge +to, bore no part in the Work; it might have been made, in that way, +indifferently under any Heavens, or Earth. Besides, they offend against +St. _Austin_’s Rule in this Method too; for I look upon it as no less a +Miracle to turn Air into Water, than to turn Water into Wine. _Air_, I +say: For Vapours indeed are but Water made volatile; but pure Air is a +Body of another Species, and cannot by any Compression or Condensation, +so far as is yet known, be chang’d into Water. And lastly, if the whole +Atmosphere was turn’d into Water, ’tis very probable it would make no +more than 34 Foot or thereabouts; for so much Air or Vapours as is of +the same weight with any certain Quantity of Water, ’tis likely, if it +was chang’d into Water, would also be of the same Bulk with it, or not +much more: Now according to the Doctrine of the Gravitation of the +Atmosphere, ’tis found, that 34 Foot of Water does counterballance a +proportionable Cylinder of Air reaching to the top of the Atmosphere; +and consequently, if the whole Atmosphere was converted into Water, it +would make no more than eleven or twelve Yards Water about the Earth; +which the Cavities of the Earth would be able in a good measure to suck +up, at least this is very inconsiderable as to our eight Oceans. And if +you would change the higher Regions into Water too, what must supply the +Place of that Air which you transform into Water, and bring down upon +the Earth? There would be little left but Fire and Æther betwixt us and +the Moon, and I am afraid it would endanger to suck down the Moon too +after it. In a Word, such an Explication as this is both purely +imaginary, and also very operose, and would affect a great part of the +Universe; and after all, they would be as hard put to it to get rid of +this Water, when the Deluge was to cease, as they were at first to +procure it. + +HAVING now examin’d and answered all the Pleas, from first to last, for +the vulgar Deluge, or the old way of explaining it, we should proceed +immediately to propose another Method, and another Ground for an +universal Deluge, were it not that an Opinion hath been started by some +of late, that would in effect supplant both these Methods, old and new, +and take away in a great measure the Subject of the Question. Some +Modern Authors observing what straits they have been put to in all Ages, +to find out Water enough for _Noah_’s Flood, have ventur’d upon an +Expedient more brisk and bold than any of the Ancients durst venture +upon: They say, _Noah_’s Flood was not Universal, but a National +Inundation, confin’d to _Judea_, and those Countries thereabouts; and +consequently, there would not be so much Water necessary for the Cause +of it, as we have prov’d to be necessary for an Universal Deluge of that +kind. Their Inference is very true, they have avoided that Rock, but +they run upon another no less dangerous; to avoid an Objection from +Reason, they deny matter of Fact, and such matter of Fact as is well +attested by History, both Sacred and Prophane. I believe the Authors +that set up this Opinion were not themselves satisfy’d with it; but +seeing insuperable Difficulties in the old Way, they are the more +excusable in chusing, as they thought, of two Evils the less. + +BUT the Choice, methinks, is as bad on this Hand, if all things be +considered; _Moses_ represents the Flood of _Noah_ as an Overthrow and +Destruction of the whole Earth; and who can imagine, that in sixteen or +seventeen hundred Years time, (taking the lower Chronology) that the +Earth had then stood, Mankind should be propagated no farther than +_Judea_, or some neighbouring Countries thereabouts? After the Flood, +when the World was renew’d again by eight Persons, they had made a far +greater Progress in _Asia_, _Europe_, and _Africa_, within the same +space of Years, and yet ’tis likely they were more fruitful in the first +Ages of the World, than after the Flood; and they liv’d six, seven, +eight, nine hundred Years a Piece, getting Sons and Daughters. Which +Longevity of the first Inhabitants of the Earth seems to have been +providentially design’d for the quicker Multiplication and Propagation +of Mankind; and Mankind thereby would become so numerous within sixteen +hundred Years, that there seems to me to be a greater Difficulty from +the Multitude of the People that would be before the Flood, than from +the want of People: For if we allow the first Couple at the End of one +hundred Years, or of the first Century, to have left ten Pair of +Breeders, which is no hard Supposition, there would arise from these, in +fifteen hundred Years, a greater Number than the Earth was capable of; +allowing every Pair to multiply in the same decuple Proportion the first +Pair did. But because this would rise far beyond the Capacities of this +Earth, let us suppose them to increase, in the following Centuries, in a +quintuple Proportion only, or, if you will, only in a quadruple; and +then the Table of the Multiplication of Mankind, from the Creation to +the Flood, would stand thus; + + _Century_ + + 1— 10 + 2— 40 + 3— 160 + 4— 640 + 5— 2560 + 6— 10240 + 7— 40960 + 8— 163840 + 9— 655360 + 10— 2621440 + 11— 10485760 + 12— 41943040 + 13— 167772160 + 14— 671088640 + 15— 2684354560 + 16— 10737418240 + +This Product is too excessive high, if compar’d with the present number +of Men upon the Face of the Earth, which, I think, is commonly estimated +to be betwixt three and four hundred Millions; and yet this Proportion +of their Increase seems to be low enough, if we take one Proportion for +all the Centuries; for, in reality, the same Measure cannot run equally +through all the Ages, but we have taken this as moderate and reasonable +betwixt the highest and the lowest; but if we had taken only a tripple +Proportion, it would have been sufficient (all things consider’d) for +the Purpose. There are several other ways of computing this Number, and +some more particular and exact than this is, but which way soever you +try, you shall find the Product great enough for the Extent of this +Earth; and if you follow the Septuagint Chronology, it will still be far +higher. I have met with three or four different Calculations, in several +Authors, of the Number of Mankind before the Flood, and never met with +any yet, but what exceeded the Number of the People that are at present +upon the Face of the Earth. So as it seems to me a very groundless and +forc’d Conceit to imagine, that _Judea_ only, and some Parts about it in +_Asia_, were stor’d with People when the Deluge was brought upon the old +World. Besides, if the Deluge was confin’d to those Countries, I do not +see but the Borderers might have escap’d, shifting a little into the +adjoining Places where the Deluge did not reach. But especially what +needed so much ado to build an Ark to save _Noah_ and his Family, if he +might have sav’d himself and them, only by retiring into some +neighbouring Country; as _Lot_ and his Family sav’d themselves, by +withdrawing from _Sodom_, when the City was to be destroyed? Had not +this been a far easier thing, and more compendious, than the great +Preparations he made of a large Vessel, with Rooms, for the Reception +and Accommodation of Beasts and Birds? And now I mention Birds, why +could not they at least have flown into the next dry Country? They might +have pearch’d upon the Trees, and the tops of the Mountains by the way +to have rested themselves if they were weary, for the Waters did not all +of a sudden rise to the Mountains tops. + +I cannot but look upon the Deluge as a much more considerable thing than +these Authors wou’d represent it, and as a kind of Dissolution of +Nature; _Moses_ calls it a destroying of the _Earth_, as well as of +Mankind, _Gen. 6. 13._ And the Bow was set in the Cloud to seal the +Covenant, _that he would destroy the Earth no more_, _Gen. 9. 11._ or +that there would be no more a Flood _to destroy the Earth_. And ’tis +said, _Verse 13._ That the Covenant was made between God and the Earth, +or this Frame of Nature, that it should perish no more by Water. And the +Rain-Bow, which was a Token and Pledge of this Covenant, appears not +only in _Judea_, or some other _Asiatick_ Provinces, but to all the +Regions of the Earth, who had an equal Share and Concern in it. _Moses_ +saith also, the Fountains of the great _Abyss_ were burst asunder to +make the Deluge; and what means this _Abyss_, and the bursting of it, if +restrain’d to _Judea_, or some adjacent Countries? What Appearance is +there of this Disruption _there_, more than in other Places? +Furthermore, St. _Peter_ plainly implies, _2 Epist. c. 5. 6._ That the +Antediluvian Heavens and Earth perished in the Deluge; and opposeth the +present Earth and Heavens to them, as different and of another +Constitution; and saith, that these shall perish by Fire, as the other +perished by Water. So he compares the conflagration with the Deluge, as +two general Dissolutions of Nature, and one may as well say, that the +Conflagration shall be only National, and but two or three Countries +burnt in that last Fire, as to say, that the Deluge was so. I confess +that Discourse of St. _Peter_, concerning the several States of the +World, would sufficiently convince me, if there was nothing else, That +the Deluge was not a particular, or national Inundation, but a _mundane_ +Change, that extended to the whole Earth, and both to the (lower) +Heavens and Earth. + +ALL Antiquity, we know, hath spoke of these mundane Revolutions or +Periods, that the World should be successively destroyed by Water and +Fire; and I do not doubt, but that this Deluge of _Noah_’s, which +_Moses_ describes, was the first and leading Instance of this kind; and +accordingly we see that after this Period, and after the Flood, the +Blessing for Multiplication, and for replenishing the Earth with +Inhabitants, was as solemnly pronounc’d by God Almighty, as at the first +Creation of Man, _Gen. 9. 1._ with _Gen. 1. 28._ These Considerations, I +think, might be sufficient to give us Assurance from Divine Writ of the +Universality of the Deluge; and yet _Moses_ affords us another Argument +as demonstrative as any, when in the History of the Deluge, he saith, +_Gen. 7. 19._ _The Waters exceedingly prevail’d upon the Earth, and all +the high Hills that were under the whole Heavens were covered._ All the +high Hills, he saith, _under the whole Heavens_, then quite round the +Earth; and if the Mountains were covered quite round the Earth, sure the +Plains could not scape. But to argue with them upon their own Grounds: +Let us suppose only the _Asiatick_ and _Armenian_ Mountains covered with +these Waters, this they cannot deny; then unless there was a Miracle to +keep these Waters upon Heaps, they would flow throughout the Earth; for +these Mountains are high enough to make them fall every way, and make +them join with our Seas that environ the Continent. We cannot imagine +Hills and Mountains of Water to have hung about _Judea_, as if they were +congeal’d, or a Mass of Water to have stood upon the middle of the Earth +like one great Drop, or a trembling Jelly, and all the Places about it +dry and untouch’d. All liquid Bodies are diffusive; for their Parts +being in Motion have no Tie or Connexion one with another, but glide and +fall off any way, as Gravity and the Air presseth them; so the Surface +of Water doth always conform into a Spherical Convexity with the rest of +the Globe of the Earth, and every part of it falls as near to the Center +as it can; wherefore when these Waters began to rise at first, long +before they cou’d swell to the height of the Mountains, they would +diffuse themselves every way, and thereupon all the Valleys and Plains, +and lower Parts of the Earth would be filled throughout the whole Earth, +before they cou’d rise to the Tops of the Mountains in any Part of it: +And the Sea would be all raised to a considerable height before the +Mountains could be covered. For let us suppose, as they do, that this +Water fell not throughout the whole Earth, but in some particular +Country, and there made first a great Lake; this Lake when it begun to +swell would every way discharge it self by any Descents or Declivities +of the Ground, and these Issues and Derivations being once made and +supply’d with new Waters pushing them forwards, would continue their +Course ’till they arrived at the Sea, just as other Rivers do; for these +would be but so many Rivers rising out of this Lake, and would not be +considerably deeper and higher at the Fountain than in their Progress or +at the Sea, We may as well then expect that the _Leman_ Lake, for +instance, out of which the _Rhone_ runs, should swell to the Tops of the +_Alps_ on the one Hand, and the Mountains of _Switzerland_ and +_Burgundy_ on the other, and then stop, without overflowing the plainer +Countries that lie beyond them; as to suppose that this Diluvian Lake +should rise to the Mountains Tops in one Place, and not diffuse it self +equally into all Countries about, and upon the Surface of the Sea; in +Proportion to its Height and Depth in the Place where it first fell or +stood. + +THUS much for Sacred History. The Universality of the Deluge is also +attested by Profane History; for the Fame of it is gone thro’ the Earth, +and there are Records or Traditions concerning it, in all Parts of this +and the new-found World. The _Americans_ do acknowledge and speak of it +in their Continent, as _Acosta_ witnesseth, and _Laet_ in their +Histories of them. _Mart._ The _Chineses_ have the Tradition of it, +which is the farthest part of our Continent; and the nearer and Western +part of _Asia_ is acknowledg’d the proper Seat of it. Not to mention +_Deucalion_’s Deluge in the _European_ Parts, which seems to be the same +under a disguise: So as you may trace the Deluge quite round the Globe +in profane History; and, which is remarkable, every one of these People +have a Tale to tell, some one way, some another, concerning the +Restauration of Mankind; which is an Argument that they thought all +Mankind destroy’d by that Deluge. In the old Dispute between the +_Scythians_ and the _Ægyptians_ for Antiquity, which _Justin_ mentions, +they refer to a former Destruction of the World by Water or Fire, and +argue, whether Nation first rose again, and was original to the other. +So the _Babylonians_, _Assyrians_, _Phœnicians_ and others, mention the +Deluge in their Stories. And we cannot without offering Violence to all +Records and Authority, Divine and Human, deny, that there hath been an +universal Deluge upon the Earth; and if there was an universal Deluge, +no question it was that of _Noah_’s, and that which _Moses_ describ’d, +and that which we treat of at present. + +THESE Considerations, I think, are abundantly sufficient to silence that +Opinion, concerning the Limitation and Restriction of the Deluge to a +particular Country or Countries. It ought rather to be look’d upon as an +Evasion indeed, than Opinion, seeing the Authors do not offer any +positive Argument for the Proof of it, but depend only upon that +negative Argument, That an universal Deluge is a Thing unintelligible. +This Stumbling-stone we hope to take away for the future, and that Men +shall not be put to that unhappy Choice, either to deny Matter of Fact +well attested, or admit an Effect, whereof they cannot see any possible +Causes. And so having stated and proposed the whole Difficulty, and +try’d all ways offered by others, and found them ineffectual, let us now +apply our selves by degrees, to untie the Knot. + +THE excessive Quantity of Water is the great Difficulty, and the Removal +of it afterwards. Those eight Oceans lay heavy upon my thoughts, and I +cast about every way, to find an Expedient, or to find some way, whereby +the same Effect might be brought to pass with less Water, and in such a +manner that that Water might afterwards conveniently be discharg’d. The +first Thought that came into my Mind upon that Occasion, was concerning +the Form of the Earth, which I imagin’d might possibly at that Time be +different from what it is at present, and come nearer to Plainness and +Equallity in the Surface of it, and so might the more easily be +overflow’d, and the Deluge perform’d with less Water. This Opinion +concerning the Plainness of the first Earth, I also found in Antiquity, +mention’d and refer’d to by several Interpreters in their Commentaries +upon _Genesis_, either upon Occasion of the Deluge, or of that Fountain +which is said, _Gen. 2. 6._ to have watered the Face of the whole Earth: +And a late eminent Person, the Honour of his Profession for Integrity +and Learning, in his Discourse concerning the _Origination of Mankind_, +hath made a like Judgment of the State of the Earth before the Deluge, +that the Face of it was more smooth and regular than it is now. But yet +upon second Thoughts, I easily see that this alone wou’d not be +sufficient to explain the Deluge, nor to give an Account of the present +Form of the Earth, unequal and mountainous as it is. ’Tis true this +would give a great Advantage to the Waters, and the Rains that fell for +Forty Days together would have a great Power over the Earth, being plain +and smooth; but how would these Waters be dispos’d of when the Deluge +ceas’d? Or how could it ever cease? Besides, what means the Disruption +of the great _Deep_, or the great _Abyss_, or what answers to it upon +this Supposition? This was assuredly of no less Consideration than the +Rains; nay, I believe, the Rains were but preparatory in some measure, +and that the Violence and Consummation of the Deluge depended upon the +Disruption of the great Abyss. Therefore I saw it necessary, to my first +Thought, concerning the Smoothness and Plainness of the Antediluvian +Earth, to add a second, concerning the Disruption and Dissolution of it; +for, as it often happens in Earthquakes, when the exterior Earth is +burst asunder, and a great Flood of Waters issues out, according to the +Quantity and Force of them, an Inundation is made in those Parts, more +or less; so I thought, if that _Abyss_ lay under Ground and round the +Earth, and we should suppose the Earth in this manner to be broken in +several Places at once, and as it were a general Dissolution made, we +might suppose that to make a general Deluge, as well as a particular +Dissolution often makes a particular. But I will not anticipate here the +Explication we intend to give of the Universal Deluge in the following +Chapters; only by this previous Intimation we may gather some Hopes, it +may be, that the Matter is not so desperate as the former Representation +might possibly make us fancy it. + +GIVE me leave to add farther in this Place, that it hath been observ’d +by several, from the Contemplation of Mountains and Rocks and +Precipices, of the Channel of the Sea, and of Islands, and of +Subterraneous Caverns, that the Surface of the Earth, or the exterior +Region which we inhabit, hath been broke, and the parts of it +dislocated: And one might instance more particularly in several Parcels +of Nature, that retain still the evident Marks of Fraction and Ruin, and +by their present Form and Posture shew, that they have been once in +another State and Situation one to another. We shall have occasion +hereafter to give an Account of these _Phænomena_, from which several +have rightly argu’d, and concluded some general Rupture or Ruin in the +superficial Parts of the Earth. But this Ruin, it is true, they have +imagin’d and explain’d several ways, some thinking that it was made the +_third Day_ after the Foundation of the Earth; when they suppose the +Channel of the Sea to have been form’d, and Mountains and Caverns at the +same time, by a violent Depression of some Parts of the Earth, and an +Extrusion and Elevation of others to make them Room. Others suppose it +to have come not all at once, but by Degrees, at several Times, and in +several Ages, from particular and accidental Causes, as the Earth +falling in upon Fires under Ground, or Water eating away the lower +parts, or Vapours and Exhalations breaking out and tearing the Earth. +’Tis true, I am not of their Opinion in either of these Explications; +and we shall shew at large hereafter, when we have propos’d and stated +our own Theory, how incompetent such Causes are, to bring the Earth into +that Form and Condition we now find it in. But in the mean time, we may +so far make use of these Opinions in general, as not to be startled at +this Doctrine, concerning the Breaking or Dissolution of the Exterior +Earth; for in all Ages the Face of Nature hath provok’d Men to think of +and observe such a Thing. And who can do otherwise, to see the Elements +displac’d and disorder’d, as they seem to lie at present; the heaviest +and grossest Bodies in the highest Places, and the liquid and volatile +kept below; an huge Mass of Stone or Rock rear’d into the Air, and the +Water creeping at its Feet; whereas this is the more light and active +Body, and by the Law of Nature should take Place of Rocks and Stones? So +we see, by the like Disorder, the Air thrown down into Dungeons of the +Earth, and the Earth got up among the Clouds; for there are the tops of +the Mountains, and under their Roots in Holes and Caverns the Air is +often detained. By what regular Action of Nature can we suppose things +first produc’d in this Posture and Form? Not to mention how broke and +torn the inward Substance of the Earth is, which of it self is an +uniform Mass, close and compact; but in the Condition we see it, it lies +hollow in many places, with great Vacuities intercepted betwixt the +Portions of it; a Thing which we see happens in all Ruins more or less, +especially when the Parts of the Ruins are great and inflexible. Then +what can have more the Figure and Mien of a Ruin, than Crags, and Rocks, +and Cliffs, whether upon the Sea-shore, or upon the Sides of Mountains? +What can be more apparently broke, than they are? And those lesser +Rocks, or great bulky Stones that lie often scatter’d near the Feet of +the other, whether in the Sea, or upon the Land, are they not manifest +Fragments and pieces of these greater Masses? Besides, the Posture of +these Rocks, which is often leaning or recumbent, or prostrate, shews to +the Eye, that they have had a Fall, or some kind of Dislocation from +their natural Site. And the same thing may be observed in the Tracks and +Regions of the Earth, which very seldom for ten Miles together have any +regular Surface or Continuity one with another, but lie high and low, +and are variously inclin’d sometimes one way, sometimes another, without +any Rule or Order. 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 it; +and the Strata or Beds within lie as even. This I am sure of, that this +Disposition of the Elements, and the Parts of the Earth, outward and +inward, hath something irregular and unnatural in it, and manifestly +shews us the Marks, or Footsteps of some kind of Ruin and Dissolution; +which we shall shew you, in its due Place, happen’d in such a way, that +at the same time a general Flood of Waters wou’d necessarily over-run +the Face of the whole Earth. And by the same fatal Blow, the Earth fell +out of that regular Form, wherein it was produc’d at first, into all +these Irregularities which we see in its present Form and Composition; +so that we shall give thereby a double Satisfaction to the Mind, both to +shew it a fair and intelligible Account of the general Deluge, how the +Waters came upon the Earth, and how they return’d into their Channels +again, and left the Earth habitable; and likewise to shew it how the +Mountains were brought forth, and the Channel of the Sea discover’d: How +all those Inequalities came in the Body or Face of the Earth, and those +empty Vaults and Caverns in its Bowels; which things are no less matter +of Admiration than the Flood it self. + +BUT I must beg leave to draw a Curtain before the Work for a while, and +to keep your Patience a little in suspence, till Materials are prepar’d, +and all things ready to represent and explain what we have propos’d. Yet +I hope, in the mean time, to entertain the Mind with Scenes no less +pleasing, tho’ of quite another Face and Order; for we must now return +to the Beginning of the World, and look upon the first Rudiments of +Nature, and that dark but fruitful Womb, out of which all things sprang, +I mean the _Chaos_: For this is the Matter which we must next work upon, +and it will be no unpleasing thing to observe, how that rude Mass will +shoot it self into several Forms one after another, ’till it comes at +length to make an habitable World. The steady Hand of Providence, which +keeps all things in Weight and Measure, being the invisible Guide of all +its Motions. These Motions we must examine from first to last, to find +out what was the Form of the Earth, and what was the Place or Situation +of the Ocean, or the great Abyss, in that first State of Nature: Which +two things being determined, we shall be able to make a certain +Judgment, what kind of Dissolution that Earth was capable of, and +whether from that Dissolution an Universal Deluge would follow, with all +the Consequences of it. + +IN the mean time, for the Ease and Satisfaction of the Reader, we will +here mark the Order and Distribution of the first Book, which we divide +into three Sections; whereof the first is these three Chapters past: In +the second Section we will shew, that the Earth before the Deluge was of +a different Frame and Form from the present Earth; and particularly of +such a form as made it subject to a Dissolution and to such a +Dissolution, as did necessarily expose it to an Universal Deluge. And in +this Place we shall apply our Discourse particularly to the Explication +of _Noah_’s Flood, and that under all its Conditions, of the Height of +the Waters, of their Universality, of the Destruction of the World by +them, and of their retiring afterwards from the Earth; and this Section +will consist of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth Chapters. +In the Third Section we prove the same Dissolution from the Effects and +Consequences of it, or from the Contemplation of the present Face of the +Earth: And here an Account is given of the Origin of Mountains, of +subterraneous Waters and Caverns, of the great Channel of the Sea, and +of the first Production of Islands; and those things are the Contents of +the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh Chapters. Then, in the last Chapter, we +make a general Review of the whole Work, and a general Review of Nature; +that by comparing them together, their full Agreement and Correspondency +may appear. Here several collateral Arguments are given for Confirmation +of the preceding Theory, and some Reflections are made upon the State of +the other Planets compar’d with the Earth. And lastly, what Accounts +soever have been given by others of the present Form and Irregularities +of the Earth, are examin’d and shew’d insufficient. And this seemeth to +be all that is requisite upon this Subject. + + + + + CHAP. IV. + + + _That the Earth and Mankind had an Original, and were not from + Eternity: Prov’d against Aristotle. The first Proposition of our + Theory laid down, viz. That the Antediluvian Earth was of a + different Form and Construction from the present. This is prov’d by + Divine Authority, and from the Nature and Form of the Chaos, out of + which the Earth was made._ + + +WE are now to enquire into the Original of the Earth, and in what Form +it was built at first, that we may lay our Foundation for the following +Theory deep and sure. It hath been the general Opinion and Content of +the Learned of all Nations, that the Earth arose from a Chaos. This is +attested by History, both Sacred and Profane; only _Aristotle_, whom so +great a Part of the Christian World have made their Oracle or Idol, hath +maintain’d the Eternity of the Earth, and the Eternity of Mankind; that +the Earth and the World were from Everlasting, and in that very Form +they are in now, with Men and Women and all living Creatures, Trees and +Fruit, Metals and Minerals, and whatsoever is of natural Production. We +say all these Things arose and had their first Existence or Production +not six thousand Years ago: He saith, they have subsisted thus for ever, +through an infinite Series of past Generations, and shall continue as +long, without first or last: And if so, there was neither Chaos, nor any +other Beginning to the Earth. This takes away the Subject of our +Discourse, and therefore we must first remove this Stone out of the way, +and prove that the Earth had an Original, and that from a Chaos, before +we shew how it arose from a Chaos, and what was the first habitable Form +that it settled into. + +WE are assur’d by Divine Authority, that the Earth and Mankind had a +beginning: _Moses_ saith, _In the Beginning God made the Heavens and the +Earth_. Speaking it as of a certain Period or Term, from whence he +counts the Age of the World. And the same _Moses_ tells us, that _Adam_ +was the first Man, and _Eve_ the first Woman, from whom sprung the Race +of Mankind; and this within the Compass of Six Thousand Years. We are +also assur’d from the Prophets, and our Christian Records, that the +World shall have an End, and that by a general Conflagration, when all +Mankind shall be destroyed, with the Form, and all the Furniture of the +Earth. And as this proves the second Part of _Aristotle_’s Doctrine to +be false immediately, so doth it the first, by a true Consequence; for +what hath an End had a Beginning, what is not Immortal, was not Eternal: +That which exists by the Strength of its own Nature at first, the same +Nature will enable to exist for ever; and indeed what exists of it self, +exists necessarily; and what exists necessarily, exists eternally. + +HAVING this infallible Assurance of the Origin of the Earth and of +Mankind from Scripture, we proceed to refute the same Doctrine of +_Aristotle_’s by natural Reason. And we will first consider the Form of +the Earth, and then Mankind; and shew, from plain Evidence and +Observation, neither of them to have been Eternal. ’Tis natural to the +Mind of Man to consider that which is compound, as having been once more +simple; whether that Composition be a Mixture of many Ingredients, as +most Terrestrial Bodies are, or whether it be Organical; but especially +if it be Organical: For a Thing that consists of a multitude of Pieces +aptly join’d, we cannot but conceive to have had those Pieces, at one +time or another, put together. ’Twere hard to conceive an eternal Watch, +whose Pieces were never separate one from another, nor ever in any other +Form than that of a Watch. Or an eternal House, whose Materials were +never asunder, but always in the Form of an House. And ’tis as hard to +conceive an _Eternal Earth_, or an _Eternal World_: These are made up of +more various Substances, more Ingredients, and into a far greater +Composition; and the living Part of the World, Plants and Animals, have +much more Variety of Parts and multifarious Construction, than any +House, or any other artificial Thing: So that we are led as much by +Nature and Necessity, to conceive this great Machine of the World, or of +the Earth, to have been once in a State of greater Simplicity than now +it is, as to conceive a Watch, an House, or any other Structure, to have +been once in its first and simple Materials. This I speak without +Reference to immediate Creation, for _Aristotle_ did not own any such +thing, and therefore the Argument stands good against him, upon those +Grounds and Notions that he goes; yet I guess what Answer would be made +by him or his Followers to this Argumentation: They would say, there is +not the same Reason for Natural things, as for Artificial, though +equally compounded. Artificial Things could not be from Eternity, +because they suppose Man, by whose Art they were made, pre-existent to +them; the Workman must be before the Work, and whatsoever hath any thing +before it, is not Eternal. But may not the same thing be said of Natural +things? Do not most of them require the Action of the Sun, and the +Influence of the Heavens for their Production, and longer Preparations +than any Artificial things do? Some Years or Ages would be necessary for +the Concoction and Maturation of Metals and Minerals; Stones themselves, +at least some sorts of them, were once Liquors, or fluid Masses; and all +Vegetable Productions require the Heat of the Sun, to predispose and +excite the Earth and the Seeds. Nay, according to _Aristotle_, ’tis not +Man by himself that begets a Man, but the Sun is his Coadjutor. You see +then ’twas as necessary that the Sun, that great Workman of Nature, +should pre-exist to Natural things, produc’d in, or upon the Earth, as +that Man should pre-exist to Artificial. So that the Earth, under that +Form and Constitution it now hath, could no more be Eternal, than a +Statue or Temple, or any Work of Art. + +BESIDES, that Form, which the Earth is under at present, is in some sort +preternatural, like a Statue made and broken again; and so hath still +the less Appearance or Pretence of being Eternal. If the Elements had +lain in that Order to one another, as _Aristotle_ hath dispos’d them, +and as seems to be their first Disposition; the Earth altogether in a +Mass in the middle, or towards the Centre; then the Water in a Spherical +Mass about that; the Air above the Water, and then a Sphere of Fire, as +he fancied, in the highest Circle of the Air: If they had lain, I say, +in this Posture, there might have been some Pretence that they had been +Eternally so; because that might seem to be their Original Posture, in +which Nature had first plac’d them. But the Form and Posture we find +them in at present is very different, and according to his Doctrine must +be look’d upon as unnatural and violent; and no violent State, by his +own Maxim, can be perpetual, or can have been so. + +BUT there is still a more pressing Consideration against this Opinion. +If this present State and Form of the Earth had been from Eternity, it +would have long ere this destroy’d itself, and chang’d itself: The +Mountains sinking by degrees into the Valleys, and into the Sea, and the +Waters rising above the Earth; which Form it would certainly have come +into, sooner or later, and in it continu’d drowned and uninhabitable, +for all succeeding Generations. For ’tis certain, that the Mountains and +higher Parts of the Earth grow lesser and lesser from Age to Age; and +that from many Causes, sometimes the Roots of them are weaken’d, and +eaten by subterraneous Fires, and sometimes they are torn and tumbled +down by Earthquakes, and fall into those Caverns that are under them; +and tho’ those violent Causes are not constant, or universal, yet if the +Earth had stood from Eternity, there is not a Mountain would have +escaped this Fate in one Age or other. The Course of these Exhalations +or Fires would have reach’d them all sooner or later, if thro’ infinite +Ages they had stood exposed to them. But there are also other causes +that consume them insensibly, and make them sink by degrees; and those +are chiefly the Winds, Rains, and Storms, and Heat of the Sun without; +and within, the soaking of Water and Springs, with Streams and Currents +in their Veins and Crannies. These two sorts of Causes would certainly +reduce all the Mountains of the Earth, in tract of Time, to Equality; or +rather lay them all under Water: For whatsoever moulders, or is wash’d +away from them, is carried down into the lower Grounds, and into the +Sea, and nothing is ever brought back again by any Circulation: Their +Losses are not repair’d, nor any proportionable Recruits made from any +other parts of Nature. So as the higher parts of the Earth being +continually spending, and the lower continually gaining, they must of +necessity at length come to an Equality; and the Waters that lie in the +lower parts and in the Channels, those Channels and Valleys being fill’d +up with Earth, would be thrust out and rise every where upon the Surface +of the Earth; which new Post, when they had once seiz’d on it, they +would never quit nor would any thing be able to dispossess them; for +’tis their natural Place and Situation which they always tend to, and +from which there is no Progress nor Regress in a Course of Nature. So +that the Earth would have been, both now, and from innumerable +Generations before this, all under Water and uninhabitable; if it had +stood from Everlasting, and this Form of it had been its first Original +Form. + +NOR can he doubt of this Argumentation, that considers the Coherence of +it, and will allow time enough for the Effect. I do not say the Earth +would be reduc’d to this uninhabitable Form in ten thousand Years time, +tho’ I believe it would: But take twenty, if you please, take an hundred +thousand, take a million, ’tis all one, for you may take the one as +easily as the other out of Eternity; and they make both equally against +their Supposition. Nor is it any matter how little you suppose the +mountains to decrease ’tis but taking more time, and the same Effect +still follows. Let them but waste as much as a Grain of Mustard-Seed +every Day, or a Foot in an Age, this would be more than enough in ten +thousand Ages to consume the tallest Mountain upon Earth. The Air alone, +and the little drops of Rain have defac’d the strongest and the proudest +Monuments of the _Greeks_ and _Romans_; and allow them but time enough, +and they will of themselves beat down the Rocks into the Sea, and the +Hills into the Valleys. But if we add to these all those other +foremention’d Causes that work with more Violence, and the Weight of the +Mountains themselves, which, upon any occasion offer’d, is ready to sink +them lower, we shall shorten the Time and make the Effect more sure. + +WE need add no more here in particular against this _Aristotelian_ +Doctrine, that makes the present Form of the Earth to have been from +Eternity; for the Truth is, this whole Book is one continued Argument +against that opinion; shewing that it hath _de facto_ chang’d its Form; +both in that we have prov’d that it was not capable of an universal +Deluge in this Form, and consequently was once under another; and also +in that we shall prove at large hereafter throughout the Third and +Fourth Sections, that it hath been broken and dissolv’d. We might also +add one Consideration more, that if it had stood always under this Form, +it would have been under Fire, if it had not been under Water; and the +Conflagration, which it is to undergo, would have overtaken it long ere +this. For St. _Peter_ saith, The Heavens and the Earth that are now, as +oppos’d to the Antediluvian, and consider’d in their present Form and +Constitution, are fitted to be consumed by Fire. And whosoever +understands the Progress and Revolutions of Nature, will see that +neither the present Form of the Earth, nor its first Form, were +permanent and immutable Forms, but transient and temporary by their own +Frame and Constitution; which the Author of Nature, after certain +Periods of Time, had design’d for Change and for Destruction. + +THUS much for the Body of the Earth, that it could not have been from +Eternity, as _Aristotle_ pretended, in the Form it hath. Now let’s +consider the Origination of Mankind; and that we shall find could much +less be Eternal than the other; for whatsoever destroy’d the Form of the +Earth, would also destroy Mankind; and besides, there are many +particular Marks and Arguments, that the Generations of Men have not +been from Everlasting. All History, and all Monuments of Antiquity, of +what kind soever, are but of a few Thousand of Years date; we have still +the Memory of the Golden Age, of the first State of Nature, and how +Mortals liv’d then in Innocency and Simplicity. The Invention of Arts, +even those that are necessary or useful to Human Life, hath been within +the Knowledge of Men: How imperfect was the Geography of the Ancients, +how imperfect their Knowledge of the Earth, how imperfect their +Navigation? Can we imagine, if there had been Men from Everlasting, a +Sea as now, and all materials for shipping as much as we have, that Men +could have been so ignorant, both of the Land and of the Sea, as ’tis +manifest they have been till of late Ages? They had very different +Fancies concerning the Figure of the Earth. They knew no Land beyond our +Continent, and that very imperfectly too; and the Torrid Zone they +thought utterly uninhabitable. We think it strange, taking that short +Date of the World, which we give it, that Men should not have made more +Progress in the Knowledge of these Things; but how impossible is it +then, if you suppose them to have been from Everlasting? They had the +same Wit and Passions that we have, the same Motives that we have, can +we then imagine, that neither the Ambition of Princes, nor Interest or +Gain in private Persons, nor Curiosity and the Desire of Knowledge, nor +the Glory of Discoveries, nor any other Passion or Consideration could +ever move them in that endless time, to try their Fortunes upon the Sea, +and know something more of the World they inhabited? Though you should +suppose them generally stupid, which there is no Reason to do, yet in a +Course of infinite Generations, there would be some great Genii, some +extraordinary Persons that would attempt things above the rest. We have +done more within the compass of our little World, which we can but count +(as to this) from the general Deluge, than those Eternal Men had done in +their innumerable Ages foregoing. + +YOU will say it may be, they had not the Advantages and Opportunities +for Navigation as we have, and for Discoveries; because the use of the +Loadstone, and the Mariners needle was not then known. But that’s the +Wonder, that either that Invention, or any other should not be brought +to light till t’other Day, if the World had stood from Eternity. I say +this or any other practical Invention; for such Things, when they are +once found out and known, are not easily lost again, because they are of +daily use. And ’tis in most other practical arts, as in Navigation, we +generally know their original and History; who the Inventors, and by +what degrees improv’d, and how few of them brought to any Perfection +till of late Ages. All the Artificial and Mechanical World is in a +manner new; and what you may call the _Civil_ World too is in a great +measure so. What relates to Government, and Laws; to Wars and +Discipline; we can trace these things to their Origin, or very near it. +The use of Money and of Coins, nay the Use of the very Elements; for +they tell us of the first Invention of fire by _Prometheus_, and the +employing of Wind or Water to turn the Mills, and grind their Corn was +scarce known before the _Romans_, _Plin. l. 7. c. 56._ And that we may +think nothing eternal here, they tell us the Ages and Genealogies of +their very Gods. The measures of Time for the common uses of Life, the +dividing it into Hours, with the Instruments for those Purposes, are not +of an unknown Date: Even the Arts for preparing Food and Cloathing, +Medicines and Medicaments, Building, Civil and Military, Letters and +Writing, which are the Foundations of the World Civil: These, with all +their Retinue of lesser Arts and Trades that belong to them, History and +Tradition tell us when they had their Beginning, or were very imperfect; +and how many of their Inventors and Inventresses were deify’d. The World +hath not stood so long but we can still run it up to those artless Ages, +when Mortals liv’d by plain Nature; when there was but one Trade in the +World, one Calling, to look to their Flocks; and afterwards to till the +Ground, when Nature grew less liberal: And may we not reasonably think +this the Beginning of Mankind, or very near it? If Man be a Creature, +both naturally sagacious to find out its own Conveniencies, and +naturally sociable and inclin’d to live in a Community, a little Time +would make them find out and furnish themselves with what was necessary +in these two kinds, for the Conveniencies of single Life, and the +Conveniencies of Societies; they would not have liv’d infinite Ages, +unprovided of them. If you say _Necessity_ is the Mother of Arts and +Inventions, and there was no Necessity before, and therefore these +things were so slowly invented; this is a good Answer upon our +Supposition, that the World began but some Ages before these were found +out, and was abundant with all Things at first; and Men not very +numerous, and therefore were not put so much to the use of their Wits, +to find out Ways for living commodiously. But this is no Answer upon +their Supposition; for if the World was eternal and Men too, there were +no first Ages, no new and fresh Earth; Men were never less numerous, nor +the Earth more fruitful; and consequently there was never less Necessity +at any time than is now. This also brings to Mind another Argument +against this Opinion, (_viz._) from the gradual Increase of Mankind. +’Tis certain the World was not so populous one or two thousand Years +since, as it is now, seeing ’tis observ’d in particular Nations, that +within the Space of two or three hundred Years, notwithstanding all +Casualties, the Number of Men doubles. If then the Earth had stood from +Everlasting, it had been overstock’d long ere this, and would not have +been capable to contain its Inhabitants many Ages and Millions of Ages +ago. Whereas we find the Earth is not yet sufficiently inhabited, and +there is still Room for some Millions. And we must not fly to universal +Deluges and Conflagrations to destroy Mankind; for besides that the +Earth was not capable of a Deluge in this present Form, nor would have +been in this Form after a Conflagration, _Aristotle_ doth not admit of +these universal Changes, nor any that hold the Form of the Earth to be +eternal. But to return to our Arts and Inventions. + +WE have spoken of practical Arts and Inventions useful in human Life; +then for Theoretical Learning and Sciences, there is nothing yet +finish’d or compleat in these; and what is known hath been chiefly the +Production of latter Ages. How little hath been discover’d till of late, +either of our own Bodies, or of the Body of the Earth, and of the +Functions or Motions of Nature in either? What more obvious, one would +think, than the Circulation of the Blood? What can more excite our +Curiosity than the flowing and ebbing of the Sea? Than the Nature of +Metals and Minerals? These are either yet unknown, or were so at least +till this last Age; which seems to me, to have made a greater Progress +than all Ages before put together, since the beginning of the World. How +unlikely is it then that these Ages were Eternal? That the Eternal +Studies of our Fore-fathers could not effect so much as a few Years have +done of late? And the whole Mass of Knowledge in this Earth doth not +seem to be so great, but that a few Ages more, with two or three happy +Genius’s in them, may bring to light all that we are capable to +understand in this State of Mortality. + +TO these Arguments concerning the Novelty of the Earth, and the Origin +of Mankind, I know there are some shuffling Excuses made, but they can +have little Effect upon those Instances we have chosen. And I would ask +those Eternalists one fair Question, What Mark is there that they could +expect or desire of the Novelty of a World, that is not found in this? +Or what Mark is there of Eternity that is found in this? If then their +Opinion be without any positive Argument, and against all Appearances in +Nature, it may be justly rejected as unreasonable upon all Accounts. +’Tis not the bold asserting of a Thing that makes it true, or that makes +it credible against Evidence. If one should assert that such an one had +liv’d from all Eternity, and I could bring Witnesses that knew him a +Sucking-child, and others that remembred him a School-boy, I think it +would be a fair Proof, that the Man was not Eternal. So if there be +Evidence, either in Reason or History, that it is not very many Ages +since Nature was in her Minority, as appears by all those Instances we +have given above; some whereof trace her down to her very Infancy: This, +I think, may be taken for a good Proof that she is not Eternal. And I do +not doubt, but if the History of the World was writ Philosophically, +giving an Account of the several States of Mankind in several Ages, and +by what Steps or Degrees they came from their first Rudeness or +Simplicity to that Order of Things, both Intellectual and Civil, which +the World is advanc’d to at present, That alone would be a full +Conviction, that the Earth and Mankind had a Beginning. As the Story of +_Rome_, how it rose from a mean Original, by what degrees it increas’d, +and how it chang’d its Form and Government till it came to its +Greatness, doth satisfy us very well, that the _Roman_ Empire was not +Eternal. + +THUS much concerning the Temporal Original of the Earth. We are now to +consider the manner of it, and to shew how it rose from a Chaos. I do +not remember that any of the Ancients that acknowledge the Earth to have +had an Original, did deny that Original to have been from a Chaos. We +are assur’d of both from the Authority of _Moses_, who saith, that in +the Beginning the Earth was _Tohu Bohu_, without Form and Void; a fluid, +dark, confus’d Mass, without Distinction of Elements; and made up of all +Variety of Parts, but without Order, or any determinate Form; which is +the true Description of a Chaos: And so it is understood by the general +Consent of Interpreters both Hebrew and Christian. We need not therefore +spend any time here to prove, that the Origin of the Earth was from a +Chaos, seeing that it is agreed on by all that give it any Origin. But +we will proceed immediately to examine into what Form it first rose when +it came out of that Chaos; or what was the primæval Form of the Earth, +that continued till the Deluge, and how the Deluge depended upon it, and +upon its Dissolution. + +And, that we may proceed in this Enquiry by such easy steps as any one +may readily follow, we will divide it into Three Propositions, whereof +the first is this in general; _that the Form of the Antediluvian Earth, +or of the Earth that rose first from the Chaos, was different from the +Form of the present Earth_. I say, _different in general_, without +specifying yet what its particular Form was, which shall be exprest in +the following Proposition. + +THIS first Proposition we have in effect prov’d in the second Chapter; +where we have shewn, that if the Earth had been always in this Form, it +would not have been capable of a Deluge; seeing that could not have been +effected without such an infinite Mass of Water as could neither be +brought upon the Earth, nor afterward any way removed from it. But we +will not content our selves with that Proof only, but will prove it also +from the Nature of the Chaos, and the manifest Consequences of it. And +because this is a leading Proposition, we think it not improper to prove +it also from Divine Authority, there being a pregnant Passage to this +Purpose in the Writings of St. _Peter_. Where treating of this very +Subject, the Deluge, he manifestly puts a difference between the +Antediluvian Earth and the present Earth, as to their Form and +Constitution. The Discourse is in the second Epistle of St. _Peter_, the +third Chapter, where certain Deists, as they seem to have been, laught +at the Prophecy of the Day of Judgment, and of the Conflagration of the +World, using this Argument against it, _That since the Fathers fell +asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning_. All +External Nature hath continued the same without any remarkable Change or +Alteration, and why should we believe, say they, there will be any? What +Appearance, or what Foundation is there of such a Revolution, that all +Nature will be dissolved, and the Heavens and the Earth consum’d with +Fire, as your Prophecies pretend? So from the Permanency and +Immutability of Nature hitherto, they argu’d its Permanency and +Immutability for the future. To this the _Apostle_ answers, that they +are willing to forget, that the Heavens and the Earth of old had a +particular Form and Constitution as to Water, by reason whereof the +World, that then was, perish’d by a Deluge. And the Heavens and the +Earth that are now, or since the Deluge, have a particular Constitution +in reference to Fire, by reason whereof they are expos’d to another sort +of Destruction or Dissolution, namely by Fire, or by an universal +Conflagration. The Words of the Apostle, _Chap. iii. v. 5, 6, 7._ are +these; _For this they are willingly ignorant of, that by the Word of God +the Heavens were of old, and the Earth, consisting of Water, and by +Water_; or (as we render it) _standing out of the Water, and in the +Water; wherein the World that then was, being overflow’d with Water, +perish’d. But the Heavens and the Earth that are now, by the same Word +are kept in store, reserv’d unto Fire against the Day of Judgment_. We +shall have occasion, it may be, hereafter to give a full Illustration of +these Words; but at present we shall only take notice of this in +general, that the Apostle here doth plainly intimate some difference +that was between the old World and the present World, in their Form and +Constitution; or betwixt the Antediluvian and the present Earth, by +reason of which difference, that was subject to perish by a Deluge, as +this is subject to perish by Conflagration. And as this is the general +Air and Importance of this Discourse of the Apostle’s, which every one +at first sight would discover; so we may in several particular ways +prove from it our first Proposition, which now we must return to; +(_viz._) _That the Form and Constitution of the Antediluvian Earth was +different from that of the present Earth._ This may be inferr’d from the +Apostle’s Discourse, first, because he makes an opposition betwixt these +two Earths, or these two natural Worlds; and that not only in respect of +their Fate, the one perishing by Water, as the other will perish by +Fire, but also in respect of their different Disposition and +Constitution leading to this different Fate; for otherwise his _fifth +Verse_ is superfluous, and his Inference in the _sixth_ ungrounded; you +see he premiseth in the _fifth Verse_ as the Ground of his Discourse, +what the Constitution of the antediluvian Heavens and Earth was, and +then infers from it in the _sixth Verse_, that they therefore perish’d +in a Deluge of Water. Now if they had been the same with ours, there had +neither been any Ground for making an Opposition betwixt them, nor any +Ground of making a contrary Inference as to their Fate. Besides, in that +he implies that the Constitution of the antediluvian Earth was such, as +made it subject to a Deluge; he shews that it was different from the +Constitution of the present Earth; for the Form of that is such, as +makes it rather incapable of a Deluge, as we have shewn in the second +Chapter. Then we are to observe further, that when he saith (_v. 6._) +that the first World perish’d in a Deluge, or was destroy’d by it; this +is not to be understood of the animate World only, Men and living +Creatures, but of the natural world, and the Frame of it; for he had +describ’d it before by the Heavens and the Earth, which make the natural +World. And the Objection of the Atheists, or Deists rather, which he was +to answer, proceeded upon the natural World. And lastly, this perishing +of the world in a Deluge is set against, or compar’d with the perishing +of the World in the Conflagration, when the Frame of Nature will be +dissolv’d. We must therefore, according to the Tenor of the Apostle’s +arguing, suppose, that the natural World was destroy’d or perish’d in +the Deluge; and seeing it did not perish as to Matter and Substance, it +must be as to the Form, Frame and Composition of it, that it perish’d; +and consequently, the present Earth is of another Form and Frame from +what it had before the Deluge; which was the thing to be proved. + +LASTLY, Let us consider what it is the Apostle tells these Scoffers that +they were ignorant of: Not that there was a Deluge, they could not be +ignorant of that; nor doth he tell them that they were. But he tells +them that they were ignorant that the Heavens and the Earth of old were +so and so constituted, after a different manner than they are now, and +that the State of Nature was chang’d at the Deluge; if they had known or +attended to this, they had made no such Objection, nor us’d any such +Argument as they did against the future Conflagration of the World. They +pretended that there had been no Change in Nature since the beginning, +and the Apostle in answer tells them, that they are willingly ignorant +of the first Constitution of the Heavens, and the Earth, and of that +Change and Dissolution that happen’d to them in the Deluge; and how the +present Heavens and Earth have another Constitution, whereby in like +manner they are expos’d, in God’s due time, to be consum’d or dissolv’d +by Fire. This is the plain, easy and natural Import of the Apostle’s +Discourse; thus all the Parts of it are coherent, and the Sense genuine +and apposite, and this is a full Confirmation of our first and general +Assertion, That _the antediluvian Earth was of another Form from the +present Earth_. This hath been observ’d formerly by some of the Ancients +from this Text, but that it hath not been generally observ’d, was partly +because they had no Theory to back such an Interpretation, and make it +intelligible; and partly because they did not observe, that the +Apostle’s Discourse here was an Argumentation, and not a bare +Affirmation, or simple Contradiction to those that rais’d the Scruple; +’tis an Answer upon a Ground taken, he premiseth, and then infers, in +the _fifth_ and _sixth_ Verses, concerning the Deluge; and in the +_seventh_, concerning the Conflagration. And when I had discover’d in my +Thoughts from the Consideration of the Deluge, and other natural +Reasons, that the Earth was certainly once in another Form, it was a +great Assurance and Confirmation to me, when I reflected on this place +of St. _Peter_’s; which seems to be so much directed and intended for +the same purpose, or to teach us the same Conclusion, that though I +design’d chiefly a Philosophical Theory of these Things, yet I should +not have thought we had been just to Providence, if we had neglected to +take Notice of this Passage and Sacred Evidence; which seems to have +been left us on purpose to excite our Enquiries, and strengthen our +Reasonings, concerning the first State of Things. Thus much from Divine +Authority: We proceed now to prove the same Proposition from Reason and +Philosophy, and the Contemplation of the Chaos, from whence the first +Earth arose. + +WE need not upon this Occasion make a particular Description of the +Chaos, but only consider it as a fluid Mass, or a Mass of all sorts of +little Parts and Particles of Matter mix’d together, and floating in +Confusion, one with another. ’Tis impossible that the Surface of this +Mass should be of such a Form and Figure, as the Surface of our present +Earth is: Or that any Concretion or consistent State which this Mass +could flow into immediately, or first settle in, could be of such a Form +and Figure as our present Earth. The first of these Assertions is of +easy proof; for a fluid Body, we know, whether it be Water or any other +Liquor, always casts it self into a smooth and spherical Surface; and if +any Parts, by Chance, or by some Agitation, become higher than the rest, +they do not continue so, but glide down again every way into the lower +Places, till they all come to make a Surface of the same height, and of +the same distance every where from the Center of their Gravity. A +Mountain of Water is a thing impossible in Nature, and where there are +no Mountains there are no Valleys. So also a Den or Cave within the +Water, that hath no Walls but the liquid Element, is a Structure unknown +to Art or Nature; all things there must be full within, and even and +level without, unless some external Force keep them by Violence in +another Posture. But is this the Form of our Earth, which is neither +regularly made within nor without? The Surface and exterior Parts are +broken into all sorts of Inequalities, Hills and Dales, Mountains and +Valleys; and the plainer Tracts of it lie generally inclin’d or bending +one way or other, sometimes upon an easy Descent, and other times with a +more sensible and uneasy Steepness; and though the great Mountains of +the Earth were taken all away, the remaining parts would be more unequal +than the roughest Sea; whereas the Face of the Earth should resemble the +Face of the calmest Sea, if it was still in the Form of its first Mass. +But what shall we say then to the huge Mountains of the Earth, which lie +sometimes in Lumps or Clusters heapt up by one another, sometimes +extended in long Ridges or Chains, for many hundred Miles in length? And +’tis remarkable, that in every Continent, and in every ancient and +original Island, there is either such a Cluster, or such a Chain of +Mountains. And can there be any more palpable Demonstrations than these +are, that the Surface of the Earth is not in the same Form that the +Surface of the Chaos was, or that any fluid Mass can stand or hold it +self in? + +THEN for the Form of the Earth within or under its Surface, ’tis no less +impossible for the Chaos to imitate that; for ’tis full of Cavities and +empty Places, of Dens and broken Holes, whereof some are open to the +Air, and others cover’d and enclos’d wholly within the Ground. These are +both of them unimitable in any liquid Substance, whose Parts will +necessarily flow together into one continued Mass, and cannot be divided +into Apartments and separate Rooms, nor have Vaults or Caverns made +within it; the Walls would sink, and the Roof fall in: For liquid Bodies +have nothing to sustain their Parts, nor any thing to cement them; they +are all loose and incoherent, and in a perpetual Flux: Even an heap of +Sand or fine Powder will suffer no Hollowness within them, though they +be dry Substances, and though the Parts of them being rough will hang +together a little and stand a little upon an Heap; but the Parts of +Liquors being glib, and continually in motion, they fall off from one +another, which way soever Gravity inclines them, and can neither have +any Hills or Eminencies on their Surface, nor any Hollowness within +their Substance. + +YOU will acknowledge, it may be, that this is true, and that a liquid +Mass or Chaos, while it was liquid, was incapable of either the outward +or inward Form of the Earth; but when it came to a Concretion, to a +State of Consistency and Firmness, then it might go, you’ll say, into +any Form. No, not in its first Concretion, nor in its first State of +Consistence; for that would be of the same Form that the Surface of it +was when it was liquid, as Water when it congeals, the Surface of the +Ice is smooth and level, as the Surface of the Water was before; so +Metals, or any other Substances melted, or Liquors that of themselves +grow stiff and harden, always settle into the same Form which they had +when they were last liquid, and are always solid within, and smooth +without, unless they be cast in a Mould, that hinders the Motion and +Flux of the Parts. 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 in; for that is the Mould, as it were, upon which it +is cast; as the Shell of an Egg is of a like Form with the Surface of +the Liquor it lies upon. And therefore by Analogy with all other Liquors +and Concretions, the Form of the Chaos, whether liquid or concrete, +could not be the same with that of the present Earth, or like it: And +consequently, that Form of the first or primogenial Earth which rose +immediately out of the Chaos, was not the same, nor like to that of the +present Earth; which was the first and preparatory Proposition we laid +down to be prov’d. And this being prov’d by the Authority both of our +Reason and our Religion, we will now proceed to the second which is more +particular. + + + + + CHAP. V. + + + _The Second Proposition is laid down, viz. That the Face of the + Earth before the Deluge was smooth, regular, and uniform; without + Mountains, and without a Sea. The Chaos out of which the World rose + is fully examin’d, and all its Motions observ’d, and by what Steps + it wrought it self into an habitable World. Some Things in Antiquity + relating to the first State of the Earth are interpreted, and some + Things in the Sacred Writings. The Divine Art and Geometry in the + Construction of the first Earth is observ’d and celebrated._ + + +WE have seen it prov’d, in the foregoing Chapter, That the Form of the +first or antediluvian Earth was not the same, nor like the Form of the +present Earth. This is our first Discovery at a distance, but ’tis only +general and negative, tells us what the Form of that Earth was not, but +tells us not expresly what it was; that must be our next Enquiry, and +advancing one step farther in our Theory, we lay down this second +Proposition: _That the Face of the Earth before the Deluge was smooth, +regular, and uniform; without Mountains, and without a Sea_. This is a +bold Step, and carries us into another World, which we have never seen, +nor ever yet heard any relation of; and a World, it seems, of very +different Scenes and Prospects from ours, or from any thing we have yet +known. An Earth without a Sea, and plain as the _Elysian_ Fields; if you +travel it all over, you will not meet with a Mountain or a Rock, yet +well provided of all requisite things for an habitable World; and the +same indeed with the Earth we still inhabit, only under another Form. +And this is the great Thing that now comes into debate, the great +Paradox which we offer to be examined, and which we affirm, That the +Earth, in its first Rise and Formation from a Chaos, was of the Form +here described, and so continued for many hundreds of Years. + +TO examine and prove this, we must return to the beginning of the World, +and to that Chaos out of which the Earth and all sublunary things arose: +’Tis the Motions and Progress of this, which we must now consider, and +what Form it settled into when it first became an habitable World. + +NEITHER is it perhaps such an intricate Thing as we imagine at first +Sight, to trace a Chaos into an habitable World; at least there is a +particular Pleasure to see things in their Origin, and by what Degrees +and successive Changes they rise into that Order and State we see them +in afterwards, when compleated. I am sure, if ever we would view the +Paths of Divine Wisdom, in the Works and in the Conduct of Nature, we +must not only consider how Things are, but how they came to be so. ’Tis +pleasant to look upon a Tree in the Summer, cover’d with its green +Leaves, deckt with Blossoms, or laden with Fruit, and casting a pleasing +Shade under its spreading Boughs; but to consider how this Tree with all +its Furniture sprang from a little Seed; how Nature shap’d it, and fed +it, in its Infancy and Growth; added new Parts, and still advanc’d it by +little and little, ’till it came to this Greatness and Perfection: This, +methinks, is another sort of Pleasure, more rational, less common, and +which is properly the Contemplation of Divine Wisdom in the Works of +Nature. So to view this Earth, and this sublunary World, as it is now +complete, distinguish’d into the several Orders of Bodies of which it +consists, every one perfect and admirable in its kind; this is truly +delightful, and a very good Entertainment of the Mind: But to see all +these in their first Seeds, as I may so say; to take in Pieces this +Frame of Nature, and melt it down into its first Principles; and then to +observe how the Divine Wisdom wrought all these Things out of Confusion +into Order, and out of Simplicity into that beautiful Composition we now +see them in; this, methinks, is another kind of Joy, which pierceth the +Mind more deep, and is more satisfactory. And to give our selves and +others this Satisfaction, we will first make a short Representation of +the Chaos, and then shew, how, according to Laws establish’d in Nature +by the Divine Power and Wisdom, it was wrought by degrees from one Form +into another, ’till it settled at length into an habitable Earth; and +that of such a Frame and Structure, as we have described in this second +Proposition. + +BY the Chaos I understand the Matter of the Earth and Heavens, without +Form or Order; reduc’d into a fluid Mass, wherein are the Materials and +Ingredients of all Bodies, but mingled in Confusion one with another. As +if you should suppose all sorts of Metals, Gold, Silver, Lead, _&c._ +melted down together in a common Mass, and so mingled, that the Parts of +no one Metal could be discern’d as distinct from the rest, this would be +a little Metallick Chaos: Suppose then, the Elements thus mingled, Air, +Water and Earth, which are the Principles of all Terrestrial Bodies; +mingled, I say, without any Order of higher or lower, heavier or +lighter, solid or volatile, in such a kind of confus’d Mass as is here +represented in the first Scheme. + +[Illustration: Book 1 Figure 1. A confused spherical Mass of matter.] + +LET this then represent to us the Chaos; in which the first Change that +we should imagine to happen would be this, that the heaviest and +grossest Parts would sink down towards the middle of it, (for there we +suppose the Center of its Gravity) and the rest would float above. These +grosser Parts thus sunk down and compress’d more and more, would harden +by degrees, and constitute the interiour Parts of the Earth: The rest of +the Mass, which swims above, would be also divided by the same Principle +of Gravity into two Orders of Bodies, the one liquid like Water, the +other volatile like Air. For the more fine and active Parts +disentangling themselves by degrees from the rest would mount above +them; and having Motion enough to keep them upon the Wing, would play in +those open Places where they constitute that Body we call AIR. The other +Parts being grosser than these, and having a more languid Motion, could +not fly up separate from one another, as these did, but settled in a +Mass together, under the Air, upon the Body of the Earth, composing not +only Water strictly so called, but the whole Mass of Liquors, or liquid +Bodies, belonging to the Earth. And these first Separations being thus +made, the Body of the Chaos would stand in that Form which it is here +represented in by the second Scheme. + +[Illustration: Book 1 Figure 2. Concentric spheres of Matter, the +heaviest nearest the center.] + +THE liquid Mass which encircled the Earth was not, as I noted before, +the mere Element of Water, but a Collection of all Liquors that belong +to the Earth: I mean of all that do originally belong to it. Now seeing +there are two chief kinds of Terrestrial Liquors, those that are fat, +oily and light; and those that are lean and more earthy, like common +Water; which two are generally found in compound Liquors; we cannot +doubt but there were of both sorts in this common Mass of Liquids. And +it being well known, that these two kinds mix’d together, if left to +themselves and the general Action of Nature, separate one from another +when they come to settle, as in Cream and thin Milk, Oil and Water, and +such like; we cannot but conclude, that the same Effect would follow +here, and the more oily and light Part of this Mass would get above the +other, and swim upon it. The whole Mass being divided into two lesser +Masses, and so the Globe would stand as we see it in the third Figure. + +[Illustration: Book 1 Figure 3. The concentric spheres with heavy matter +inner-most, with heavier and the lighter liquids in spheres above.] + +HITHERTO the Changes of the Chaos are easy and unquestionable, and would +be dispatcht in a short time; we must now look over again these two +great Masses of the _Air_ and _Water_, and consider how their Impurities +or grosser Parts would be dispos’d of; for we cannot imagine but they +were both at first very muddy and impure: And as the Water would have +its Sediment, which we are not here concern’d to look after, so the +great Regions of the Air would certainly have their Sediment too; for +the Air was as yet thick, gross and dark, there being an abundance of +little Terrestrial Particles swimming in it still, after the grossest +were sunk down; which, by their Heaviness and lumpish Figure, made their +way more easily and speedily. The lesser and lighter which remain’d +would sink too, but more slowly, and in a longer time; so as in their +Descent they would meet with that oily Liquor upon the Face of the Deep, +or upon the watery Mass, which would entangle and stop them from passing +any further; whereupon mixing there with that unctuous Substance, they +compos’d a certain Slime, or fat, soft, and light Earth, spread upon the +Face of the Waters; as ’tis represented in the fourth Figure. + +[Illustration: Book 1 Figure 4. The liquid layers have rearranged by +heaviness and oilyness.] + +THIS thin and tender Orb of Earth increas’d still more and more, as the +little earthy Parts that were detain’d in the Air could make their way +to it. Some having a long Journey from the upper Regions, and others +being very light would float up and down a good while, before they could +wholly disengage themselves and descend. But this was the general +Rendezvous, which sooner or later they all got to, and mingling more and +more with that oily Liquor, they suckt it all up at length, and were +wholly incorporate together, and so began to grow more stiff and firm, +making both but one Substance, which was the first Concretion, or firm +and consistent Substance that rose upon the Face of the Chaos. And the +whole Globe stood in this Posture, as in Figure the fifth. + +[Illustration: Book 1 Figure 5. The tiny Earthy parts from above have +settled down out of the Air, the rings marked 1, 2, and 3 from outside +to in.] + +[Illustration: Book 1 Figure 6. Another view of the Rings.] + +IT may be, you will say, we take our Liberty, and our own time for the +Separation of these two Liquors, the oily and the earthy, the lighter +and the heavier; and suppose that done before the Air was clear’d of +earthy Particles, that so they might be catcht and stopt there in their +Descent. Whereas if all these Particles were fallen out of the Air +before that Separation was made in the liquid Mass, they would fall down +through the Water, as the first did, and so no Concretion would be made, +nor any earthy Crust form’d upon the Face of the Waters, as we here +suppose there was. ’Tis true, there could be no such Orb of Earth form’d +there, if the Air was wholly purg’d of all its earthy Parts before the +Mass of Liquids began to purify it self, and to separate the oily Parts +from the more heavy: But this is an unreasonable and incredible +Supposition, if we consider, the Mass of the Air was many thousand Times +greater than the Water, and would in Proportion require a greater Time +to be purify’d; the Particles that were in the Regions of the Air having +a long way to come before they reach’d the watery Mass, and far longer +than the oily Particles had to rise from any Part of that Mass to the +Surface of it. Besides, we may suppose a great many degrees of +Littleness and Lightness in these earthy Particles, so as many of them +might float in the Air a good while, like Exhalations before they fell +down. And lastly, We do not suppose the Separation of these two Liquors +wholly made and finish’d before the Purgation of the Air began, tho’ we +represent them so for Distinction sake: Let them begin to purify at the +same time, if you please, these Parts rising upwards, and those falling +downwards, they will meet in the middle, and unite and grow into one +Body, as we have describ’d. And this Body or new Concretion would be +increas’d daily, being fed and supply’d both from above and below; and +having done growing, it would become more dry by degrees, and of a +Temper of greater Consistency and Firmness, so as truly to resemble and +be fit to make an habitable Earth, such as Nature intended it for. + +BUT you will further object, it may be, that such an Effect as this +would indeed be necessary in some Degree and Proportion, but not in such +a Proportion, and in such Quantity, as would be sufficient to make this +Crust or concrete Orb an habitable Earth. This I confess appear’d to me +at first a real Difficulty, till I consider’d better the great +disproportion there is betwixt the Regions of the Air and the +Circumference of the Earth, or of that exterior Orb of the Earth, we are +now a making; which being many thousand times less in Depth and Extent +than the Regions of the Air, taken as high as the Moon, tho’ these +earthy Particles we speak of were very thinly dispers’d thro’ those vast +Tracks of the Air, when they came to be collected and amass’d together +upon the Surface of a far lesser Sphere, they would constitute a Body of +a very considerable Thickness and Solidity. We see the Earth sometimes +cover’d with Snow two or three Feet deep, made up only of little Flakes +or Pieces of Ice, which falling from the middle Region of the Air, and +meeting with the Earth in their Descent, are there stop’d and heap’d up +one upon another. But if we should suppose little Particles of Earth to +shower down, not only from the middle Region, but from the whole +Capacity and Extent of those vast Spaces that are betwixt us and the +Moon, we could not imagine but these would constitute an Orb of Earth +some thousands of times deeper than the greatest Snow; which being +increas’d and swoln by that oily Liquor it fell into, and incorporated +with, it would be thick, strong, and great enough in all respects to +render it an habitable Earth. + +WE cannot doubt therefore but such a Body as this would be form’d, and +would be sufficient in Quantity for an habitable Earth. Then for the +Quality of it, it will answer all the Purposes of a _Rising World_. What +can be a more proper Seminary for Plants and Animals, than a Soil of +this Temper and Composition? A finer and lighter sort of Earth, mix’d +with a benign Juice, easy and obedient to the Action of the Sun, or of +what other Causes were employ’d by the Author of Nature, for the +Production of Things in the new made Earth. What sort or disposition of +matter could be more fit and ready to catch Life from Heaven, and to be +drawn into all Forms than the Rudiments of Life, or the Bodies of living +Creatures would require? What Soil more proper for Vegetation than this +warm Moisture, which could have no Fault, unless it was too fertile and +luxuriant? And that is no Fault neither at the beginning of a World. +This I am sure of, that the Learned amongst the Ancients, both _Greeks_, +_Ægyptians_, _Phœnicians_, and others, have described the primogenial +Soil, Ἰλὺς πρωτογενὴς, or the Temper of the Earth, that was the first +Subject for the Generation and Origin of Plants and Animals, after such +a manner, as is truly express’d, and I think with Advantage, by this +Draught of the primogenial Earth. + +THUS much concerning the Matter of the first Earth. Let us reflect a +little upon the Form of it also, whether external or internal; both +whereof do manifestly shew themselves from the manner of its Production +or Formation. As to the external Form, you see it is according to the +Proposition we were to prove, _smooth, regular and uniform, without +Mountains; and without a Sea_. And the Proof we have given of it is very +easy: The Globe of the Earth could not possibly rise immediately from a +Chaos into the irregular Form in which it is at present. The Chaos being +a fluid Mass, which we know doth necessarily fall into a Spherical +Surface, whose Parts are equi-distant from the Center, and consequently +in an equal and even Convexity one with another. And seeing upon the +Distinction of a Chaos and Separation into several Elementary Masses, +the Water would naturally have a superiour Place to the Earth, ’tis +manifest, that there could be no habitable Earth form’d out of the +Chaos, unless by some Concretion upon the Face of the Water. Then +lastly, 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 +upon, there being no Causes, that we know of, to make any Inequality in +it, we must conclude it equal and uniform, and without Mountains, as +also without a Sea; 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 upon. + +THE Contemplation of these things, and of this Posture of the Earth upon +the Waters, doth so strongly bring to Mind certain Passages of +Scripture, (which will recur in another Place) that we cannot, without +Injury to Truth, pass them by here in silence. Passages that have such a +manifest Resemblance and Agreement to this Form and Situation of the +Earth, that they seem visibly to point at it: Such are those Expressions +of the Psalmist, _God hath founded the Earth upon the Seas_. And in +another Psalm, speaking of the Wisdom and Power of God in the Creation, +he saith, _To him who alone doth great wonders; to him that by Wisdom +made the Heavens; to him that extended or stretched out the Earth above +the Waters_. What can be more plain or proper to denote that Form of the +Earth that we have describ’d, and to express particularly the Inclosure +of the Waters within the Earth, as we have represented them? He saith in +another Place, _By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens made; he shut +up the Waters of the Sea as in Bags_, (for so the Word is to be +render’d, and is render’d by all, except the _English_) _and laid up the +Abyss as in Store-houses._ This, you see, is very conformable to that +System of the Earth and Sea, which we have propos’d here. Yet there is +something more express than all this, in that remarkable place in the +_Proverbs_ of _Solomon_, where _Wisdom_ declaring her Antiquity and +Existence before the Foundation of the Earth, amongst other things +saith, _Prov. viii. 27._ _When he prepared the Heavens, I was there: +When he drew an Orb over the Surface of the Abyss_; or when he set an +Orb upon the Face of the Abyss. We render it in the _English_, a +_Compass_, or _Circle_, but ’tis more truly render’d an Orb or Sphere; +and what Orb or Spherical Body was this, which at the Formation of the +Earth was built and plac’d round about the Abyss, but that wonderful +Arch, whose Form and Production we have describ’d, encompassing the Mass +of Waters, which in Scripture is often call’d the Abyss or Deep? [_See +Fig. 5. p. 78._ This Orb is represented by the Circle 1. and the Abyss +by the Region 2.] Lastly, This Scheme of the first Earth gives Light to +that Place we mention’d before of St. _Peter_’s, where the first Earth +is said to _consist of Water, and by Water_; and by reason thereof was +obnoxious to a Deluge. The first Part of this Character is plain from +the Description now given; and the second will appear in the following +Chapter. In the mean time, concerning these Passages of Scripture, which +we have cited, we may truly and modestly say, that though they would +not, it may be, without a Theory premis’d, have been taken or +interpreted in this Sense; yet this Theory being premis’d, I dare appeal +to any unprejudic’d Person, if they have not a fairer and easier, a more +full and more emphatical Sense, when apply’d to that Form of the Earth +and Sea we are now speaking of, than to their present Form, or to any +other we can imagine. + +THUS much concerning the external Form of the first Earth. Let us now +reflect a little upon the internal Form of it, which consists of several +Regions, involving one another like Orbs about the same Center, or of +the several Elements cast circularly about each other; as it appears in +the fourth and fifth Figure. And as we have noted the external Form of +this primæval Earth, to have been mark’d and celebrated in the Sacred +Writings; so likewise in the Philosophy and Learning of the Ancients, +there are several Remains and Indications of this internal Form and +Composition of it. For ’tis observable, that the Ancients in treating of +the Chaos, and in raising the World out of it, rang’d it into several +Regions or Masses, as we have done; and in that Order successively, +rising one from another, as if it was a Pedigree or Genealogy. And those +Parts and Regions of Nature, into which the Chaos was by degrees +divided, they signified commonly by dark and obscure Names; as the +_Night_, _Tartarus_, _Oceanus_, and such like, which we have express’d +in their plain and proper Terms. And whereas the Chaos, when it was +first set on Work, ran all into Divisions and Separations of one Element +from another, which afterwards were all in some Measure united and +associated in this primogenial Earth; the Ancients accordingly made +_Contention_ the Principle that reign’d in the Chaos at first, and then +_Love:_ The one to express the Divisions, and the other the Union of all +Parties in this middle and common Bond. These, and such like Notions, +which we find in the Writings of the Ancients figuratively and darkly +delivered, receive a clearer Light, when compar’d with this Theory of +the Chaos; which representing every thing plainly, and in its natural +Colours, is a Key to their Thoughts, and an Illustration of their +obscurer Philosophy, concerning the original of the world; as we have +shewn at large in the _Latin_ Treatise, _Lib. 2. chap. 7._ + +THERE is another Thing in Antiquity, relating to the Form and +Construction of the Earth, which is very remarkable, and hath obtain’d +throughout all learned Nations and Ages. And that is the Comparison or +Resemblance of the Earth to an _Egg_. And this is not so much for its +external Figure, tho’ that be true too, as for the inward Composition of +it; consisting of several Orbs, one including another, and in that +Order, as to answer the several Elementary Regions of which the new made +Earth was constituted. For if we admit for the _Yolk_ a Central Fire +(which tho’ very reasonable, we had no occasion to take Notice of in our +Theory of the Chaos) and suppose the Figure of the Earth _Oval_, and a +little extended towards the Poles, (as probably it was, seeing the +Vortex that contains it is so) those two Bodies do very naturally +represent one another, as in this Scheme, which represents the interior +Faces of both, a divided _Egg_, or Earth. Where, as the two inmost +Regions (A, B,) represent the Yolk and the Membrane that lies next above +it; so the exterior Region of the Earth (D) is as the Shell of the Egg, +and the Abyss (C) under it as the White that lies under the Shell. And +considering that this Notion of the _Mundane Egg_, or that the World was +_Oviform_, hath been the Sense and Language of all Antiquity, _Latins_, +_Greeks_, _Persians_, _Ægyptians_, and others, as we have shew’d +elsewhere, [_Tell. Theor. Sac. lib. 2. c. 10._] I thought it worthy our +Notice in this Place; seeing it receives such a clear and easy +Explication from that Origin and Fabrick we have given to the first +Earth, and also reflects Light upon the Theory it self, and confirms it +to be no Fiction: This Notion, which is a kind of Epitome, or Image of +it, having been conserv’d in the most Ancient Learning. + +THUS much concerning the first Earth, its Production and Form; and +concerning our second Proposition relating to it; which being prov’d by +Reason, the Laws of Nature, and the Motions of the Chaos; then attested +by Antiquity, both as to the Matter and Form of it; and confirm’d by +Sacred Writers, we may take it now for a well establish’d Truth, and +proceed upon this Supposition, _That the antediluvian Earth was smooth +and uniform, without Mountains or Sea_, to the Explication of the +Universal Deluge. + +GIVE me leave only, before we proceed any further, to annex here a short +Advertisement, concerning the Causes of this wonderful Structure of the +first Earth. ’Tis true, we have propos’d the natural Causes of it, and I +do not know wherein our Explication is false or defective; but in Things +of this kind we may easily be too credulous. And this Structure is so +marvellous, that it ought rather to be consider’d as a particular Effect +of the Divine Art, than as the Work of Nature. The whole Globe of the +Water vaulted over, and the exterior Earth hanging above the Deep, +sustain’d by nothing but its own Measures and Manner of Construction: A +Building without Foundation or Corner-stone. This seems to be a Piece of +Divine Geometry or Architecture; and to this, I think, is to be referr’d +that magnificent Challenge which God Almighty made to _Job_, _Job +xxxviii. 4, 5, 6, 7,_ &c. _Where wast thou when I laid the Foundations +of the Earth? Declare if thou hast Understanding. Who hath laid the +Measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the Line upon +it? Whereupon are the Foundations thereof fastned? Or who laid the +Corner-stone thereof? When the Morning Stars sang together, and all the +Sons of God shouted for Joy._ _Moses_ also, when he had describ’d the +Chaos, saith, _The Spirit of God mov’d upon_, or sat brooding upon, _the +Face of the Waters_; without all doubt to produce some Effects there. +And St. _Peter_, when he speaks of the Form of the antediluvian Earth, +how it stood in reference to the Waters, adds, _By the Word of God_, Τῷ +λόγῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ, or by the Wisdom of God it was made so. And this same +_Wisdom_ of God, in the _Proverbs_, as we observed before, takes Notice +of this very piece of Work in the Formation of the Earth. _When he set +an Orb over the Face of the Deep, I was there_. And lastly, the ancient +Philosophers, or at least the best of them, to give them their due, +always brought in _Mens_ or _Amor_, Λόγος & Ἔρως, as a Supernatural +Principle to unite and consociate the parts of the Chaos; which was +first done in the Composition of this wonderful Arch of the Earth. +_Wherefore_ to the great Architect, who made the boundless Universe out +of nothing, and form’d the Earth out of a Chaos, let the Praise of the +whole Work, and particularly of this Masterpiece, for ever with all +Honour be given. + + + + + CHAP. VI. + + + _The Dissolution of the first Earth: The Deluge ensuing thereupon. + And the Form of the present Earth rising from the Ruins of the + first._ + + +WE have now brought to light the antediluvian Earth out of the dark Mass +of the Chaos; and not only described the Surface of it, [_See Fig. 5, & +6. pag. 78, & 87._] but laid open the inward parts, to shew in what +Order its Regions lay. Let us now close it up, and represent the Earth +entire, and in larger Propositions, more like an habitable World; as in +this Figure, where you see the smooth Convex of the Earth, and may +imagine the great Abyss spread under it; _as at the Aperture_, which two +are to be the only Subject of our further Contemplation. + +[Illustration: Book 1 Figure 7. The smooth Sphere of the Earth, with an +Aperture into it.] + +IN this smooth Earth were the first Scenes of the World, and the first +Generations of Mankind; it had the Beauty of Youth and blooming Nature, +fresh and fruitful, and not a Wrinkle, Scar or Fracture in all its Body; +no Rocks nor Mountains, no hollow Caves, nor gaping Channels, but even +and uniform all over. And the Smoothness of the Earth made the Face of +the Heavens so too; the Air was calm and serene; none of those +tumultuary Motions and Conflicts of Vapours, which the Mountains and the +Winds cause in ours: ’Twas suited to a golden Age, and to the first +Innocency of Nature. + +ALL this you’ll say is well, we are got into a pleasant World indeed, +but what’s this to the Purpose? What Appearance of a Deluge here, where +there is not so much as a Sea, nor half so much Water as we have in this +Earth? Or what Appearance of Mountains or Caverns, or other +Irregularities of the Earth, where all is level and united: So that +instead of loosing the Knot, this ties it the harder. You pretend to +shew us how the Deluge was made, and you lock up all the Waters within +the Womb of the Earth, and set Bars and Doors, and a Wall of +impenetrable Strength and Thickness to keep them there. And you pretend +to shew us the Original of Rocks and Mountains, and Caverns of the +Earth, and bring us to a wide and endless Plain, smooth as the calm Sea. + +THIS is all true, and yet we are not so far from the Sight and Discovery +of those Things as you imagine; draw but the Curtain, and these Scenes +will appear, or something very like ’em. We must remember that St. +_Peter_ told us, that the antediluvian Earth perished, or was +demolished; and _Moses_ saith, the _great Abyss_ was broken open at the +Deluge. Let us then suppose, that at a Time appointed by Divine +Providence, and from Causes made ready to do that great Execution upon a +sinful World, that this _Abyss_ was open’d, or that the Frame of the +Earth broke and fell down into the _great Abyss_. At this one stroke all +Nature would be chang’d, and this single Action would have two great and +visible Effects: The one Transient, and the other Permanent. First, an +Universal Deluge would overflow all the Parts and Regions of the broken +Earth during the great Commotion and Agitation of the Abyss, by the +violent Fall of the Earth into it. This would be the first and +unquestionable Effect of this Dissolution, and all that World would be +destroy’d. Then when the Agitation of the Abyss was asswag’d, and the +Waters by degrees were retir’d into their Channels, and the dry Land +appear’d, you would see the true Image of the present Earth in the Ruins +of the first. The Surface of the Globe would be divided into Land and +Sea; the Land would consist of Plains and Valleys and Mountains, +according as the Pieces of this Ruin were plac’d and dispos’d: Upon the +Banks of the Sea would stand the Rocks, and near the Shore would be +Islands, or lesser Fragments of Earth compass’d round by Water. Then as +to subterraneous Waters, and all subterraneous Caverns and Hollownesses, +upon this Supposition those things cou’d not be otherwise; for the Parts +would fall hollow in many Places in this, as in all other Ruins: And +seeing the Earth fell into this Abyss, the Waters at a certain Height +would flow into all those hollow Places and Cavities; and wou’d also +sink and insinuate into many Parts of the solid Earth. And though these +subterraneous Vaults or Holes, whether dry or full of Water, would be +more or less in all Places, where the Parts fell hollow; yet they would +be found especially about the Roots of the Mountains, and the higher +Parts of the Earth; for there the Sides bearing up one against the +other, they could not lie so close at the Bottoms, but many Vacuities +would be intercepted. Nor are there any other Inequalities or +Irregularities observable in the present Form of the Earth; whether in +the Surface of it, or interior Construction, whereof this _Hypothesis_ +doth give a ready, fair, and intelligible Account; and doth at one view +represent them all to us, with their Causes, as in a Glass: And whether +that Glass be true, and the Image answer to the Original, if you doubt +of it, we will hereafter examine them Piece by Piece. But in the first +Place, we must consider the general Deluge, how easily and truly this +Supposition represents and explains it, and answers all the Properties +and Conditions of it. + +I THINK it will be easily allow’d, that such a Dissolution of the Earth +as we have propos’d, and Fall of it into the Abyss, would certainly make +an Universal Deluge; and effectually destroy the old World, which +perish’d in it. But we have not yet particularly prov’d this +Dissolution, and in what manner the Deluge follow’d upon it: And to +assert things in gross never makes that firm Impression upon our +Understandings, and upon our Belief, as to see them deduc’d with their +Causes and Circumstances; and therefore we must endeavour to shew what +Preparations there were in Nature for this great Dissolution, and after +what manner it came to pass, and the Deluge in Consequence of it. + +WE have noted before, that _Moses_ imputed the Deluge to the Disruption +of the Abyss; and St. _Peter_, to the particular Constitution of that +Earth, which made it obnoxious to be absorpt in Water, so that our +Explication so far is justified. But it was below the Dignity of those +Sacred Pen-Men, or the Spirit of God that directed them, to shew us the +Causes of this Disruption, or of this Absorption; this is left to the +Enquiries of Men. For it was never the Design of Providence, to give +such particular Explications of natural Things, as should make us idle, +or the Use of Reason unnecessary; but on the contrary, by delivering +great Conclusions to us to excite our Curiosity and Inquisitiveness +after the Methods, by which such things were brought to pass: And it may +be there is no greater Trial or Instance of natural Wisdom, than to find +out the Channel, in which these great Revolutions of Nature, which we +treat on, flow and succeed one another. + +LET us therefore resume that System of the antediluvian Earth, which we +have deduc’d from the Chaos, and which we find to answer St. _Peter_’s +Description, and _Moses_’s Account of the Deluge. This Earth could not +be obnoxious to a Deluge, as the Apostle supposeth it to have been, but +by a Dissolution; for the Abyss was enclos’d within its Bowels. And +_Moses_ doth in effect tell us, there was such a Dissolution; when he +saith, _The Fountains of the great Abyss were broken open_. For +Fountains are broken open no otherwise than by breaking up the Ground +that covers them. We must therefore here enquire in what Order, and from +what Causes the Frame of this exterior Earth was dissolved, and then we +shall soon see how, upon that Dissolution, the Deluge immediately +prevail’d and overflow’d all the Parts of it. + +I DO not think it in the power of human Wit to determine how long this +Frame would stand, how many Years, or how many Ages; but one would soon +imagine, that this kind of Structure would not be perpetual, nor last +indeed many thousands of Years, if one consider the Effect that the Heat +of the Sun would have upon it, and the Waters under it; drying and +parching the one, and rarefying the other into Vapours. For we must +consider, that the Course of the Sun at that time, or the Posture of the +Earth to the Sun, was such, that there was no Diversity or Alternation +of Seasons in the Year, as there is now; by reason of which Alternation, +our Earth is kept in an Equality of Temper, the contrary Seasons +balancing one another; so as what Moisture the Heat of the Summer sucks +out of the Earth, ’tis repaid in the Rains of the next Winter; and what +Chaps were made in it, are fill’d up again, and the Earth reduc’d to its +former Constitution. But if we should imagine a continual Summer, the +Earth would proceed in Driness still more and more, and the Cracks would +be wider, and pierce deeper into the Substance of it: And such a +continual Summer there was, at least an Equality of Seasons in the +antediluvian Earth, as shall be prov’d in the following Book, concerning +_Paradise_. In the mean time, this being suppos’d, let us consider what +Effect it would have upon this Arch of the exterior Earth, and the +Waters under it. + +WE cannot believe, but that the Heat of the Sun, within the Space of +some hundreds of Years, would have reduc’d this Earth to a considerable +degree of Driness in certain Parts; and also have much rarefied and +exhal’d the Waters beneath it: And considering the Structure of that +Globe, the exterior Crust, and the Waters lying round under it, both +expos’d to the Sun, we may fitly compare it to an _Æolipile_, or an +hollow Sphere with Water in it, which the Heat of the Fire rarefies and +turns into Vapours and Wind. The Sun here is as the Fire, and the +exterior Earth is as the Shell of the _Æolipile_, and the Abyss as the +water within it; now when the Heat of the Sun had pierced thro’ the +Shell and reach’d the Waters, it began to rarefy them, and raise them +into Vapours, which Rarefaction made them require more Space and Room +than they needed before, while they lay close and quiet. And finding +themselves pent in by the exterior Earth, they press’d with Violence +against that Arch, to make it yield and give way to their Dilatation and +Eruption. So we see all Vapours and Exhalations inclos’d within the +Earth, and agitated there, strive to break out, and often shake the +Ground with their Attempts to get loose. And in the Comparison we us’d +of an _Æolipile_, if the Mouth of it be stop’d that gives the Vent, the +Water rarefied will burst the Vessel with its Force: And the Resemblance +of the Earth to an Egg, which we us’d before, holds also in this +Respect; for when it heats before the Fire, the Moisture and Air within +being rarefied, makes it often burst the Shell. And I do the more +willingly mention this last Comparison, because I observe that some of +the Ancients, when they speak of the Doctrine of the _Mundane Egg_, say, +that after a certain Period of Time it was broken. + +BUT there is yet another Thing to be considered in this Case; for as the +Heat of the Sun gave Force to these Vapours more and more, and made them +more strong and violent; so on the other Hand, it also weaken’d more and +more the Arch of the Earth, that was to resist them; sucking out the +Moisture that was the Cement of its parts, drying it immoderately, and +chapping it in sundry Places. And there being no Winter then to close up +and unite its Parts, and restore the Earth to its former Strength and +Compactness, yet grew more and more dispos’d to a Dissolution. And at +length, these Preparations in Nature being made on either side, the +Force of the Vapours increas’d, and the Walls weaken’d which should have +kept them in, when the appointed time was come, that All-wise Providence +had design’d for the Punishment of a sinful World, the whole Fabrick +brake, and the Frame of the Earth was torn in Pieces, as by an +Earthquake; and those great Portions or Fragments, into which it was +divided, fell down into the Abyss, some in one Posture, and some in +another. + +THIS is a short and general Account how we may conceive the Dissolution +of the first Earth, and an Universal Deluge arising upon it. And this +manner of Dissolution hath so many Examples in Nature every Age, that we +need not insist farther upon the Explication of it. The generality of +Earthquakes arise from like Causes, and often end in a like Effect, a +partial Deluge or Inundation of the Place or Country where they happen; +and of these we have seen some Instances even in our own Times: 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 straitned, +they strive every way to set themselves at Liberty, and often break +their Prison, or the Cover of the Earth that kept them in; which Earth +upon that Disruption falls into the subterraneous Caverns that lie under +it: And if it so happens that those Caverns are full of Water, as +generally they are, if they be great or deep, that City or Tract of Land +is drown’d. And also the Fall of such a Mass of Earth, with its Weight +and Bulk, doth often force out the Water so impetuously, as to throw it +upon all the Country round about. There are innumerable Examples in +History (whereof we shall mention some hereafter) of Cities and +Countries thus swallowed up, or overflow’d, by an Earthquake, and an +Inundation arising upon it. And according to the manner of their Fall or +Ruin, they either remain’d wholly under Water, and perpetually drown’d +as _Sodom_ and _Gomorrha_, _Plato_’s _Atlantis_, _Bura_ and _Helice_, +and other Cities and Regions in _Greece_ and _Asia_; or they partly +emerg’d, and became dry Land again; when (their Situation being pretty +high) the Waters, after their violent Agitation was abated, retir’d into +the lower Places, and into their Channels. + +NOW if we compare these Partial Dissolutions of the Earth with an +Universal Dissolution, we may as easily conceive an Universal Deluge +from an Universal Dissolution, as a Partial Deluge from a Partial. If we +can conceive a City, a Country, an Island, a Continent thus absorpt and +overflown; if we do but enlarge our Thought and Imagination a little, we +may conceive it as well of the whole Earth. And it seems strange to me, +that none of the Ancients should hit upon this way of explaining the +Universal Deluge; there being such frequent Instances in all Ages and +Countries of Inundations made in this manner, and never of any great +Inundation made otherwise, unless in maritime Countries, by the +Irruption of the Sea into Grounds that lie low. ’Tis true, they would +not so easily imagine this Dissolution, because they did not understand +the true Form of the antediluvian Earth; but, methinks, the Examination +of the Deluge should have led them to the Discovery of that: For +observing the Difficulty, or Impossibility of an Universal Deluge, +without the Dissolution of the Earth; as also frequent Instances of +these Dissolutions accompanied with Deluges, where the Ground was +hollow, and had subterraneous Waters; this, methinks, should have +prompted them to imagine, that those subterraneous Waters were universal +at that time, or extended quite round the Earth; so as a Dissolution of +the exterior Earth could not be made any where but it would fall into +Waters, and be more or less overflow’d. And when they had once reach’d +this Thought, they might conclude, both what the Form of the +antediluvian Earth was, and that the Deluge came to pass by the +Dissolution of it. But we reason with Ease about the finding out of +Things, when they are once found out; and there is but a thin Paper-wall +sometimes between the great Discoveries, and a perfect Ignorance of +them. Let us proceed now to consider, whether this Supposition will +answer all the Conditions of an Universal Deluge, and supply all the +Defects which we found in other Explications. + +THE great Difficulty propos’d, was to find Water sufficient to make an +Universal Deluge, reaching to the Tops of the Mountains; and yet that +this Water should be transient, and after some time should so return +into its Channels, that the dry Land would appear, and the Earth become +again habitable. There was that double Impossibility in the common +Opinion, that the Quantity of Water necessary for such a Deluge was no +where to be found, or could no way be brought upon the Earth; and then +if it was brought, cou’d no way be remov’d again. Our Explication quite +takes off the Edge of this Objection; for, performing the same Effect +with a far less Quantity of Water, ’tis both easy to be found, and +easily remov’d when the Work is done. When the exterior Earth was broke, +and fell into the Abyss, a good part of it was cover’d with Water, by +the meer Depth of the Abyss it fell into, and those Parts of it that +were higher than the Abyss was deep, and consequently would stand above +it in a calm Water, were notwithstanding reach’d and overtop’d by the +Waves, during the Agitation and violent Commotion of the Abyss. For it +is not imaginable what the Commotion of the Abyss would be upon this +Dissolution of the Earth, nor to what Height its Waves would be thrown, +when those prodigious Fragments were tumbled down into it. Suppose a +Stone of ten thousand Weight taken up into the Air a Mile or two, and +then let fall into the middle of the Ocean, I do not believe but that +the dashing of the Water upon that Impression would rise as high as a +Mountain. But suppose a mighty Rock, or heap of Rocks to fall from that +Height, or a great Island, or a Continent; these would expel the Waters +out of their Places with such a Force and Violence, as to fling them +among the highest Clouds. + +’TIS incredible to what Height sometimes great Stones and Cinders will +be thrown, at the Eruptions of fiery Mountains; and the Pressure of a +great Mass of Earth falling into the Abyss, though it be a Force of +another kind, could not but impel the Water with so much Strength, as +would carry it up to a great Height in the Air; and to the top of any +thing that lay in its way, any Eminency, high Fragment, or new Mountain: +And then rolling back again, it would sweep down with it whatsoever it +rush’d upon, Woods, Buildings, living Creatures, and carry them all +headlong into the great Gulph. Sometimes a Mass of Water would be quite +struck off and separate from the rest, and toss’d through the Air like a +flying River; but the common Motion of the Waves was to climb up the +Hills or inclin’d Fragments; and then return into the Valleys and Deeps +again, with a perpetual Fluctuation going and coming, ascending and +descending, ’till the Violence of them being spent by degrees, they +settled at last in the Places allotted for them; where _Bounds are set +that they cannot pass over, that they return not again to cover the +Earth, Psalm. civ. 6, 7, 8, 9._ + +NEITHER is it to be wondred, that the great Tumult of the Waters, and +the Extremity of the Deluge lasted for some Months; for besides, that +the first Shock and Commotion of the Abyss was extreamly violent, from +the general Fall of the Earth, there were ever and anon some secondary +Ruins; or some Parts of the great Ruin, that were not well settled, +broke again, and made new Commotions: And ’twas a considerable Time +before the great Fragments that fell, and their lesser Dependencies +could be so adjusted and fitted, as to rest in a firm and immoveable +Posture: For the Props and Stays whereby they lean’d one upon another, +or upon the Bottom of the Abyss, often fail’d, either by the incumbent +Weight, or the violent Impulses of the Water against them; and so +renewed, or continued the Disorder and Confusion of the Abyss. Besides, +we are to observe, that these great Fragments falling hollow, they +inclos’d and bore down with them under their concave Surface a great +deal of Air; and while the Water compass’d these Fragments, and +overflow’d them, the Air could not readily get out of those Prisons, but +by degrees, as the Earth and Water above would give way; so as this +would also hinder the Settlement of the Abyss, and the retiring of the +Water into those subterraneous Channels, for some Time. But at length, +when this Air had found a vent, and left its place to the Water, and the +Ruins both primary and secondary were settled and fix’d then the Waters +of the Abyss began to settle too, and the dry Land to appear; first the +tops of the Mountains, then the high Grounds, then the Plains and the +rest of the Earth. And this gradual Subsidency of the Abyss (which +_Moses_ also hath particularly noted) and Discovery of the several Parts +of the Earth would also take up a considerable Time. + +THUS a new World appear’d, or the Earth put on its new Form, and became +divided into Sea and Land; and the Abyss, which from several Ages, even +from the beginning of the World, had lain hid in the Womb of the Earth, +was brought to light and discover’d; the greatest part of it +constituting our present Ocean, and the rest filling the lower Cavities +of the Earth: Upon the Land appear’d the Mountains and the Hills, and +the Islands in the Sea, and the Rocks upon the Shore. And so the Divine +Providence, having prepar’d Nature for so great a Change, at one stroke +dissolv’d the Frame of the old World, and made us a new one out of its +Ruins, which we now inhabit since the Deluge. All which Things being +thus explain’d, deduc’d, and stated, we now add and pronounce our Third +and last Proposition; _That the Disruption of the Abyss, or Dissolution +of the primæval Earth, and its Fall into the Abyss, was the Cause of the +Universal Deluge, and of the Destruction of the old World_. + + + + + CHAP. VII. + + + _That the Explication we have given of an Universal Deluge is not an + Idea only, but an Account of what really came to pass in this Earth, + and the true Explication of Noah’s Flood; as is prov’d by Argument + and from History. An Examination of Tehom Rabba, or the great Abyss, + and that by it the Sea cannot be understood, nor the subterraneous + Waters, as they are at present. What the true Notion and Form of it + was, collected from Moses and other Sacred Writers; The frequent + Allusions in Scripture to the opening and shutting the Abyss, and + the particular Stile of Scripture in its Reflections on the Origin. + And the Formation of the Earth. Observations on Deucalion’s Deluge._ + + +WE have now given an Account of the first great Revolution of Nature, +and of the Universal Deluge, in a way that is intelligible, and from +Causes that answer the Greatness of the Effect: We have suppos’d nothing +but what is also prov’d, both as to the first Form of the Earth, and as +to the manner of its Dissolution; and how far from that would evidently +and necessarily arise a general Deluge; which was that, which put a +Period to the old World, and the first state of Things. And tho’ all +this hath been deduc’d in due Order, and with Connexion and Consequence +of one thing upon another, so far as I know, which is the true Evidence +of a Theory; yet it may not be sufficient to command the Assent and +Belief of some Persons, who will allow, it may be, and acknowledge, that +this is a fair _Idea_ of a possible Deluge in general, and of the +Destruction of a World by it; but this may be only an _Idea_, they’ll +say; we desire it may be prov’d from some collateral Arguments, taken +either from Sacred History, or from Observation, that this hath really +been exemplified upon the Earth, and that _Noah_’s Flood came to pass +this way. And seeing we have design’d this first Book chiefly for the +Explication of _Noah_’s Deluge, I am willing to add here a Chapter or +two extraordinary upon this occasion; to shew, that what we have +delivered is more than an _Idea_, and that it was in this very way that +_Noah_’s Deluge came to pass. But they who have not this Doubt, and have +a Mind to see the Issue of the Theory, may skip these two Chapters, if +they please, and proceed to the following, where the Order is continued. + +TO satisfy then the Doubtful in this Particular, let us lay down in the +first place that Conclusion which they seem to admit, _viz._ That this +is a possible and consistent Explication of an Universal Deluge; and +let’s see how far this would go, if well consider’d, towards the Proof +of what they desire, or towards the Demonstration of _Noah_’s Deluge in +particular. It is granted on both Hands, that there hath been an +Universal Deluge upon the Earth, which was _Noah_’s Deluge; and it is +also granted, that we have given a possible and consistent _Idea_ of an +Universal Deluge: Now we have prov’d _Chap. II._ and _III._ that all +other ways hitherto assign’d for the Explication of _Noah_’s Flood are +incongruous or impossible; therefore it came to pass in that possible +and competent way which we have propos’d. And if we have truly prov’d, +in the foremention’d Chapters, the Impossibility or Unintelligibility of +it in all other ways, this Argumentation is undeniable. Besides, we may +argue thus, as it is granted that there hath been an Universal Deluge +upon the Earth; so I suppose it will be granted that there hath been but +one: Now the Dissolution of the Earth, whensoever it happen’d, would +make one Universal Deluge, and therefore the only one, and the same with +_Noah_’s. That such a Dissolution as we have describ’d would make an +Universal Deluge, I think, cannot be question’d; and that there hath +been such a Dissolution, besides what we have already alledg’d, shall be +prov’d at large from natural Observations upon the Form and Figure of +the present Earth, in the _Third_ Section and last _Chapter_ of this +Book; In the mean time we will proceed to History, both Sacred and +Prophane, and by comparing our Explication with those, give further +Assurance of its Truth and Reality. + +IN the first Place, it agrees, which is most considerable, with +_Moses_’s Narration of the Deluge; both as to the Matter and Manner of +it. The Matter of the Deluge _Moses_ makes to be the Waters from above, +and the Waters from below; or he distinguishes the Causes of the Deluge, +as we do, into Superior and Inferior, _Gen. vii. 11._ and the Inferior +Causes he makes to be the Disruption of the Abyss, which is the +principal Part, and the great Hinge of our Explication. Then as to the +manner of the Deluge, the Beginning and the Ending, the Increase and +Decrease, he saith, _Verse 17, 18, 19, 20. Chap. viii. 3, 5._ it +increas’d gradually, and decreas’d gradually, by _going_ and _coming_; +that is, after many repeated Fluctuations and Reciprocations of the +Waves, the Waters of the Abyss began to be more compos’d, and to retire +into their Channels, whence they shall never return to cover the Earth +again. This agrees wholly with our Theory; we suppose the Abyss to have +been under an extream Commotion and Agitation by the Fall of the Earth +into it, and this at first encreas’d more and more, till the whole Earth +was fallen; then continuing for some time at the height of its Rage, +overwhelming the greatest Mountains, it afterwards decreas’d by the like +degrees, leaving first the Tops of the Mountains, then the Hills and the +Fields, ’till the Waters came to be wholly drawn off the Earth into +their Channels. + +IT was no doubt a great Oversight in the Ancients, to fancy the Deluge +like a great standing Pool of Water, reaching from the Bottom of the +Valleys to the Tops of the Mountains, every where alike, with a level +and uniform Surface; by reason of which mistaken Notion of the Deluge, +they made more Water necessary to it than was possible to be had, or +being had, than it was possible to get quit of again; for there are no +Channels in the Earth that could hold so much Water, either to give it, +or to receive it. And the _Psalmist_, [_vid._ _St. Austin in loc._] +speaking of the Deluge, as it seems to me, notes this violent Commotion +of the Abyss, _Psal. civ. 8, 9._ _The Waters went up by the Mountains, +came down by the Valleys unto the Place which thou hast founded for +them_. I know some interpret that Passage of the State of the Waters in +the Beginning, when they cover’d the Face of the whole Earth, _Gen. i. +2._ but that cannot be, because of what follows in the next Verse; _Thou +hast set a Bound that they may not pass over, that they turn not again +to cover the Earth_. Which is not true, if the preceding Words be +understood of the State of the Waters at the Beginning of the World; for +they did pass those Bounds, and did return since that time to cover the +Earth, namely at the Deluge: But if these Words be referr’d to the Time +of the Deluge, and the State of the Waters then, ’tis both a just +Description of the Motion of the Abyss, and certainly true, that the +Waters since that time are so settled in their Channels, that they shall +never overflow the Earth again. As we are assur’d by the Promise made to +_Noah_, and that illustrious Pledge and Confirmation of it, the +_Rainbow_, that the Heavens also shall never pour out so much Waters +again; their State being chang’d as well as that of the Earth, or Sea, +from what they were before the Deluge. + +BUT before we leave _Moses_’s Narration of the Deluge, we must examine +further, what is, or can be understood by his _Tehom-Rabba_, or _great +Abyss_, which, he saith, was broken up at the Deluge, _Gen. vii. 11._ +for this will help us to discover, whether our Explication be the same +with his, and of the same Flood. And first we must consider, whether by +the _Tehom-Rabba_, or Mosaical Abyss, can be understood the Sea or +Ocean, under that Form we see it in at present; and ’tis plain, +methinks, that the Sea cannot be understood by this great Abyss, both +because the Sea is not capable upon any Disruption to make such an +Universal Deluge; and because the Narration of _Moses_, and his +Expressions concerning this Abyss, do not agree to the Sea. Some of the +Ancients indeed did imagine, that the Waters of the Sea were much higher +than the Land, and stood, as it were, on a heap; so as when these Waters +were let loose, they overflow’d the Earth, and made a Deluge. But this +is known to be a gross Mistake; the Sea and the Land make one Globe, and +the Waters couch themselves, as close as may be, to the Center of this +Globe in a Spherical Convexity; so that if all the Mountains and Hills +were scal’d, and the Earth made even, the Waters would not overflow its +smooth Surface; much less could they overflow it in the Form that it is +now, where the Shores are higher than the Sea, the Inland Parts than the +Shores, and the Mountains still far above all: So as no Disruption of +the Sea could make an Universal Deluge, by reason of its Situation. But +besides that, the Quantity of Water contain’d in the Sea is no way +sufficient to make a Deluge in the present Form of the Earth; for we +have shewn before, _Chap. ii._ that eight such Oceans as ours would be +little enough for that Purpose. Then as to the Expressions of _Moses_ +concerning this Abyss, if he had meant the Sea by it, and that the +Deluge was made by the Disruption of the Sea, why did he not say so? +There is no mention of the Sea in all the History of the Deluge: _Moses_ +had mention’d the Sea before, _Gen. i. 10._ and us’d a Word that was +common, and known to signify the Sea; and if he had a Mind to express +the same thing here, why should he not use the same Word and the same +Term? In an Historical Relation we use Terms that are most proper and +best known; but instead of that he useth the same Term here that he did, +_Gen. i. 2._ when he saith, _Darkness was upon the Face of the Abyss, or +of the Deep_, as we render it; there the Abyss was open, or cover’d with +Darkness only, namely, before the exterior Earth was form’d; Here the +same Abyss is mention’d again, but cover’d, by the Formation of the +Earth upon it; and the covering of this Abyss was broken or _cloven +asunder_, and the Waters gush’d out that made the Deluge. This I am sure +is the most natural Interpretation or Signification of this Word, +according as it is us’d in _Moses_’s Writings. Furthermore, we must +observe what _Moses_ saith concerning this Abyss, and whether that will +agree with the Sea or no; he saith the _Fountains of the great Abyss +were broken open_; now if by the great Abyss you understand the Sea, how +are its Fountains broken open? To break open a Fountain, is to break +open the Ground that covers it, and what Ground covers the Sea? So that +upon all Considerations, either of the Word that _Moses_ here useth, +_Tehom-Rabba_, or of the thing affirmed concerning it, _breaking open +its Fountains_; or of the Effect following the breaking open its +Fountains, _drowning of the Earth_; from all these Heads it is manifest, +that the Sea cannot be understood by the great _Abyss_, whose Disruption +was the Cause of the Deluge. + +AND as the _Mosaical_ Abyss cannot be the Sea, so neither can it be +those subterraneous Waters that are dispers’d in the Cells and Caverns +of the Earth; for as they are now lodg’d within the Earth, they are not +one _Abyss_, but several Cisterns and Receptacles of Water in several +Places, especially under the roots of Mountains and Hills, separate one +from another, sometimes by whole Regions and Countries interpos’d. +Besides, what Fountains, if they were broken up, could let out this +Water, or bring it upon the Face of the Earth? When we sink a Mine, or +dig a Well, the Waters, when uncover’d, do not leap out of their Places +out of those Cavities, or at least, do not flow upon the Earth; ’Tis not +as if you open’d a Vein, where the Blood spirts out, and riseth higher +than its Source; but as when you take off the Cover of a Vessel, the +Water doth not fly out for that: So if we should imagine all the +subterraneous Caverns of the Earth uncover’d, and the Waters laid bare, +there they would lie unmov’d in their Beds, if the Earth did not fall +into them to force them up. Furthermore, if these Waters were any way +extracted and laid upon the Surface of the Ground, nothing would be +gain’d, as to the Deluge, by that, for as much Water would run into +these Holes again when the Deluge begun to rise; so that this would be +but an useless Labour, and turn to no Account. And lastly, These Waters +are no way sufficient for Quantity to answer to the _Mosaical_ Abyss, or +to be the principal Cause of the Deluge, as that was. + +NOW, seeing neither the Sea, as it is at present, nor the subterraneous +Waters, as they are at present, can answer to the _Mosaical_ Abyss, we +are sure there is nothing in this present Earth that can answer to it. +Let us then on the other Hand compare it with that subterraneous Abyss, +which we have found in the antediluvian Earth, represented; _Fig. 2. p. +77._ and examine their Characters and Correspondency: First, _Moses_’s +Abyss was cover’d, and subterraneous, for the Fountains of it are said +to have been cloven or burst open; then, it was vast and capacious; and +thirdly, it was so dispos’d, as to be capable of a Disruption, that +would cause an universal Deluge to the Earth. Our antediluvian Abyss +answers truly to all these Characters; it was in the Womb of the Earth; +the Earth was founded upon those Waters, as the _Psalmist_ saith; or +they were inclos’d within the Earth as in a Bag. Then for the Capacity +of it, it contained both all the Waters now in the Ocean, and all those +that are dispers’d in the Caverns of the Earth: And lastly, it is +manifest its Situation was such, that upon a Disruption or Dissolution +of the Earth which cover’d it, an universal Deluge would arise. Seeing +then this answers the Description, and all the Properties of the +_Mosaical_ Abyss, and nothing else will, how can we in Reason judge it +otherwise than the same, and the very Thing intended and propos’d in the +History of _Noah_’s Deluge under the Name of _Tehom-Rabba_, or the great +Abyss, at whose Disruption the World was over-flow’d? And as we do not +think it an unhappy Discovery to have found out, (with a moral +Certainty) the Seat of the _Mosaical_ Abyss, which hath been almost as +much sought for, and as much in vain, as the Seat of _Paradise_; so this +gives us a great Assurance, that the Theory we have given of a general +Deluge is not a mere Idea, but is to be appropriated to the Deluge of +_Noah_, as a true Explication of it. + +AND to proceed now from _Moses_ to other divine Writers; That our +Description is a Reality, both as to the antediluvian Earth, and as to +the Deluge, we may further be convinc’d from St. _Peter_’s Discourse +concerning those two Things, _2 Epist. iii. 6._ St. _Peter_ saith, that +the Constitution of the antediluvian Earth was such, in reference to the +Waters, that by reason of that it was obnoxious to a Deluge; we say +these Waters were the great Abyss it stood upon, by reason whereof that +World was really expos’d to a Deluge, and overwhelm’d in it upon the +Disruption of this Abyss, as _Moses_ witnesses. ’Tis true, St. _Peter_ +doth not specify what those Waters were, nor mention either the Sea or +the Abyss; but seeing _Moses_ tells us, that it was by the Waters of the +Abyss that the Earth was overwhelmed, St. _Peter_’s Waters must be +understood of the same Abyss, because he supposeth them the Cause of the +same Deluge. And, I think, the Apostle’s Discourse there cannot receive +a better Illustration, than from _Moses_’s History of the Deluge. +_Moses_ distinguishes the Causes of the Flood into those that belong to +the Heavens, and those that belong to the Earth; the Rains and the +Abyss: St. _Peter_ also distinguisheth the Causes of the Deluge into the +Constitution of the Heavens, in reference to its Waters; and the +Constitution of the Earth, in reference to its Waters; and no doubt they +both aim at the same Causes, as they refer to the same Effect; only +_Moses_ mentions the immediate Causes, the Rains and the Waters of the +Abyss; and St. _Peter_ mentions the more remote and fundamental Causes, +that Constitution of the Heavens, and that Constitution of the Earth, in +reference to their respective Waters, which made that World obnoxious to +a Deluge: And these two, speaking of _Noah_’s Deluge, and agreeing thus +with one another, and both with us, or with the Theory which we have +given of a general Deluge, we may safely conclude, that it is no +imaginary Idea, but a true Account of that ancient Flood, whereof +_Moses_ hath left us the History. + +AND seeing the right understanding of the _Mosaical_ Abyss is sufficient +alone to prove all we have deliver’d concerning the Deluge, as also +concerning the Frame of the antediluvian Earth, give me leave to take +Notice here of some other Places of Scripture, which we mention’d +before, that seem manifestly to describe this same Form of the Abyss +with the Earth above it, _2 Esdr. xvi. 58._ _Psal. xxiv. 2._ _He founded +the Earth upon the Seas, and establish’d it upon the Floods._ And _Psal. +cxxxvi. 6._ _He stretch’d out the Earth above the Waters._ Now this +Foundation of the Earth upon the Waters, or Extension of it above the +Waters, _2 Esdr. c. vi._ doth most aptly agree to that Structure and +Situation of the Abyss and the antediluvian Earth, which we have +assign’d them, and which we have before describ’d; but very improperly +and forcedly to the present Form of the Earth and the Waters. In that +second Place of the _Psalmist_, the Word may be render’d either, he +stretch’d, as we read it, or he fix’d and consolidated the Earth above +the Waters, as the Vulgate and Septuagint translate it: For ’tis from +the same Word with that which is used for the Firmament, _Gen. i._ So +that as the Firmament was extended over and around the Earth, so was the +Earth extended over and about the Waters, in that first Constitution of +Things; and I remember some of the Ancients use this very Comparison of +the Firmament and Earth, to express the Situation of the Paradisiacal +Earth in reference to the Sea or Abyss. + +THERE is another remarkable Place in the _Psalms_, to shew the +Disposition of the Waters in the first Earth; _Psal. xxxiii. 7._ _He +gathereth the Waters of the Sea as in a Bag, he layeth up the Abysses in +Store-houses._ This answers very fitly and naturally to the Place and +Disposition of the Abyss which it had before the Deluge, inclos’d within +the Vault of the Earth, as in a Bag, or in a Store-house. I know very +well what I render here in a Bag, is render’d in the _English_ as _an +Heap_; but that Translation of the Word seems to be grounded on the old +Error, that the Sea is higher than the Land, and so doth not make a true +Sense. Neither are the two Parts of the Verse so well suited and +consequent one to another, if the first express an high Situation of the +Waters, and the second a low one. And accordingly the Vulgate, +Septuagint, and Oriental Versions and Paraphrase, as also _Symmachus_, +St. _Jerom_, and _Basil_, render it as we do here, _in a Bag_, or by +Terms equivalent. + +TO these Passages of the _Psalmist_, concerning the Form of the Abyss +and the first Earth, give me leave to add this general Remark, that they +are commonly usher’d in, or follow’d, with something of Admiration in +the Prophet. We observ’d before, that the Formation of the first Earth, +after such a wonderful Manner, being a Piece of divine Architecture, +when it was spoken of in Scripture, it was usually ascrib’d to a +particular Providence; and accordingly we see in these Places now +mentioned, that it is still made the Object of Praise and Admiration: In +the _cxxxvi. Palm_ ’tis reckon’d among the Wonders of God, _Verses 4, 5, +6._ _Give Praise to him who alone doth great Wonders: To him that by +Wisdom made the Heavens: To hime that stretched out the Earth above the +Waters_. And in like manner, in that _xxxiii. Ps._ ’tis join’d with the +Forming of the Heavens, and made the Subject of the Divine Power and +Wisdom: _Verses 6, 7, 8, 9._ _By the Word of the Lord were the Heavens +made, and all the Host of them by the Breath of his Mouth; He gathereth +the Waters of the Sea together, as in a Bag, he layeth up the Abyss in +Store-houses. Let all the Earth fear the Lord; Let all the Inhabitants +of the World stand in awe of him; For he spake, and it was; he +commanded, and it stood fast_. Namely, all Things stood in that +wonderful Posture in which the Word of his Power and Wisdom had +establish’d them. _David_ often made the Works of Nature, and the +external World, the Matter of his Meditations, and of his Praises and +Philosophical Devotions; reflecting sometimes upon the present Form of +the World, and sometimes upon the primitive Form of it: And tho’ +poetical Expressions, as the _Psalms_ are, seldom are so determinate and +distinct, but that they may be interpreted more than one Way; yet, I +think, it cannot but be acknowledg’d, that those Expressions, and +Passages that we have instanc’d in, are more fairly and aptly understood +of the ancient Form of the Sea, or the Abyss, as it was inclos’d within +the Earth, than of the present Form of it in an open Channel. + +THERE are also in the Book of _Job_ many noble Reflections upon the +Works of Nature, and upon the Formation of the Earth and the Abyss; +whereof that in _Chap. xxvi. 7._ _He stretcheth out the North over the +empty Places, and hangeth the Earth upon nothing_, seems to parallel the +Expression of _David_; _He stretched out the Earth upon the Waters_; for +the Word we render the _empty Place_ is TOHU, which is apply’d to the +Chaos and the first Abyss, _Gen. i. 2._ and the _hanging the Earth upon +nothing_ is much more wonderful, if it be understood of the first +habitable Earth, that hung over the Waters, sustain’d by nothing but its +own peculiar Form, and the Libration of its Parts, than if it be +understood of the present Earth, and the whole Body of it; for if it be +in its Center or proper Place, whither should it sink further, or +whither should it go? But this Passage, together with the foregoing and +following Verses, requires a more critical Examination than this +Discourse will easily bear. + +THERE is another remarkable Discourse in _Job_, that contains many +Things to our present Purpose, ’tis _Chap. xxxviii._ where God +reproaches _Job_ with his Ignorance of what pass’d at the beginning of +the World, and the Formation of the Earth, _Verses 4, 5, 6._ _Where wast +thou when I laid the Foundations of the Earth? Declare if thou hast +Understanding. Who hath laid the Measures thereof, if thou knowest? or +who hath stretched the Line upon it? Whereupon are the Foundations +thereof fastned? or who laid the Corner-stone?_ All these Questions have +far more Force and Emphasis, more Propriety and Elegancy, if they be +understood of the first and antediluvian Form of the Earth, than if they +be understood of the present; for in the present Form of the Earth there +is no Architecture, no Structure, no more than in a Ruin; or at least +none comparatively to what was in the first Form of it. And that the +exterior and superficial Part of the Earth is here spoken of, appears by +the Rule and Line applied to it; but what Rule or Regularity is there in +the Surface of the present Earth? What Line was us’d to level its Parts? +But in its original Construction, when it lay smooth and regular in its +Surface, as if it had been drawn, by Rule and Line in every Part; and +when it hung pois’d upon the Deep, without Pillar or Foundation-Stone, +then just Proportions were taken, and every thing plac’d by Weight and +Measure: And this, I doubt not, was that artificial Structure here +alluded to; and when this Work was finish’d, then _The Morning Stars +sang together, and all the Sons of God shouted for Joy, Verse 7._ + +THUS far the Questions proceed upon the Form and Construction of the +first Earth; in the following _Verses_ (8, 9, 10, 11.) they proceed upon +the Demolition of that Earth, the opening the Abyss, and the present +State of both. _Or who shut up the Sea with Doors when it brake forth, +as if it had issu’d out of a Womb?_ Who can doubt but this was at the +breaking open the _Fountains of the Abyss_? _Gen. vii. 11._ when the +Waters gush’d out, as out of the great Womb of Nature; and by reason of +that Confusion and Perturbation of Air and Water that rose upon it, a +thick Mist and Darkness was round the Earth, and all Things as in a +second Chaos, _When I made the Cloud the Garment thereof, and thick +Darkness a Swadling-band for it, and brake up for it my decreed Place, +and made Bars and Doors_. Namely, (taking the Words as thus usually +render’d) the present Channel of the Sea was made when the Abyss was +broke up, and at the same Time were made the shory Rocks and Mountains, +which are the Bars and Boundaries of the Sea. _And said hitherto shalt +thou come, and no further; and here shall thy proud Waves be stay’d._ +Which last Sentence shews, that this cannot be understood of the first +Disposition of the Waters, as they were before the Flood, for their +proud Waves broke those Bounds, whatsoever they were, when they +over-flow’d the Earth in the Deluge. And that the Womb which they broke +out of was the great Abyss, the _Chaldee_ Paraphrase in this Place doth +expresly mention; and what can be understood by חְהומה מן _the Womb of +the Earth_, but that subterraneous Capacity in which the Abyss lay? Then +that which followeth is a Description or Representation of the great +Deluge that ensued, and of that Disorder in Nature that was then, and +how the Waters were settled and bounded afterwards. Not unlike the +Description in _Psalm civ. ver. 6, 7, 8, 9._ And thus much for these +Places in the Book of _Job_. + +THERE remains a remarkable Discourse in the _Proverbs of Solomon_, +relating to the _Mosaical_ Abyss, and not only to that, but to the +Origin of the Earth in general; where _Wisdom_ declares her Antiquity +and Pre-existence to all the Works of this Earth, _Chap. viii. Verse 23, +24, 25, 26, 27, 28._ _I was set up from Everlasting, from the Beginning +ere the Earth was. When there were no Deeps or Abysses, I was brought +forth; when no Fountains abounding with Water._ Then in the _27th +Verse_, _When he prepared the Heavens, I was there; when he set a +Compass upon the Face of the Deep or Abyss. When he established the +Clouds above, when he strengthned the Fountains of the Abyss._ Here is +mention made of the Abyss, and of the Fountains of the Abyss; and who +can question, but that the Fountains of the Abyss here are the same with +the Fountains of the Abyss which _Moses_ mentions, and were broken open, +as he tells us, at the Deluge? Let us observe therefore what Form +_Wisdom_ gives to this Abyss, and consequently to the _Mosaical_; And +here seem to be two Expressions that determine the Form of it, _Verse +28._ _He strengthned the Fountains of the Abyss_, that is, the cover of +those Fountains, for the Fountains could be strengthned no other Way +than by making a strong Cover or Arch over them. And that Arch is +express’d more fully and distinctly in the foregoing _Verse_, _When he +prepar’d the Heavens, I was there; when he set a Compass on the Face of +the Abyss_; we render it _Compass_, the Word signifies a Circle or +Circumference, or an Orb or Sphere. So there was in the Beginning of the +World a Sphere, Orb or Arch set round the Abyss, according to the +Testimony of _Wisdom_, who was then present. And this shews us both the +Form of the _Mosaical_ Abyss, which was included within this Vault: And +the Form of the habitable Earth, which was the outward Surface of this +Vault, or the Cover of the Abyss that was broke up at the Deluge. + +AND thus much, I think, is sufficient to have noted out of Scripture, +concerning the _Mosaical_ Abyss, to discover the Form, Place, and +Situation of it; which I have done the more largely, because that being +determin’d, it will draw in easily all the rest of our Theory concerning +the Deluge. I will now only add one or two general Observations, and so +conclude this Discourse: The first Observation is concerning the Abyss; +namely, That the _opening and shutting of the Abyss_, is the great Hinge +upon which Nature turns in this Earth: This brings another Face of +things, other Scenes, and a new World upon the Stage: And accordingly it +is a thing often mention’d and alluded to in Scripture, sometimes in a +natural, sometimes in a moral or theological Sense; and in both Senses, +our Saviour shuts and opens it as he pleaseth. Our Saviour, who is both +Lord of Nature and of Grace, whose Dominion is both in Heaven and in +Earth, hath a double Key; that of the Abyss, whereby Death and Hell are +in his Power, and all the Revolutions of Nature are under his Conduct +and Providence; and the Key of _David_, whereby he admits or excludes +from the City of God, and the Kingdom of Heaven whom he pleaseth. _Job +xi. 10, 12, 14._ _Apoc. i. 18. xx. 1, 2, 3. xxi. 1._ _Apoc. iii. 7._ +_Isa. xxii. 22._ Of those Places that refer to the shutting and opening +the Abyss in a natural Sense, I cannot but particularly take Notice of +that in _Job_, _Chap. xii. ver. 14, 15._ and _Chap. xi. 10._ _God +breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: He shutteth up Man, and +there can be no opening: Behold, he withholdeth the Waters, and they dry +up; also he sendeth them out and they overturn the Earth_. Tho’ these +Things be true of God in lesser and common Instances, yet to me it is +plain, that they principally refer to the Deluge, the opening and +shutting the Abyss, with the Dissolution or Subversion of the Earth +thereupon; and accordingly they are made the great Effects of the divine +Power and Wisdom in the _13th Verse_ of _Chap. xii._ _With God is Wisdom +and Strength, he hath Counsel and Understanding; Behold, he breaketh +down_, &c. And also in the Conclusion ’tis repeated again, _Verse 16._ +_With him is Strength and Wisdom_; which Solemnity would scarce have +been us’d for common Instances of his Power. When God is said to build +or pull down, and no Body can build again, ’tis not to be understood of +an House or a Town. God builds and unbuilds Worlds; and who shall build +up that Arch that was broke down at the Deluge? Where shall they lay the +Foundation, or how shall the Mountains be rear’d up again to make Part +of the Roof? This is the Fabrick, which when God breaketh down, none can +build up again. _He withholdeth the Waters, and they dry up_: As we +shew’d the Earth to have been immoderately chap’d and parch’d before its +Dissolution. _He sendeth them forth, and they overturn the Earth_. What +can more properly express the breaking out of the Waters at the +Disruption of the Abyss, and the Subversion or Dissolution of the Earth +in consequence of it? ’Tis true, this last Passage may be applied to the +breaking out of Waters in an ordinary Earthquake, and the Subversion of +some Part of the Earth, which often follows upon it; but it must be +acknowledg’d, that the Sense is more weighty, if it be referr’d to the +great Deluge, and the great Earthquake which laid the World in Ruins and +in Water. And philosophical Descriptions in sacred Writings, like +Prophecies, have often a lesser and a greater Accomplishment and +Interpretation. + +I COULD not pass by this Place without giving this short Explication of +it. We proceed now to the second Observation, which is concerning the +Style of Scripture, in most of those Places we have cited, and others +upon the same Subject. The Reflections that are made in several Parts of +the divine Writings, upon the Origin of the World, and the Formation of +the Earth, seem to me to be writ in a Style something approaching to the +Nature of a prophetical Style, and to have more of a divine Enthusiasm +and Elocution in them, than the ordinary Text of Scripture; the +Expressions are lofty, and sometimes abrupt, and often figurative and +disguis’d, as may be observed in most of those Places we have made use +of, and particularly in that Speech of _Wisdom_, _Prov. viii._ where the +_26th Verse_ is so obscure, that no two Versions that I have yet met +with, whether ancient or modern, agree in the Translation of that Verse. +And therefore, tho’ I fully believe that the Construction of the first +Earth is really intended in those Words; yet seeing it could not be made +out clear without a long and critical Discussion of them, I did not +think that proper to be insisted upon here. We may also observe, that +whereas there is a double Form or Composition of the Earth, that which +it had at first, or till the Deluge, and that which it hath since; +sometimes the one, and sometimes the other may be glanc’d upon in these +Scripture Phrases and Descriptions; and so there may be in the same +Discourse an Intermixture of both. And it commonly happens so in an +enthusiastick or prophetick Style, that by reason of the Eagerness and +Trembling of the Fancy, it doth not always regularly follow the same +even Thread of Discourse, but strikes many times upon some other Thing +that hath Relation to it, or lies under or near the same view. Of this +we have frequent Examples in the _Apocalypse_, and in that Prophecy of +our Saviour’s, _Matth. xxiv._ concerning the Destruction of _Jerusalem_, +and of the World. But notwithstanding any such Unevenness or +Indistinctness in the Style of those Places which we have cited +concerning the Origin and Form of the Earth, we may at least make this +Remark, that if there never was any other Form of the Earth but the +present, nor any other State of the Abyss, than what it is in now, ’tis +not imaginable what should give Occasion to all those Expressions and +Passages that we have cited; which being so strange in themselves and +paradoxical, should yet so much favour, and so fairly comply with our +Suppositions. What I have observ’d in another Place, _Tell. Theor. lib. +2. c. 6._ in treating of _Paradise_, that the Expressions of the ancient +Fathers were very extravagant, if _Paradise_ was nothing but a little +Plot of Ground in _Mesopotamia_, as many of late have fancied, may in +like Manner be observ’d concerning the ancient Earth and Abyss; if they +were in no other Form nor other State than what they are under now, the +Expressions of the sacred Writers concerning them are very strange and +unaccountable, without any sufficient Ground, that we know, or any just +Occasion for such uncouth Representations. If there was nothing intended +or referr’d to in those Descriptions, but the present Form and State of +the Earth, that is so well known, that in describing of it there would +be nothing dark or mysterious, nor any occasion for Obscurity in the +Style or Expression, whereof we find so much in those. So as, all Things +consider’d, what might otherwise be made an Exception to some of these +Texts alledg’d by us, _viz._ that they are too obscure, becomes an +Argument for us: As implying that there is something more intended by +them than the present and known Form of the Earth. And we having +propos’d another Form and Structure of the Earth, to which those +Characters suit and answer more easily; as this opens and gives Light to +those difficult Places, so it may be reasonably concluded to be the very +Sense and Notion intended by the holy Writers. + +AND thus much, I think, is sufficient to have observ’d out of Scripture, +to verify our Explication of the Deluge, and our Application of it to +_Noah_’s Flood, both according to the _Mosaical_ History of the Flood, +and according to many occasional Reflections and Discourses dispers’d in +other Places of Scripture concerning the same Flood, or concerning the +Abyss and the first Form of the Earth. And though there may be some +other Passages of a different Aspect, they will be of no Force to +disprove our Conclusions, because they respect the present Form of the +Earth and Sea; and also, because Expressions that deviate more from the +common Opinion, are more remarkable and more proving; in that there is +nothing could give Occasion to such, but an Intention to express the +very Truth. So, for instance, if there was one Place in Scripture that +said _the Earth was mov’d_, and several that seem’d to imply, that the +_Sun_ was mov’d, we should have more regard to that one Place for the +Motion of the Earth, than to all the other that made against it; because +those others might be spoken and understood according to common Opinion +and common Belief, but that which affirm’d the Motion of the Earth, +could not be spoken upon any other Ground, but only for Truth and +Instruction-sake. I leave this to be apply’d to the present Subject. + +THUS much for the sacred Writings. As to the History of the ancient +Heathens, we cannot expect an Account or Narration of _Noah_’s Flood, +under that Name and Notion; but it may be of use to observe two Things +out of that History. First, that the Inundations recorded there came +generally to pass in the Manner we have describ’d the universal Deluge; +namely, by Earthquakes and an Eruption of subterraneous Waters, the +Earth being broken and falling in: And of this we shall elsewhere give a +full Account out of their Authors. Secondly, that _Deucalion_’s Deluge +in particular, which is suppos’d by most of the ancient Fathers to +represent _Noah_’s Flood, is said to have been accompanied with a gaping +or Disruption of the Earth. _Apollodorus_ said, _Bibl. lib. 1._ that the +Mountains of _Thessaly_ were divided asunder, or separate one from +another at that time: And _Lucian_ (_De Dea Syria_) tells a very +remarkable Story to this purpose, concerning _Deucalion_’s Deluge, and a +Ceremony observ’d in the Temple of _Hieropolis_, in Commemoration of it; +which Ceremony seems to have been of that Nature, as imply’d that there +was an opening of the Earth at the Time of the Deluge, and that the +Waters subsided into that again when the Deluge ceas’d. He saith, that +this Temple at _Hieropolis_ was built upon a kind of Abyss, or had a +bottomless Pit, or gaping of the Earth in one Part of it; and the People +of _Arabia_ and _Syria_, and the Countries thereabouts, twice a Year +repair’d to this Temple, and brought with them every one a Vessel of +Water, which they pour’d out upon the Floor of the Temple, and made a +kind of an Inundation there in Memory of _Deucalion_’s Deluge; and this +Water sunk by Degrees into a Chasm or opening of a Rock, which the +Temple stood upon, and so left the Floor dry again. And this was a Rite +solemnly and religiously perform’d both by the Priests and by the +People. If _Moses_ had left such a religious Rite among the _Jews_, I +should not have doubted to have interpreted it concerning his Abyss, and +the retiring of the Waters into it; but the actual Disruption of the +Abyss could not well be represented by any Ceremony. And thus much +concerning the present Question, and the true Application of our Theory +to _Noah_’s Flood. + + + + + CHAP. VIII. + + + _The particular History of Noah’s Flood is explained in all the + material Parts and Circumstances of it, according to the preceding + Theory. Any seeming Difficulties remov’d, and the whole Section + concluded, with a Discourse how far the Deluge may be look’d upon as + the Effect of an ordinary Providence, and how far of an + extraordinary._ + + +WE have now proved our Explication of the Deluge to be more than an +_Idea_, or to be a true Piece of natural History; and it may be the +greatest and most remarkable that hath yet been since the Beginning of +the World. We have shewn it to be the real Account of _Noah_’s Flood, +according to Authority both divine and human; and I would willingly +proceed one step further, and declare my Thoughts concerning the Manner +and Order wherein _Noah_’s Flood came to pass; in what Method all those +Things happen’d and succeeded one another, that make up the History of +it, as Causes or Effects, or other Parts or Circumstances: As how the +Ark was born upon the Waters, what Effect the Rains had, at what Time +the Earth broke, and the Abyss was open’d; and what the Condition of the +Earth was upon the ending of the Flood, and such like. But I desire to +propose my Thoughts concerning these Things only as Conjectures, which I +will ground as near as I can upon Scripture and Reason, and am very +willing they should be rectified where they happen to be amiss. I know +how subject we are to Mistakes in these great and remote Things, when we +descend to Particulars; but I am willing to expose the Theory to a full +Trial, and to shew the way for any to examine it, provided they do it +with Equity and Sincerity. I have no other Design than to contribute my +Endeavours to find out the Truth in a Subject of so great Importance, +and wherein the World hath hitherto had so little Satisfaction: And he +that in an obscure Argument proposeth an _Hypothesis_ that reacheth from +End to End, tho’ it be not exact in every Particular; ’tis not without a +good Effect; for it gives Aim to others to take their Measures better, +and opens their Invention in a matter which otherwise, it may be, would +have been impenetrable to them: As he that makes the first way thro’ a +thick Forest, tho’ it be not the streightest and shortest, deserves +better, and hath done more than he that makes it streighter and smoother +afterwards. + +PROVIDENCE that ruleth all things and all Ages, after the Earth had +stood above sixteen hundred Years, thought fit to put a Period to that +World; and accordingly it was revealed to _Noah_, that for the +Wickedness and Degeneracy of Men, God would destroy Mankind with the +_Earth_, (_Gen. vi. 13._) in a Deluge of Water; whereupon he was +commanded, in order to the preserving of himself and Family, as a Stock +for the new World, to build a great Vessel or Ark, to float upon the +Waters, and had Instructions given him for the Building of it, both as +to the Matter, and as to the Form. _Noah_ believed the Word of God, tho’ +against his Senses, and all external Appearances, and set himself to +work to build an Ark, according to the Directions given, which after +many Years Labour was finish’d; whilst the incredulous World, secure +enough, as they thought, against a Deluge, continued still in their +Excesses and Insolencies, and laught at the Admonition of _Noah_, and at +the Folly of his Design of building an extravagant Machine, a floating +House, to save himself from an imaginary Inundation; for they thought it +no less, seeing it was to be in an Earth where there was no Sea, nor any +Rain neither in those Parts, according to the ordinary Course of Nature; +as shall be shewn in the second Book of this Treatise. + +BUT when the appointed Time was come, the Heavens began to melt, and the +Rains to fall, and these were the first surprizing Causes and +Preparatives to the Deluge: They fell, we suppose, (tho’ we do not know +how that could proceed from natural Causes) throughout the Face of the +whole Earth; which could not but have a considerable Effect on that +Earth, being even and smooth, without Hills and Eminencies, and might +lay it all under Water to some Depth; so as the Ark, if it could not +float upon those Rain-Waters, at least taking the Advantage of a River, +or of a Dock or Cistern made to receive them, it might be afloat before +the Abyss was broken open. For I do not suppose the Abyss broken open +before any Rain fell; and when the opening of the Abyss and of the +Flood-gates of Heaven are mention’d together, I am apt to think those +Flood-gates were distinct from the common Rain, and were something more +violent and impetuous. So that there might be preparatory Rains before +the Disruption of the Abyss: And I do not know but those Rains, so +covering up and enclosing the Earth on every side, might providentially +contribute to the Disruption of it; not only by softning and weakning +the Arch of the Earth in the bottom of those Cracks and Chasms which +were made by the Sun, and which the Rain would first run into, but +especially by stopping on a sudden all the Pores of the Earth, and all +Evaporation, which would make the Vapours within struggle more +violently, as we get a Fever by a Cold; and it may be in that struggle, +the Doors and the Bars were broke, and the great Abyss gush’d out, as +out of a Womb. + +HOWEVER, when the Rains were fallen, we may suppose the Face of the +Earth cover’d over with Water; and whether it was these Waters that St. +_Peter_ refers to, or that of the Abyss afterwards, I cannot tell, when +he saith in his first Epistle, _Chap. iii. 20._ _Noah and his Family +were sav’d by Water_; so as the Water which destroyed the rest of the +World was an Instrument of their Conservation, in as much as it bore up +the Ark, and kept it from that impetuous Shock, which it would have had, +if either it had stood upon dry Land when the Earth fell, or if the +Earth had been dissolv’d without any Water on it or under it. However, +Things being thus prepar’d, let us suppose the great Frame of the +exterior Earth to have broke at this time, or the Fountains of the great +Abyss, as _Moses_ saith, to have been then open’d; from thence would +issue upon the Fall of the Earth, with an unspeakable Violence, such a +Flood of Waters as would over-run and overwhelm for a Time all those +Fragments which the Earth broke into, and bury in one common Grave all +Mankind, and all the Inhabitants of the Earth. Besides, if the +_Flood-gates_ of Heaven were any thing distinct from the Forty Days +Rain, their Effusion, ’tis likely, was at this same time when the Abyss +was broken open; for the sinking of the Earth would make an +extraordinary Convulsion of the Regions of the Air, and that Crack and +Noise that must be in the Falling World, and in the Collision of the +Earth and the Abyss, would make a great and universal Concussion above, +which things together must needs so shake, or so squeeze the Atmosphere, +as to bring down all the remaining Vapours; but the Force of these +Motions not being equal throughout the whole Air, but drawing or +pressing more in some Places than in other, where the Center of the +Convulsion was, there would be the chiefest collection, and there would +fall, not Showers of Rain, or single Drops, but great Spouts or Cascades +of Water; and this is that which _Moses_ seems to call, not improperly, +the _Cataracts_ of Heaven, or the _Windows of Heaven being set open_. + +THUS the Flood came to its height; and ’tis not easy to represent to our +selves this strange Scene of Things, when the Deluge was in its Fury and +Extremity; when the Earth was broken and swallowed up in the Abyss, +whose raging Waters rise higher than the Mountains, and fill’d the Air +with broken Waves, with an universal Mist, and with thick Darkness, so +as Nature seem’d to be in a second Chaos; and upon this Chaos rid the +distress’d Ark, that bore the small Remains of Mankind. No Sea was ever +so tumultuous as this, nor is there any thing in present Nature to be +compar’d with the Disorder of these Waters; all the Poetry, and all the +Hyperboles that are used in the Description of Storms and raging Seas, +were literally true in this, if not beneath it. The Ark was really +carried to the Tops of the highest Mountains, and into the Places of the +Clouds, and thrown down again into the deepest Gulphs; and to this very +State of the Deluge and of the Ark, which was a Type of the Church in +this World, _David_ seems to have alluded in the name of the Church, +_Psal. xiii. 7._ _Abyss calls upon Abyss at the Noise of thy Cataracts +or Water-spouts; all thy Waves and Billows have gone over me_. It was no +doubt an extraordinary and miraculous Providence, that could make a +Vessel so ill mann’d, live upon such a Sea; that kept it from being +dash’d against the Hills, or overwhelm’d in the Deeps. That Abyss, which +had devoured and swallow’d up whole Forests of Woods, Cities and +Provinces, nay the whole Earth, when it had conquer’d all, and triumph’d +over all, could not destroy this single Ship. I remember in the Story of +the _Argonauticks_, _Dion. Argonaut. l. 1. v. 47._ when _Jason_ set out +to fetch the Golden Fleece, the Poet saith, all the Gods that Day look’d +down from Heaven to view the Ship; and the _Nymphs_ stood upon the +Mountain-tops to see the noble Youth of _Thessaly_ pulling at the Oars; +we may with more Reason suppose the Good Angels to have look’d down upon +this Ship of _Noah_’s; and that not out of Curiosity, as idle +Spectators, but with a passionate Concern for its Safety and +Deliverance. A Ship, whose Cargo was no less than a whole World; that +carry’d the Fortune and Hopes of all Posterity, and if this had +perish’d, the Earth for any thing we know had been nothing but a Desart, +a great Ruin, a dead heap of Rubbish, from the Deluge to the +Conflagration. But Death and Hell, the Grave and Destruction have their +Bounds. We may entertain our selves with the Consideration of the Face +of the Deluge, and of the broken and drown’d Earth, in this Scheme, with +the floating Ark, and the Guardian Angels. + +[Illustration: Book 1 Figure 8. The Sphere of the Earth has developed +mountains and valleys.] + +THUS much for the Beginning and Progress of the Deluge. It now remains +only that we consider it in its Decrease, and the State of the Earth +after the Waters were retir’d into their Channels, which makes the +present State of it. _Moses_ saith, God brought a Wind upon the Waters, +and the Tops of the Hills became bare, and then the lower Grounds and +Plains by degrees; the Waters being sunk into the Channels of the Sea, +and the Hollowness of the Earth, and the whole Globe appearing in the +Form it is now under. There needs nothing be added for Explication of +this, ’tis the genuine Consequence of the Theory we have given of the +Deluge; and whether this Wind was a descending Wind to depress and keep +down the Swellings and Inequalities of the Abyss, or whether it was only +to dry the Land as fast as it appear’d, or might have both Effects, I do +not know; but as nothing can be perpetual that is violent, so this +Commotion of the Abyss abated after a certain time, and the great Force +that impell’d the Waters decreasing, their natural Gravity began to take +Effect, and to reduce them into the lowest Places, at an equal Height, +and in an even Surface, and level one Part with another: That is, in +short, the Abyss became our Sea, fixt within its Channel, and bounded by +Rocks and Mountains: _Then was the decreed Place establish’d for it, and +Bars and Doors were set; then was it said, hitherto shalt thou come, and +no further, and here shall thy proud Waves be stopt_, _Job xxxviii. 10, +11._ And the Deluge being thus ended, and the Waters settled in their +Channels, the Earth took such a broken Figure as is represented in those +larger Schemes, _p. 100._ And this will be the Form and State of it till +its great Change comes in the Conflagration, when we expect _a new +Heaven and a new Earth_. + +BUT to pursue this Prospect of Things a little further; we may easily +imagine, that for many Years after the Deluge ceas’d, the Face of the +Earth was very different from what it is now, and the Sea had other +Bounds than it hath at present. I do not doubt but the Sea reach’d much +further in-land, and clim’d higher upon the Sides of the Mountains; and +I have observ’d in many Places a Ridge of Mountains some Distance from +the Sea, and a Plain from their Roots to the Shore; which Plain no doubt +was formerly cover’d by the Sea, bounded against those Hills as its +first and natural Ramparts, or as the Ledges or Lips of its Vessel. And +it seems probable, that the Sea doth still grow narrower from Age to +Age, and sinks more within its Channel and the Bowels of the Earth, +according as it can make its Way into all those subterraneous Cavities, +and crowd the Air out of them. We see whole Countries of Land gain’d +from it, and by several Indications, as ancient Sea-ports left dry and +useless, old Sea-marks far within the Land, Pieces of Ships, Anchors, +_&c._ left at a great Distance from the present Shores; from these +Signs, and such like, we may conclude that the Sea reach’d many Places +formerly that now are dry Land, and at first I believe was generally +bound in on either Side with a Chain of Mountains. So I should easily +imagine the Mediterranean Sea, for instance, to have been bounded by the +Continuation of the _Alps_ through _Dauphine_ and _Languedoc_ to the +_Pyreneans_, and at the other End by the _Darmatick_ Mountains almost to +the Black Sea. Then _Atlas major_, which runs along with the +Mediterranean from _Ægypt_ to the _Atlantick_ Ocean, and now parts +_Barbary_ and _Numidia_, may possibly have been the ancient Barrier on +the _Africk_ Side. And in our own Island I could easily figure to my +self, in many Parts of it, other Sea-bounds than what it hath at +present; and the like may be observ’d in other Countries. + +AND as the Sea had much larger Bounds for some Time after the Deluge, so +the Land had a different Face in many Respects to what it hath now; for +we suppose the Valleys and lower Grounds, where the Descent and +Derivation of the Water was not so easy, to have been full of Lakes and +Pools for a long Time; and these were often converted into Fens and +Bogs, where the Ground being spungy, suck’d up the Water, and the +loosen’d Earth swell’d into a soft and pappy Substance; which would +still continue so, if there was any Course of Water sensible or +insensible, above or within the Ground, that fed this moist Place: But +if the Water stood in a more firm Basin, or on a Soil, which for its +Heaviness or any other Reason would not mix with it, it made a Lake or +clear Pool. And we may easily imagine there were innumerable such Lakes, +and Bogs, and Fastnesses for many Years after the Deluge, till the World +begun to be pretty well stock’d with People, and human Industry cleansed +and drained those unfruitful and unhabitable Places. And those Countries +that have been later cultivated, or by a lazier People, retain still, in +Proportion to their Situation and Soil, a greater Number of them. + +NEITHER is it at all incongruous or inconvenient to suppose, that the +Face of the Earth stood in this Manner for many Years after the Deluge; +for while Mankind was small and few, they needed but a little Ground for +their Seats or Sustenance; and as they grew more numerous, the Earth +proportionally grew more dry, and more Parts of it fit for Habitation. I +easily believe that _Plato_’s Observation or Tradition [_de Leg. li. +3._] is true, that Men at first, after the Flood, liv’d in the Up-lands +and Sides of the Mountains, and by Degrees sunk into the Plains and +lower Countries, when Nature had prepar’d them for their Use, and their +Numbers requir’d more Room. The History of _Moses_ _Gen. xi._ tells us, +that some Time after the Deluge, _Noah_ and his Posterity, his Sons and +his Grand-children, chang’d their Quarters, and fell down into the +Plains of _Shiner_, from the Sides of the Hills where the Ark had +rested; and in this Plain was the last general Rendezvous of Mankind; so +long they seem to have kept in a Body, and from thence they were divided +and broken into Companies, and dispers’d, first, into the neighbouring +Countries, and then by degrees throughout the whole Earth; the several +successive Generations, like the Waves of the Sea when it flows, +over-reaching one another, and striking out farther and farther upon the +Face of the Land. Not that the whole Earth was peopled by an uniform +Propagation of Mankind every Way, from one Place, as a common Center; +like the Swelling of a Lake upon a Plain: For sometimes they shot out in +length, like Rivers, and sometimes they flew into remote Countries in +Colonies, like Swarms from the Hive, and settled there, leaving many +Places uninhabited betwixt them and their first Home. Sea-shores and +Islands were generally the last Places inhabited; for while the Memory +or Story of the Deluge was fresh amongst them, they did not care for +coming so near their late Enemy; or at least, to be inclos’d and +surrounded by his Forces. + +AND this may be sufficient to have discours’d concerning all the Parts +of the Deluge, and the Restitution of the Earth to an habitable Form, +for the further Union of our Theory with the History of _Moses_; there +rests only one Thing in that History to be taken notice of, which may be +thought possibly not to agree so well with our Account of the Deluge; +namely, that _Moses_ seems to shut up the Abyss again at the End of the +Deluge, which our Explication supposeth to continue open. But besides +that half the Abyss is still really cover’d, _Moses_ saith the same +Thing of the Windows of Heaven, that they were shut up too; and he +seemeth in both to express only the Cessation of the Effect which +proceeded from their opening: For as _Moses_ had ascrib’d the Deluge to +the opening of these two, so when it was to cease, he saith, these two +were shut up; as they were really put into such a Condition, both of +then, that they could not continue the Deluge any longer, nor ever be +the Occasion of a second; and therefore in that Sense, and as to that +Effect were for ever shut up. Some may possibly make that also an +Objection against us, that _Moses_ mentions and supposes the Mountains +at the Deluge, for he saith, the Waters reached fifteen Cubits above the +Tops of them; whereas we suppose the antediluvian Earth to have had a +plain and uniform Surface, without any Inequality of Hills and Valleys. +But this is easily answer’d, it was in the Height of the Deluge that +_Moses_ mention’d the Mountains, and we suppose them to have risen then, +or more towards the Beginning of it, when the Earth was broke; and these +Mountains continuing still upon the Face of the Earth, _Moses_ might +very well take them for a Standard to measure and express to Posterity +the Height of the Waters, though they were not upon the Earth when the +Deluge began. Neither is there any mention made, as is observ’d by some, +of Mountains in Scripture, or of Rain, till the Time of the Deluge. + +WE have now finish’d our Account of _Noah_’s Flood, both generally and +particularly; and I have not wittingly omitted or conceal’d any +Difficulty that occurr’d to me, either from the History, or from +abstract Reason; our Theory, so far as I know, hath the Consent and +Authority of both: And how far it agrees and is demonstrable from +natural Observation, or from the Form and _Phænomena_ of this Earth, as +it lies at present, shall be the Subject of the remaining Part of this +first Book. In the mean time I do not know any Thing more to be added in +this Part, unless it be to conclude with an Advertisement to prevent any +Mistake or Misconstruction, as if this Theory, by explaining the Deluge +in a natural Way, in a great Measure, or, by natural Causes, did detract +from the Power of God, by which that great Judgment was brought upon the +World in a providential and miraculous Manner. + +TO satisfy all reasonable and intelligent Persons in this Particular, I +answer and declare, first, That we are far from excluding divine +Providence, either ordinary or extraordinary, from the Causes and +Conduct of the Deluge. I know a Sparrow doth not fall to the Ground +without the Will of our Heavenly Father, much less doth the great World +fall in Pieces without his good Pleasure and Superintendency. In him all +Things live, move, and have their Being; Things that have Life and +Thought have it from him, he is the Fountain of both. Things that have +Motion only, without Thought, have it also from him: And what hath only +naked Being, without Thought or Motion, owe still that Being to him. And +these are not only derived from God at first, but every Moment continued +and conserv’d by him. So intimate and universal is the Dependance of all +Things upon the Divine Will and Power. + +IN the second Place, they are guilty, in my Judgment, of a great Error +or Indiscretion, that oppose the Course of Nature to Providence. St. +_Paul_ says, (_Acts xiv. 17._) God hath not left us without Witness, in +that he gives us Rain from Heaven; yet Rains proceed from natural +Causes, and fall upon the Sea as well as upon the Land. In like manner, +our Saviour, _Mat. vi. 21._ makes those Things Instances of Divine +Providence, which yet come to pass in an ordinary Course of Nature; in +that Part of his excellent Sermon upon the Mount, _Luke xii. 24._ that +concerns Providence, he bids them _consider the Lilies how they grow, +they toil not, neither do they spin, and yet Solomon in all his Glory +was not array’d like one of these_: He bids them also _consider the +Ravens, they neither sow nor reap, neither have they Store-house nor +Barn, and God feedeth them_. The Lilies grow, and the Ravens are fed +according to the ordinary Course of Nature, and yet they are justly made +Arguments of Providence by our Saviour; nor are these Things less +providential, because constant and regular; on the contrary, such a +Disposition or Establishment of second Causes, as will in the best +Order, and for a long Succession, produce the most regular Effects, +assisted only with the ordinary Concourse of the first Cause, is a +greater Argument of Wisdom and Contrivance, than such a Disposition of +Causes as will not in so good an Order, or for so long a Time produce +regular Effects, without an extraordinary Concourse and Interposition of +the first Cause. This I think is clear to every Man’s Judgment. 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 Work, than he that +hath so made his Clock that he must put his Finger to it every Hour to +make it strike: And if one should contrive a Piece of Clock-work, so +that it should beat all the Hours, and make all its Motions regularly +for such a Time, and that Time being come, upon a Signal given, or a +Spring touch’d, it should of its own accord fall all to Pieces; would +not this be look’d upon as a Piece of greater Art than if the Workman +came at that Time prefix’d, and with a great Hammer beat it into pieces? +I use these Comparisons to convince us, that it is no Detraction from +divine Providence, that the Course of Nature is exact and regular, 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 World. This seems to me to be the great +Art of divine Providence, so to adjust the two Worlds, human and +natural, material and intellectual, as seeing thro’ the Possibilities +and Futuritions of each, according to the first State and Circumstances +he puts them under, they should all along correspond and fit one +another, and especially in their great Crises and Periods. + +THIRDLY, Besides the ordinary Providence of God in the ordinary Course +of Nature, there is doubtless an extraordinary Providence that doth +attend the greater Scenes and the greater Revolutions of Nature. This, +methinks, besides all other Proof from the Effects, is very rational and +necessary in itself; for it would be a Limitation of the divine Power +and Will so to be bound up to second Causes, as never to use, upon +Occasion, an extraordinary Influence or Direction: And ’tis manifest, +taking any System of natural Causes, if the best possible, that there +may be more and greater Things done, if to this, upon certain Occasions, +you join an extraordinary Conduct. And as we have taken Notice before, +that there was an extraordinary Providence in the Formation or +Composition of the first Earth, so I believe there was also in the +Dissolution of it: And I think it had been impossible for the Ark to +have liv’d upon the raging Abyss, or for _Noah_ and his Family to have +been preserv’d, if there had not been a miraculous Hand of Providence to +take care of them. But ’tis hard to separate and distinguish an ordinary +and extraordinary Providence in all Cases, and to mark just how far one +goes, and where the other begins. And writing a Theory of the Deluge +here, as we do, we were to exhibit a Series of Causes whereby it might +be made intelligible, or to shew the proximate natural Causes of it; +wherein we follow the Example both of _Moses_ and St. _Peter_; and with +the same Veneration of the divine Power and Wisdom in the Government of +Nature, by a constant ordinary Providence, and an occasional +extraordinary. + +SO much for the Theory of the Deluge, and the second Section of this +Discourse. + + + + + CHAP. IX. + + + _The second Part of this Discourse, proving the same Theory from the + Effects and present Form of the Earth. First, by a general Scheme of + what is most remarkable in this Globe, and then by a more particular + Induction; beginning with an Account of subterraneous Cavities and + subterraneous Waters._ + + +WE have now finished our Explication of the universal Deluge, and given +an Account, not only of the Possibility of it, but (so far as our +Knowledge can reach) of its Causes; and of that Form and Structure of +the Earth, whereby the _Old World_ was subject to that sort of Fate. We +have not begged any principles or Suppositions for the Proof of this; +but taking that common Ground, which both _Moses_ and all Antiquity +present to us, _viz._ _That this Earth rose from a Chaos_: We have from +that deduc’d, by an easy Train of Consequences, what the first Form of +it would be; and from that Form, as from a nearer Ground, we have by a +second Train of Consequences made it appear, that at some Time or other +that first Earth would be subject to a Dissolution, and by that +Dissolution to a Deluge. And thus far we have proceeded only by the +Intuition of Causes, as is most proper to a Theory; but for the +Satisfaction of those that require more sensible Arguments, and to +compleat our Proofs on either hand, we will now argue from the Effects; +and from the present State of Nature, and the present Form of the Earth, +prove that it hath been broken, and undergone such a Dissolution as we +have already describ’d, and made the immediate Occasion of the Deluge. +And that we may do this more perspicuously and distinctly, we will lay +down this Proposition to be prov’d, _viz._ _That the present Form and +Structure of the Earth, both as to the Surface and as to the interior +Parts of it, so far as they are known and accessible to us, doth exactly +answer to our Theory concerning the Form and Dissolution of the first +Earth, and cannot be explain’d upon any other Hypothesis yet known._ + +ORATORS and Philosophers treat Nature after a very different Manner; +those represent her with all her Graces and Ornaments, and if there be +any Thing that is not capable of that, they dissemble it, or pass it +over slightly. But Philosophers view Nature with a more impartial Eye, +and without Favour or Prejudice give a just and free Account, how they +find all the Parts of the Universe, some more, some less perfect. And as +to this Earth in particular, if I was to describe it as an Orator, I +would suppose it a beautiful and regular Globe; and not only so, but +that the whole Universe was made for its sake; that it was the Darling +and Favourite of Heaven, that the Sun shin’d only to give it Light, to +ripen its Fruit, and make fresh its Flowers; and that the great Concave +of the Firmament, and all the Stars in their several Orbs, were design’d +only for a spangled Cabinet to keep this Jewel in. This _Idea_ I would +give of it as an Orator; but a Philosopher that overheard me would +either think me in Jest, or very injudicious, if I took the Earth for a +Body so regular in it self, or so considerable if compar’d with the rest +of the Universe. This, he would say, is to make the great World like one +of the Heathen Temples, a beautiful and magnificent Structure, and of +the richest Materials, yet built only for a little brute Idol, a Dog, or +a Crocodile, or some deformed Creature placed in a Corner of it. + +WE must therefore be impartial where the Truth requires it, and describe +the Earth as it is really in it self; and though it be handsome and +regular enough to the Eye in certain Parts of it, single Tracks and +single Regions; yet if we consider the whole Surface of it, or the whole +exterior Region, ’tis as a broken and confus’d Heap of Bodies, plac’d in +no Order to one another, nor with any Correspondency or Regularity of +Parts: And such a Body as the Moon appears to us, when ’tis look’d upon +with a good Glass, rude and ragged; as it is also represented in the +modern Maps of the Moon; such a Thing would the Earth appear if it was +seen from the Moon. They are both in my Judgment the Image or Picture of +a great Ruin, and have the true Aspect of a World lying in its Rubbish. +_See Fig._ in _Chap. XI._ + +OUR Earth is first divided into Sea and Land, without any Regularity in +the Portions, either of the one or the other; in the Sea lie the +Islands, scatter’d like Limbs torn from the rest of the Body; great +Rocks stand rear’d up in the Waters; the Promontories and Capes shoot +into the Sea, and the Sinus’s and Creeks on the other hand run as much +into the Land; and these without any Order or Uniformity. Upon the other +Part of our Globe stand great Heaps of Earth or Stone, which we call +Mountains; and if these were all plac’d together, they would take up a +very considerable part of the dry Land: In the rest of it are lesser +Hills, Valleys, Plains, Lakes and Marshes, Sands and Desarts, _&c._ and +these also without any regular Disposition. Then the Inside of the +Earth, or inward Parts of it, are generally broken or hollow, especially +about the Mountains and high Lands, as also towards the Shores of the +Sea, and among the Rocks. How many Holes and Caverns, and strange +subterraneous Passages do we see in many Countries? And how many more +may we easily imagine, that are unknown and unaccessible to us? + +THIS is the Pourtraicture of our Earth, drawn without Flattery; and as +oddly as it looks, it will not be at all surprizing to one that hath +consider’d the foregoing Theory: For ’tis manifest enough, that upon the +Dissolution of the first Earth, and its Fall into the Abyss, this very +Face and Posture of Things, which we have now describ’d, or something +extreamly like it, would immediately result. The Sea would be open’d, +and the Face of the Globe would be divided into Land and Water: And +according as the Fragments fell, some would make Islands or Rocks in the +Sea, others would make Mountains or Plains upon the Land; and the Earth +would generally be full of Caverns and Hollownesses, especially in the +mountainous Parts of it. And we see the Resemblance and Imitation of +this in lesser Ruins, when a Mountain sinks and falls into subterraneous +Water; or, which is more obvious, when the Arch of a Bridge is broken, +and falls into the Water, if the Water under it be not so deep as to +overflow and cover all its Parts, you may see there the Image of all +these things in little Continents, and Islands, and Rocks under Water: +And in the Parts that stand above the Water, you see Mountains, and +Precipices, and Plains, and most of the Varieties that we see and admire +in the Parts of the Earth. What need we then seek any further for the +Explication of these things? Let us suppose this Arch of the Bridge, as +the great Arch of the Earth, which once it had, and the Water under it +as the Abyss, and the Parts of this Ruin to represent the Parts of the +Earth: There will be scarce any Difference but of lesser and greater, +the same things appearing in both. But we have naturally that Weakness +or Prejudice, that we think great things are not to be explained from +easy and familiar Instances; we think there must be something difficult +and operose in the Explication of them, or else we are not satisfied; +whether it is that we are ashamed to see our Ignorance and Admiration to +have been so groundless, or whether we fancy there must be a Proportion +between the Difficulty of the Explication, and the Greatness of the +thing explain’d; but that is a very false Judgment, for let Things be +never so great, if they be simple, their Explication must be simple and +easy: And on the contrary, some things that are mean, common, and +ordinary, may depend upon Causes very difficult to find out; for the +Difficulty of explaining an Effect doth not depend upon its Greatness or +Littleness, but upon the Simplicity or Composition of its Causes. And +the Effects and _Phænomena_ we are here to explain, though great, yet +depending upon Causes very simple, you must not wonder if the +Explication, when found out, be familiar and very intelligible. + +AND this is so intelligible, and so easily deducible from the +forementioned Causes, that a Man born blind, or brought up all his Life +in a Cave, that had never seen the Face of the Earth, nor ever heard any +Description of it, more than that it was a great Globe; having this +Theory propos’d to him, or being instructed what the Form of the first +Earth was, how it stood over the Waters, and then how it was broke and +fell into them, he would easily of his own accord foretel what Changes +would arise upon this Dissolution; and what the new Form of the Earth +would be. As in the first place he would tell you, that this second +Earth would be distinguish’d and checker’d into Land and Water; for the +Orb which fell being greater than the Circumference it fell upon, all +the Fragments could not fall flat and lie drown’d under Water; and those +that stood above would make the dry Land or habitable part of the Earth. +Then in the second Place, he would plainly discern that these Fragments +that made the dry Land could not lie all plain and smooth and equal, but +some would be higher and some lower, some in one Posture and some in +another; and consequently would make Mountains, Hills, Valleys and +Plains, and all other Varieties we have in the Situation of the Parts of +the Earth. And lastly, 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 it, a great many Intervals and empty Places in the +Rubbish, as I may so say; for this we see happens in all Ruins more or +less; and where the Fragments are great and hard, ’tis not possible they +should be so adjusted in their Fall, but that they would lie hollow in +many Places, and many unfill’d Spaces would be intercepted amongst them; +some gaping in the Surface of the Earth, and others hid within; so as +this would give occasion to all sorts of Fractures and Cavities either +in the Skin of the Earth, or within its Body. And these Cavities, that I +may add that in the last Place, would be often fill’d with subterraneous +Waters, at least at such a Depth; for the Foundations of the Earth +standing now within the Waters, so high as those Waters reach’d they +would more or less propagate themselves every way. + +THUS far our blind Man could tell us what the new World would be, or the +Form of the Earth upon the great Dissolution; and we find his Reasonings +and Inferences very true, these are the chief Lineaments and Features of +our Earth; which appear indeed very irregular and very unaccountable +when they are look’d upon naked in themselves; but if we look upon them +through this Theory, we see as in a Glass all the Reasons and Causes of +them. There are different Genius’s of Men, and different Conceptions, +and every one is to be allow’d their Liberty as to things of this +Nature; I confess, for my own part, when I observe how easy and +naturally this _Hypothesis_ doth apply it self to the general Face of +this Earth, hits and falls in so luckily and surprizingly with all the +odd Postures of its Parts, I cannot, without Violence, bear off my Mind +from fully assenting to it: And the more odd and extravagant, as I may +so say, and the more diversify’d the Effects and Appearances are, to +which an _Hypothesis_ is to be apply’d, if it answers them all and with +Exactness, it comes the nearer to a moral Certitude and Infallibility. +As a Lock that consists of a great deal of Workmanship, many Wards, and +many odd Pieces and Contrivances, if you find a Key, that answers to +them all, and opens it readily, ’tis a thousand to one that ’tis the +true Key, and was made for that Purpose. + +AN eminent Philosopher of this Age, _Monsier des Cartes_, hath made use +of the like _Hypothesis_ to explain the irregular Form of the present +Earth; though he never dream’d of the Deluge, nor thought that first +Orb, built over the Abyss, to have been any more than a transient Crust, +and not a real habitable World that lasted for more than sixteen hundred +Years, as we suppose it to have been. And though he hath, in my Opinion, +in the Formation of that first Orb, and upon the Dissolution of it, +committed some great Oversights, whereof we have given an Account in the +_Latin_ Treatise, _C. 7. & lib. 2. c. 4._ however he saw a Necessity of +such a Thing, and of the Disruption of it, to bring the Earth into that +Form and Posture wherein we now find it. + +THUS far we have spoken in general, concerning the Agreement and +Congruity of our Supposition with the present Face of the Earth, and the +easy Account it gives of the Causes of it. And though I believe to +ingenuous Persons, that are not prejudic’d by the Forms and Opinions of +the Schools against every thing that looks like a Novelty or Invention, +thus much might be sufficient; yet for the Satisfaction of all, we will, +as a farther Proof of our Theory, or that part of it which concerns the +Dissolution of the Earth, descend to a particular Explication of three +or four of the most considerable and remarkable things that occur in the +Fabrick of this present Earth; namely, _The great Channel of the Ocean; +subterraneous Cavities and subterraneous Waters_; and lastly, _Mountains +and Rocks_. These are the Wonders of the Earth as to the visible Frame +of it; and who would not be pleas’d to see a rational Account of these, +of their Origin, and of their Properties? Or who would not approve of an +_Hypothesis_, when they see that Nature in her greatest and strongest +Works may easily be understood by it, and is in no other way, that we +know of, intelligible? + +WE will speak first of subterraneous Cavities and Waters, because they +will be of easier Dispatch, and an Introduction to the rest. + +THAT the Inside of the Earth is hollow and broken in many Places, and is +not one firm and united Mass, we have both the Testimony of Sense and of +easy Observations to prove: How many Caves and Dens and hollow Passages +into the Ground do we see in many Countries, especially amongst +Mountains and Rocks; and some of them endless and bottomless so far as +can be discover’d? We have many of these in our own Island, in +_Derbyshire_, _Somersetshire_, _Wales_, and other Counties, and in every +Continent or Island they abound more or less. These Hollownesses of the +Earth the Ancients made Prisons, or Store-houses for the Winds, and set +a God over them to confine them, or let them loose at his Pleasure. For +some Ages after the Flood, as all Antiquity tells us, these were the +first Houses Men had, at least in some Parts of the Earth; here rude +Mortals shelter’d themselves, as well as they could, from the Injuries +of the Air, till they were beaten out by wild Beasts that took +Possession of them. The ancient Oracles also us’d to be given out of +these Vaults and Recesses under Ground, the _Sibyls_ had their Caves, +and the _Delphick_ Oracle, and their Temples sometimes were built upon +an hollow Rock. Places that are strange and solemn strike an Awe into +us, and incline us to a kind of superstitious Timidity and Veneration, +and therefore they thought them fit for the Seats and Residences of +their Deities. They fancied also that Steams rise sometimes, or a sort +of Vapour in those hollow Places, that gave a kind of a divine Fury or +Inspiration. But all these Uses and Employments are now in a great +measure worn out, we know no Use of them but to make the Places talk’d +on where they are, to be the Wonders of the Country, to please our +Curiosity to gaze upon and admire; but we know not how they came, nor to +what purpose they were made at first. + +IT would be very pleasant to read good Descriptions of these +subterraneous Places, and of all the strange Works of Nature there; how +she furnisheth these dark neglected Grotto’s; they have often a little +Brook runs murmuring thro’ them, and the Roof is commonly a kind of +petrefied Earth, or icy Fret-work, proper enough for such Rooms. But I +should be pleas’d especially to view the Sea-caves, or those hollow +Rocks that lie upon the Sea, where the Waves roll a great Way under +Ground, and wear the hard Rock into as many odd Shapes and Figures as we +see in the Clouds. ’Tis pleasant also to see a River in the Middle of +its Course throw itself into the Mouth of a Cave, or an Opening of the +Earth, and run under Ground sometimes many Miles; still pursuing its Way +thro’ the dark Pipes of the Earth, till at last it find an Out-let. +There are many of these Rivers taken Notice of in History in the several +Parts of the Earth, as the _Rhone_ in _France_, _Guadiana_ in _Spain_, +and several in _Greece_, _Alpheus_, _Lycus_, and _Erasinus_; then +_Niger_ in _Africa_, _Tygris_ in _Asia_, _&c._ And I believe if we could +turn _Derwent_, or any other River, into one of the Holes of the Peak, +it would groap its Way till it found an Issue, it may be, in some other +Country. These subterraneous Rivers that emerge again, shew us that the +Holes of the Earth are longer and reach further than we imagine, and if +we could see into the Ground, as we ride, or walk, we should be +affrighted to see so often Waters or Caverns under us. + +BUT to return to our dry Caves; these commonly stand high, and are +sometimes of a prodigious Greatness: _Strabo_ [_Geo. l. 16._] mentions +some in the Mountains towards _Arabia_, that are capable to receive four +thousand Men at once. The Cave of _Engedi_ [_1 Sam. xxiv. 3, 4._] hid +_David_ and six hundred Men, so as _Saul_, when he was in the Mouth of +it, did not perceive them. In the Mountains of the _Traconites_ there +are many of these vast Dens and Recesses, and the People of that Country +defended themselves a long time in those strong Holds against _Herod_ +and his Army: They are plac’d among such craggy Rocks and Precipices, +that, as _Josephus_ [_Ant. Jud. l. 14. ch. 27._] tells us, _Herod_ was +forced to make a sort of open Chests, and in those by Chains of Iron he +let down his Soldiers from the Top of the Mountains to go fight them in +their Dens. I need add no more Instances of this Kind: In the natural +History of all Countries, or the geographical Descriptions of them, you +find such Places taken notice of, more or less; yet if there was a good +Collection made of the chief of them in several Parts, it might be of +use, and would make us more sensible how broken and torn the Body of the +Earth is. + +THERE are subterraneous Cavities of another Nature, and more remarkable, +which they call _Volcano_’s, or fiery Mountains; that belch out Flames +and Smoke and Ashes, and sometimes great Stones and broken Rocks, and +Lumps of Earth, or some metallick Mixture; and throw them to an +incredible Distance by the Force of the Eruption. These argue great +Vacuities in the Bowels of the Earth, and Magazines of combustible +Matter treasur’d up in them. And as the Exhalations within these Places +must be copious, so they must lie in long Mines or Trains to do so great +Execution, and to last so long. ’Tis scarce credible what is reported +concerning some Eruptions of _Vesuvius_ and _Ætna_. The Eruptions of +_Vesuvius_ seem to be more frequent and less violent of late; the Flame +and Smoke break out at the Top of the Mountain, where they have eaten +away the Ground and made a great Hollow, so as it looks at the Top, when +you stand upon the Brims of it, like an _Amphitheatre_, or like a great +Caldron, about a Mile in Circumference, and the burning Furnace lies +under it. The Outside of the Mountain is all spread with Ashes, but the +Inside much more; 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 again. The Inside lies sloping, and one may safely go down, if it be +not in a raging Fit; but the middle Part of it, or Center, which is a +little rais’d like the Bottom of a Platter, is not to be ventur’d upon, +the Ground there lies false and hollow, there it always smoaks, and +there the Funnel is suppos’d to be; yet there is no visible Hole or +Gaping any where when it doth not rage. _Naples_ stands below in fear of +this fiery Mountain, which hath often cover’d its Streets and Palaces +with its Ashes; and in Sight of the Sea (which lies by the Side of them +both) and as it were in Defiance to it, threatens at one time or other +to burn that fair City. History tells us, that some Eruptions of +_Vesuvius_ have carry’d Cinders and Ashes as far as _Constantinople_; +this is attested both by _Greek_ and _Latin_ Authors; particularly, that +they were so affrighted with these Ashes and Darkness, that the Emperor +left the City, and there was a Day observ’d yearly for a Memorial of +this Calamity or Prodigy. + +_ÆTNA_ is of greater Fame than _Vesuvius_, and of greater Fury, all +Antiquity speaks of it; not only the _Greeks_ and _Romans_, but as far +as History reacheth, either real or fabulous, there is something +recorded of the Fires of _Ætna_: The Figure of the Mountain is +inconstant, by reason of the great Consumptions and Ruins it is subject +to; the Fires and Æstuations of it are excellently describ’d by +_Virgil_, upon Occasion of _Æneas_’s passing by those Coasts. + + —— _Horrificis juxta tonat Ætna ruinis; + Intendumque atram prorumpit ad ætheranubem, + Turbine fumantem piceo & candente favilla; + Attollitque globos flammarum & sydera lambit; + Interdum scopulos, avulsaque viscera montis + Erigit eructans, liquefactaque saxa sub auras + Cum gemitu glomerat, fundoque exæstuat imo._ + + _Fama est Enceladi semustum fulmine corpus + Urgeri mole hac, ingentemque insuper Ætnam + Impositam, ruptis flammam expirare caminis. + Et fessum quoties mutet latus, intremere omnem + Murmure Trinacriam & cœlum subtexere fumo._ + + ——_Ætna, whose Ruins make a thunder; + Sometimes black Clouds of Smoke, that rowl about + Mingled with Flakes of Fire, it belches out: + And sometimes Balls of Flame it darts on high, + Or its torn Bowels flings into the Sky. + Within deep Cells under the Earth, a Store + Of Fire-materials, molten Stones, and Ore, + It gathers, then spews out, and gathers more._ + + _Enceladus, when Thunder-struck by Jove, + Was bury’d here, and Ætna thrown above; + And when, to change his wearied Side, he turns, + The Island trembles and the Mountain burns._ + +NOT far from _Ætna_ lies _Strombolo_, and other adjacent Islands, where +there are also such Magazines of Fire; and throughout all Regions and +Countries in the _West-Indies_ and in the _East_, in the northern and +southern Parts of the Earth, there are some of these _Volcano_’s, which +are sensible Evidences that the Earth is incompact and full of Caverns; +besides, the roarings and bellowings that use to be heard before an +Eruption of these _Volcano_’s argue some dreadful Hollowness in the +Belly, or under the Roots of the Mountain, where the Exhalations +struggle before they can break their Prison. + +THE subterraneous Cavities, that we have spoke of hitherto, are such as +are visible in the Surface of the Earth, and break the Skin by some +gaping Orifice; but the Miners and those that work under Ground meet +with many more in the Bowels of the Earth, that never reach to the Top +of it; Burrows and Channels, and Clifts and Caverns, that never had the +Comfort of one Beam of Light since the great Fall of the Earth. And +where we think the Ground is firm and solid, as upon Heaths and Downs, +it often betrays its Hollowness, by sounding under the Horses Feet and +the Chariot Wheels that pass over it. We do not know when and where we +stand upon good Ground, if it was examin’d deep enough; and to make us +further sensible of this, we will instance in two Things that argue the +Unsoundness and Hollowness of the Earth in the inward Recesses of it, +tho’ the Surface be intire and unbroken; these are _Earthquakes_ and the +Communication of _subterraneous Waters_ and _Seas_: Of which two we will +speak a little more particularly. + +EARTHQUAKES are too evident Demonstrations of the Hollowness of the +Earth, being the dreadful Effects or Consequences of it; for if the Body +of the Earth was sound and compact, there would be no such thing in +Nature as an Earthquake. They are commonly accompanied with an heavy +dead Sound, like a dull Thunder which ariseth from the Vapours that are +striving in the Womb of Nature, when her Throws are coming upon her. And +that these Caverns where the Vapours lie are very large and capacious, +we are taught sometimes by sad Experience; for whole Cities and +Countries have been swallow’d up into them, as _Sodom_ and _Gomorrah_, +and the Region of _Pentapolis_, and several Cities in _Greece_, and in +_Asia_, and other Parts. Whole Islands also have been thus absorpt in an +Earthquake; the Pillars and Props they stood upon being broken, they +have sunk and fallen in as an House blown up. I am also of Opinion, that +those Islands that are made by Divulsion from a Continent, as _Sicily_ +was broken off from _Italy_, and _Great-Britain_, as some think, from +_France_, have been made the same way; that is, the Isthmus or Necks of +Land, that join’d these Islands with their Continents before, have been +hollow, and being either worn by the Water, or shak’d by an Earthquake, +have sunk down, and so made Way for the Sea to overflow them, and of a +Promontory to make an Island. For it is not at all likely that the Neck +of Land continued standing, and the Sea overflow’d it, and so made an +Island; for then, all those Passages between such Islands, and their +respective Continents, would be extremely shallow and unnavigable, which +we do not find them to be. Nor is it any more Wonder if such a Neck of +Land should fall, than that a Mountain should sink, or any other Tract +of Land, and a Lake rise in its Place, which hath often happened. +_Plato_ supposeth his _Atlantis_ to have been greater than _Asia_ and +_Africa_ together, and yet to have sunk all into the Sea; whether that +be true or no, I do not think it impossible that some Arms of the Sea, +or Sinus’s, might have had such an Original as that; and I am very apt +to think, that for some Years after the Deluge, ’till the Fragments were +well settled and adjusted, great Alterations would happen as to the Face +of the Sea and the Land; many of the Fragments would change their +Posture, and many would sink into the Water, that stood out before, the +Props failing that bore them up, or the Joints and Corners whereby they +lean’d upon one another: And thereupon a new Face of Things would arise, +and a new Deluge for that part of the Earth. Such Removes and +Interchanges, I believe, would often happen in the first Ages after the +Flood; as we see in all other Ruins, there happen lesser and secondary +Ruins after the first, ’till the Parts be so well pois’d and settled, +that without some Violence they scarce change their Posture any more. + +BUT to return to our Earthquakes, and to give an Instance or two of +their Extent and Violence: _Pliny_ mentions one in the Reign of +_Tiberius Cæsar_, that struck down twelve Cities of _Asia_ in one Night. +And _Fournier_ gives us an Account of one in _Peru_, that reach’d three +hundred Leagues along the Sea-shore, and seventy Leagues In-land; and +level’d the Mountains all along as it went, threw down the Cities, +turn’d the Rivers out of their Channels, and made an universal Havock +and Confusion: And all this, he saith, was done within the Space of +seven or eight Minutes. There must be dreadful Vaults and Mines under +that Continent that gave Passage to the Vapours, and Liberty to play for +Nine Hundred Miles in length, and above two Hundred in breadth. _Asia_ +also hath been very subject to these Desolations by Earthquakes; and +many Parts in _Europe_, as _Greece_, _Italy_, and others. The Truth is, +our Cities are built upon Ruins, and our Fields and Countries stand upon +broken Arches and Vaults, and so does the greatest Part of the outward +Frame of the Earth, and therefore it is no Wonder if it be often shaken; +there being Quantities of Exhalations within these Mines, or cavernous +Passages, that are capable of Rarefaction and Inflammation; and, upon +such Occasions, requiring more Room, they shake or break the Ground that +covers them. And thus much concerning Earthquakes. + +A second Observation that argues the Hollowness of the Earth, is the +Communication of the Seas and Lakes under Ground. The _Caspian_ and +_Mediterranean_ Seas, and several Lakes, receive into them great Rivers, +and yet have no visible Out-let: These must have subterraneous Out-lets, +by which they empty themselves, otherwise they would redound and +overflow the Brims of their Vessel. The _Mediterranean_ is most +remarkable in this Kind, because ’tis observ’d, that at one End the +great Ocean flows into it through the Straits of _Gibraltar_, with a +sensible Current, and towards the other End about _Constantinople_ the +_Pontus_ flows down into it with a Stream so strong, that Vessels have +much ado to stem it; and yet it neither hath any visible Evacuation or +Out-let, nor overflows its Banks. And besides that it is thus fed at +either End, it is fed by the Navel too, as I may so say; it sucks in, by +their Channels, several Rivers into its Belly, whereof the _Nile_ is one +very great and considerable. These Things have made it a great Problem, +_What becomes of the Water of the Mediterranean Sea?_ And for my Part, I +think the Solution is very easy, namely, that it is discharged by +subterraneous Passages, or convey’d by Channels under the Ground into +the Ocean. And this manner of Discharge or Conveyance is not peculiar to +the _Mediterranean_, but is common to it with the _Caspian_ Sea, and +other Seas and Lakes, that receive great Rivers into them, and have no +visible Issue. + +I know there have been propos’d several other Ways to answer this +Difficulty concerning the Efflux or Consumption of the Waters of the +_Mediterranean_; some have suppos’d a double Current in the Strait of +_Gibraltar_, one that carry’d the Water in, and another that brought it +out; like the Arteries and Veins in our Body, the one exporting our +Blood from the Heart, and the other re-importing it: So they suppos’d +one Current upon the Surface, which carry’d the Water into the +_Mediterranean_, and under it at a certain Depth a Counter-Current, +which brought the Water back into the Ocean. But this hath neither Proof +nor Foundation; for unless it was included in Pipes, as our Blood is, or +consisted of Liquors very different, these cross Currents would mingle +and destroy one another. Others are of Opinion, that all the Water that +flows into the _Mediterranean_, or a Quantity equal to it, is consumed +in Exhalations every Day: This seems to be a bolder Supposition than the +other; for if so much be consumed in Vapours and Exhalations every Day +as flows into this Sea, what if this Sea had an Out-let and discharg’d +by that, every Day, as much as it receiv’d? In a few Days the Vapours +would have consumed all the rest; and yet we see many Lakes that have as +free an Out-let as an In-let, and are not consum’d, or sensibly +diminish’d by the Vapours. Besides, this Reason is a Summer Reason, and +would pass very ill in Winter, when the Heat of the Sun is much less +powerful: At least there would be a very sensible Difference betwixt the +Height of the Waters in Summer and Winter, if so much was consum’d every +Day, as this Explication supposeth. And the Truth is, this Want of a +visible Out-let is not a Property belonging only to the _Mediterranean_ +Sea, as we noted before, but is also in other Seas and great Lakes, some +lying in one Climate and some in another, where there is no Reason to +suppose such excessive Exhalations; and tho’ ’tis true some Rivers in +_Africk_, and in other Parts of the Earth, are thus exhal’d and dry’d +up, without ever flowing into the Sea (as were all the Rivers in the +first Earth) yet this is where the Sands and parch’d Ground suck up a +great part of them; the heat of the Climate being excessively strong, +and the Channel of the River growing shallower by degrees, and it may +be, divided into lesser Branches and Rivulets; which are Causes that +take no Place here. And therefore we must return to our first Reason, +which is universal, for all Seasons of the Year and all Climates; and +seeing we are assur’d that there are subterraneous Channels and +Passages, for Rivers often fall into the Ground, and sometimes rise +again, and sometimes never return; why should we doubt to ascribe this +Effect to so obvious a Cause? Nay, I believe, the very Ocean doth +evacuate it self by subterraneous Out-lets; for considering what a +prodigious Mass of Water falls into it every Day from the wide Mouths of +all the Rivers of the Earth, it must have Out-lets proportionable; and +those _Syrtes_ or great Whirlpools, that are constant in certain Parts +or Sinus’s of the Sea, as upon the Coast of _Norway_ and of _Italy_, +arise probably from subterraneous Out-lets in those Places, whereby the +Water sinks, and turns, and draws into it whatsoever comes within such a +Compass; and if there was no Issue at the Bottom, tho’ it might by +contrary Currents turn Things round within its Sphere, yet there is no +Reason from that, why it should suck them down to the Bottom. Neither +does it seem improbable, that the Currents of the Sea are from these +In-draughts, and that there is always a submarine In-let in some part of +them, to make a Circulation of the Waters. But thus much for the +subterraneous Communication of Seas and Lakes. + +AND thus much in general concerning subterraneous Cavities, and +concerning the hollow and broken Frame of the Earth. If I had now Magick +enough to shew you at one View all the Inside of the Earth, which we +have imperfectly describ’d; if we could go under the Roots of the +Mountains, and into the Sides of the broken Rocks; or could dive into +the Earth with one of those Rivers that sink under Ground, and follow +its Course and all its Windings till it rise again, or led us to the +Sea, we should have a much stronger and more effectual _Idea_ of the +broken Form of the Earth, than any we can excite by these faint +Descriptions collected from Reason. The Ancients I remember us’d to +represent these hollow Caves and subterraneous Regions in the Nature of +a _World_ under Ground, and suppos’d it inhabited by the _Nymphs_, +especially the _Nymphs_ of the Waters and the Sea-Goddesses; so +_Orpheus_ sung of old; and in Imitation of him _Virgil_ hath made a +Description of those Regions; feigning the Nymph _Cyrene_ to send for +her Son to come down to her, and make her a Visit in those Shades where +Mortals were not admitted. + + _Duc age, duc ad nos, fas illi limina Divum + Tangere, ait: Simul alta jubet discedere late + Flumina, qua juvenis gressus inferret, at illum + Curvata in momis faciem circumstitit unda, + Accepitque sinu vasto, misitque sub amnem. + Jamq; domum mirans genetricis & humida regna, + Speluncisque lacos clausos, lucosque sonantes, + Ibat, & ingenti motu stupefactus aquarum + Omnia sub magna labentia flumina terra + Spectabat diversa locis; Phasimque Licumque, + Et Thalami matris pendentia pumice tecta, &c._ + + Virgil. + + _Come lead the Youth below, bring him to me, + The Gods are pleas’d our Mansions he should see; + Straight she commands the Floods to make him Way, + They open their wide Bosom and obey; + Soft is the Path, and easy is his Tread, + A watry Arch bends o’er his dewy Head; + And as he goes he wonders, and looks round, + To see this new found Kingdom under Ground. + The silent Lakes in hollow Caves he sees, + And on their Banks an ecchoing Grove of Trees; + The Fall of Waters ’mongst the Rocks below + He hears, and sees the Rivers how they flow: + All the great Rivers of the Earth are there, + Prepar’d, as in a Womb, by Nature’s Care. + Last, to his Mother’s Bed chamber he’s brought, + Where the high Roof with Pumice-stone is wrought, &c._ + +If we now could open the Earth as this _Nymph_ did the Water, and go +down into the Bosom of it; see all the dark Chambers and Apartments +there, how ill contriv’d, and how ill kept; so many Holes and Corners, +some fill’d with Smoak and Fire, some with Water, and some with Vapours +and mouldy Air; how like a Ruin it lies gaping and torn in the Parts of +it; We should not easily believe that God created it into this Form +immediately out of nothing: It would have cost no more to have made +Things in better Order; nay, it had been more easy and more simple: And +accordingly we are assured that all Things were made at first in Beauty +and Proportion. And if we consider Nature and the Manner of the first +Formation of the Earth, ’tis evident that there could be no such Holes +and Caverns, nor broken Pieces, made then in the Body of it; for the +grosser Parts of the Chaos falling down towards the Center, they would +there compose a Mass of Earth uniform and compact, the Water swimming +above it; and this first Mass under the Water could have no Caverns or +Vacuities in it; for if it had any, the earthy Parts, while the Mass was +liquid or semi-liquid, would have sunk into them and fill’d them up, +expelling the Air or Water that was there; and when afterwards there +came to be a Crust or new Earth form’d upon the Face of the Waters, +there could be no Cavities, no Dens, no Fragments in it, no more than in +the other; and for the same general Reason, _that is_, passing from a +liquid Form into a concrete or solid, leisurely and by degrees, it would +slow and settle together in an entire Mass; there being nothing broken, +nor any Thing hard, to bear the Parts off from one another, or to +intercept any empty Spaces between them. + +’TIS manifest then, that the Earth could not be in this cavernous Form +originally, by any Work of Nature, nor by any immediate Action of God, +seeing there is neither Use nor Beauty in this kind of Construction. Do +we not then, as reasonably, as aptly, ascribe it to that Desolation that +was brought upon the Earth in the general Deluge, when its outward Frame +was dissolv’d and fell into the great Abyss? How easily doth this answer +all that we have observ’d concerning the subterraneous Regions? That +hollow and broken Posture of Things under Ground, all those Caves and +Holes, and blind Recesses, that are otherwise so unaccountable, say but +that they are a _Ruin_, and you have in one Word explain’d them all. For +there is no sort of Cavities, interior or exterior, great or little, +open or shut, wet or dry, of what Form or Fashion soever, but we might +reasonably expect them in a Ruin of that Nature. And as for the +subterraneous Waters, seeing the Earth fell into the Abyss, the Pillars +and Foundations of the present (exterior) Earth must stand immers’d in +Water, and therefore at such a Depth from the Surface every where, there +must be Water found, if the Soil be of a Nature to admit it. ’Tis true, +all subterraneous Waters do not proceed from this Original, for many of +them are the Effects of Rains and melted Snows sunk into the Earth; but +that in digging any where you constantly come to Water at length, even +in the most solid Ground, this cannot proceed from these Rains or Snows, +but must come from below, and from a Cause as general as the Effect is; +which can be no other in my Judgment than this, that the Roots of the +exterior Earth stand within the old Abyss, whereof, as a great Part lies +open in the Sea, so the rest lies hid and cover’d among the Fragments of +the Earth; sometimes dispers’d and only moistning the Parts, as our +Blood lies in the Flesh, and in the Habit of the Body; sometimes in +greater or lesser Masses, as the Blood in our Vessels. And this I take +to be the true Account of subterraneous Waters, as distinguish’d from +Fountains and Rivers, and from the Matter and Causes of them. + +THUS much we have spoke to give a general _Idea_ of the inward Parts of +the Earth, and an easy Explication of them by our _Hypothesis_; which +whether it be true or no, if you compare it impartially with Nature, you +will confess at least, that all these Things are just in such a Form and +Posture as if it was true. + + + + + CHAP. X. + + + _Concerning the Channel of the Sea, and the Original of it; The + Causes of its irregular Form and unequal Depths: As also of the + Original of Islands, their Situation and other Properties._ + + +We have hitherto given an Account of the subterraneous Regions, and of +their general Form; We now come above Ground to view the Surface of the +Globe, which we find _Terraqueous_, or divided into Sea and Land: These +we must survey, and what is remarkable in them as to their Frame and +Structure, we must give an Account of from our _Hypothesis_, and shew to +be unaccountable from any other yet known. + +AS for the Ocean, there are two things considerable in it, the Water and +the Channel that contains it. The Water no doubt is as ancient as the +Earth, and cotemporary with it, and we suppose it to be part of the +great Abyss wherein the World was drown’d; the rest lying cover’d under +the Hollow Fragments of Continents and Islands. But that is not so much +the Subject of our present Discourse as the Channel of the Ocean, that +vast and prodigious Cavity that runs quite round the Globe, and +reacheth, for ought we know, from Pole to Pole, and in many Places is +unsearchably deep: When I present this great Gulf to my Imagination, +emptied of all its Waters, naked and gaping at the Sun, stretching its +Jaws from one End of the Earth to another, it appears to me the most +ghastly thing in Nature. What Hands or Instruments could work a Trench +in the Body of the Earth of this vastness, and lay Mountains and Rocks +on the side of it, as Ramparts to enclose it? + +BUT as we justly admire its Greatness, so we cannot at all admire its +Beauty or Elegancy, for ’tis as deform’d and irregular as it is great. +And there appearing nothing of Order, or any regular Design in its +Parts, it seems reasonable to believe that it was not the Work of +Nature, according to her first Intention, or according to the first +Model that was drawn in Measure and Proportion by the Line and by the +Plummet, but a secondary Work, and the best that could be made of broken +Materials. And upon this Supposition ’tis easy to imagine, how upon the +Dissolution of the Primæval Earth, the Channel of the Sea was made, or +that huge Cavity that lies between the several Continents of the Earth; +which shall be more particularly explain’d after we have view’d a little +better the Form of it, and the Islands that lie scatter’d by its Shores. + +THERE is no Cavity in the Earth, whether open or subterraneous, that is +comparably so great as that of the Ocean, nor would any appear of that +Deformity if we could see it empty. The Inside of a Cave is rough and +unsightly; the Beds of great Rivers and great Lakes, when they are laid +dry, look very raw and rude, the Valleys of the Earth, if they were +naked, without Trees and without Grass, nothing but bare Ground and bare +Stones, from the tops of their Mountains, would have a ghastly Aspect; +but the Sea-Channel is the Complex of all these; here Caves, empty +Lakes, naked Valleys are represented as in their Original, or rather far +exceeded and out-done as to all their Irregularities; for the Cavity of +the Ocean is universally irregular, both as to the Shores and Borders of +it; as to the uncertain Breadth and the uncertain Depth of its several +Parts, and as to its Ground and Bottom and the whole Mould: If the Sea +had been drawn round the Earth in regular Figures and Borders, it might +have been a great Beauty to our Globe, and we should reasonably have +concluded it a Work of the first Creation, or of Nature’s first +Production; but finding on the contrary all the Marks of Disorder and +Disproportion in it, we may as reasonably conclude, that it did not +belong to the first Order of Things, but was something succedaneous, +when the Degeneracy of Mankind, and the Judgments of God had destroyed +the first World, and subjected the Creation to some kind of Vanity. + +NOR can it easily be imagin’d, if the Sea had been always, and the +Earth, in this _Terraqueous_ Form, broke into Continents and Islands, +how Mankind could have been propagated at first thro’ the Face of the +Earth, all from one Head and from one Place. For Navigation was not then +known, at least as to the Grand Ocean, or to pass from Continent to +Continent; and I believe _Noah_’s Ark was the first Ship, or Vessel of +Bulk, that ever was built in the World; how could then the Posterity of +_Adam_ overflow the Earth, and stock the several Parts of the World, if +they had been distant or separate then, as they are now, by the +Interposal of the great Ocean? But this Consideration we will insist +upon more largely in another Place; let us reflect upon the +Irregularities of the Sea-Channel again, and the possible Causes of it. + +IF we could imagine the Channel of the Sea to have been made as we may +imagine the Channel of Rivers to have been, by long and insensible +Attrition, the Water wearing by degrees the Ground under it, by the +Force it hath from its Descent and Course, we should not wonder at its +irregular Form; but ’tis not possible this Channel should have had any +such Original; whence should its Water have descended, from what +Mountains, or from what Clouds? Where is the Spring-head of the Sea? +What Force could eat away half the Surface of the Earth; and wear it +hollow to an immeasurable Depth? This must not be from feeble and +lingring Causes, such as the Attrition of Waters, but from some great +Violence offer’d to Nature, such as we suppose to have been in the +general Deluge, when the Frame of the Earth was broken. And after we +have a little survey’d the Sea-Coast, and, so far as we can, the Form of +the Sea-Channel, we shall the more easily believe that they could have +no other Original than what we assign. + +THE Shores and Coasts of the Sea are no way equal or uniform, but go in +a Line uncertainly crooked and broke; indented and jagg’d as a thing +torn, as you may see in the Maps of the Coasts and the Sea-charts; and +yet there are innumerable more Inequalities than are taken Notice of in +those Draughts; for they only mark the greater Promontories and Bays; +but there are besides those a Multitude of Creeks and Out-lets, Necks of +Land and Angles, which break the Evenness of the Shore in all manner of +Ways. Then the Height and Level of the Shore is as uncertain as the Line +of it; ’tis sometimes high and sometimes low, sometimes spread in sandy +Plains, as smooth as the Sea it self, and of such an equal Height with +it, that the Waves seem to have no Bounds, but the meer Figure and +Convexity of the Globe; in other Places ’tis rais’d into Banks and +Ramparts of Earth, and in others ’tis wall’d in with Rocks; and all this +without any Order that we can observe, or any other Reason than that +this is what might be expected in a Ruin. + +AS to the Depths and Soundings of the Sea, they are under no Rule nor +Equality, any more than the Figures of the Shores; Shallows in some +Places, and Gulphs in others; Beds of Sands sometimes, and sometimes +Rocks under Water; as Navigators have learn’d by a long and dangerous +Experience: And tho’ we that are upon dry Land, are not much concern’d +how the Rocks and the Shelves lie in the Sea, yet a poor +Shipwreckt-Mariner, when he hath run his Vessel upon a Rock in the +middle of the Channel, expostulates bitterly with Nature, who it was +that plac’d that Rock there, and to what purpose? Was there not Room +enough, saith he, upon the Land, or the Shore, to lay your great Stones, +but they must be thrown into the middle of the Sea, as it were in spite +to Navigation? The best Apology that can be made for Nature in this +Case, so far as I know, is to confess, that the whole Business of the +Sea-Channel is but a Ruin, and in a Ruin Things tumble uncertainly, and +commonly lie in Confusion: Tho’ to speak the Truth, it seldom happens, +unless in narrow Seas, that Rocks, or Banks, or Islands, lie in the +middle of them, or very far from the Shores. + +HAVING view’d the more visible Parts of the Channel of the Sea, we must +now descend to the Bottom of it, and see the Form and Contrivance of +that; but who shall guide us in our Journey, while we walk, as _Job_ +saith, _Chap. xxxviii. 16._ in the search of the Deep? Or who can make a +Description of that which none hath seen? It is reasonable to believe, +that the Bottom of the Sea is much more rugged, broken and irregular +than the Face of the Land. There are Mountains, and Valleys, and Rocks, +and Ridges of Rocks, and all the common Inequalities we see upon Land; +beside these, ’tis very likely there are Caves under Water, and hollow +Passages into the Bowels of the Earth, by which the Seas circulate and +communicate one with another, and with subterraneous Waters; those great +_Eddies_ and infamous _Syrtes_ and Whirpools that are in some Seas, as +the _Baltick_ and the _Mediterranean_, that suck into them and overwhelm +whatever comes within their reach, shew that there is something below +that sucks from them in Proportion, and that drinks up the Sea, as the +Sea drinks up the Rivers. We ought also to imagine the Shores within the +Water to go inclin’d and sloping, but with great Inequality; there are +many Shelves in the way, and Chambers, and sharp Angles; and many broken +Rocks and great Stones lie rolled down to the Bottom. + +’TIS true these things affect us little, because they are not expos’d to +our Senses; and we seldom give our selves the trouble to collect from +Reason what the Form of the invisible and inaccessible Parts of the +Earth is; or if we do sometimes, those _Ideas_ are faint and weak, and +make no lasting Impression upon our Imagination and Passions; but if we +should suppose the Ocean dry, and that we look’d down from the Top of +some high Cloud upon the empty Shell, how horridly and barbarously would +it look? And with what Amazement should we see it under us like an open +Hell, or a wide bottomless Pit? So deep, and hollow, and vast; so broken +and confus’d, so every way deform’d and monstrous. This would +effectually waken our Imagination, and make us enquire and wonder how +such a thing came in Nature; from what Causes, by what Force or Engines +could the Earth be torn in this prodigious manner? Did they dig the Sea +with Spades, and carry out the Molds in Hand-baskets? Where are the +Entrails laid? and how did they cleave the Rocks asunder? If as many +Pioneers as the Army of _Xerxes_ had been at Work ever since the +Beginning of the World, they could not have made a Ditch of this +Greatness. Nor is it the Greatness only, but that wild and multifarious +Confusion which we see in the Parts and Fashion of it, that makes it +strange and unaccountable; ’tis another Chaos in its kind; who can paint +the Scenes of it? Gulphs, and Precipices, and Cataracts; Pits within +Pits, and Rocks under Rocks, broken Mountains and ragged Islands, that +look as if they had been Countries pull’d up by the Roots, and planted +in the Sea. + +IF we could make true and full Representations of these things to our +selves, I think we should not be so bold as to make them the immediate +Product of Divine Omnipotence; being destitute of all Appearance of Art +or Counsel. The first Orders of things are more perfect and regular; and +this _Decorum_ seems to be observ’d, that Nature doth not fall into +Disorder till Mankind be first degenerate and leads the way. Monsters +have been often made an Argument against Providence; if a Calf have two +Heads, or five Legs, straight there must not be a God in Heaven, or at +least not upon Earth; and yet this is but a Chance that happens once in +many Years, and is of no consequence at all to the rest of the World: +But if we make the standing Frame of Nature monstrous, or deform’d and +disproportion’d, and to have been so not by Corruption and Degeneracy, +but immediately by divine Creation or Formation, it would not be so easy +to answer that Objection against Providence. Let us therefore prevent +this Imputation; and supposing, according to our Theory, that these +Things were not originally thus, let us now explain more distinctly how +they came to pass at the Deluge, or upon the Dissolution of the first +Earth. + +AND we will not content our selves with a general Answer to these +Observations concerning the Sea-Channel, as if it was a sufficient +Account of them to say they were the Effects of a Ruin; there are other +things to be consider’d and explain’d beside this Irregularity, as the +vast Hollowness of this Cavity, bigger incomparably than any other +belonging to the Earth; and also the Declivity of the Sides of it, which +lie shelving from Top to Bottom: For notwithstanding all the +Inequalities we have taken Notice of in the Channel of the Sea, it hath +one general Form, which may, though under many Differences, be observed +throughout, and that is, that the Shores and Sides within the Water lie +inclin’d, and you descend by degrees to the deepest Part which is +towards the Middle. This, I know, admits of many Exceptions; for +sometimes upon a rocky Shore, or among rocky Islands, the Sea is very +deep close to the Rocks, and the deeper, commonly the higher and steeper +the Rocks are. Also where the Descent is more leisurely, ’tis often +after a different Manner, in some Coasts more equal and uniform, in +others more broken and interrupted; but still there is a Descent to the +Channel or deepest Part, and this in the deep Ocean is fathomless; and +such a deep Ocean, and such a deep Channel there is always between +Continents. This, I think, is a Property as determinate as any we can +pitch upon in the Channel of the Sea, and with those other two +mention’d; its vast Cavity, and universal Irregularity, is all one can +desire an Account of, as to the Form of it; we will therefore from this +Ground take our Rise and first Measures for the Explication of the +Sea-Channel. + +LET us suppose then in the Dissolution of the Earth, when it began to +fall, that it was divided only into three or four Fragments, according +to the Number of our Continents; but those Fragments being vastly great +could not descend at their full Breadth and Expansion, or at least could +not descend so fast in the Middle, as towards the Extremities; because +the Air about the Edges would yield and give Place easily, not having +far to go, to get out of the Way; but the Air that was under the Middle +of the Fragment could not without a very swift Motion get from under the +Concave of it, and consequently its Descent there would be more resisted +and suspended; but the Sides in the mean time would continually descend, +bending the Fragment with their Weight, and so making it of a lesser +Compass and Expansion than it was before: And by this Means there would +be an Interval and Distance made between the two falling Fragments, and +a good Part of the Abyss, after their Descent, would lie uncover’d in +the Middle betwixt them; as may be seen in the annex’d Figure, where the +Fragments A. B. bending downwards in their Extremities, separate as they +go, and after they are faln, leave a good Space in the Abyss betwixt +them altogether uncover’d: This Space is the main Channel of the great +Ocean, lying betwixt two Continents; and the inclining Sides shew the +Declivity of the Shores. + +[Illustration: Fragments are starting to break into Continents.] + +[Illustration: The Fragments have Fallen like double Doors.] + +THIS we have represented here only in a Ring or Circle of the Earth, in +the first Figure; but it may be better represented in a broader Surface, +as in the second Figure, where the two Fragments A. B. that are to make +the two opposite Continents, fall in like double Doors, opening +downwards, the Hinges being towards the Land on either Side, so as at +the Bottom they leave in the Middle betwixt them a deep Channel of +Water, _a. a. a._ such as is betwixt all Continents; and the Water +reaching a good Height upon the Land on either Side, makes Sea there +too, but shallower, and by degrees you descend into the deepest Channel. + +[Illustration: The great Disorder in the Chasm between the Fragments.] + +THIS gives an Account of two Things that we mention’d to be consider’d +and explain’d as to the Sea, how the great Cavity of its Channel was +made, and how it was made in that general Form of Declivity in its Sides +from the Land: The third Thing was the Irregularities of it, both as to +its various Depths, and as to the Form of the Shores and of the Bottom. +And this is as easily and naturally explain’d from the same Supposition +as the former two; for tho’ we have hitherto represented the Fragments +A. B. as even and regular after their Fall, because that was most +simple, and there was no occasion then to represent them otherwise, yet +we must suppose, that as soon as in their Fall they hit upon the Top or +Bottom of the Abyss, that great Force and Weight with which they +descended broke off all the Edges and Extremities, and so made +innumerable Ruptures and Inequalities in the Shores, and as many within +the Sea, and at the Bottom; where the broken Rocks and Lumps of Earth +would lie in all imaginable Disorder; as you may conceive from the +_third Figure_. For when the Motion came on a sudden to be obstructed, +the Load of the Fragment still pressing it forwards, such a Concussion +arose, as made thousands of lesser Fragments, of all Shapes and +Magnitudes, and in all Postures and Forms, and most of them irregular. +And by these Fractions and secondary Ruins the Line of the Shores was +broken, and the Level of them too: In some Places they would stand high, +in others low, sometimes rough, and sometimes even, and generally +crooked, with Angles and In-lets, and uncertain Windings. The Bottom +also by the same Stroke was diversify’d into all Manner of Forms, +sometimes rocky with Pits and Gulphs, and sometimes spread in plain +Beds, sometimes shallow, and sometimes deep; for those Differences would +depend only upon the Situation of the secondary Fragments; and so it +might come to pass, that some Places near the Shore might be excessive +deep when a Rock or Rocks stood in a steep Posture, as (_Figure 3._) _b. +b. b._ and, on the contrary, sometimes Places much more advanc’d into +the Ocean might be less deep, where a Fragment of Earth lay under Water, +or one bore up another, as _c. c. c._ but these Cases would not be very +frequent. To conclude, There are no Properties of the Sea-channel, that +I know of, nor Differences or Irregularities in the Form of it, which +this _Hypothesis_ doth not give a fair Account of: And having thus far +open’d the Way and laid down the general Grounds for their Explication, +other things that are more minute, we leave to the Curiosity of +particular Genius’s; being unwilling to clog the Theory at first with +things that may seem unnecessary. We proceed now to the Consideration of +Islands. + +WE must in the first Place distinguish between _Original_ Islands and +_Fictitious_ Islands: Those I call fictitious, that are not of the same +Date and Antiquity with the Sea, but have been made some at one time, +some at another, by accidental Causes, as the Aggestion of Sands and +Sand-beds, or the Sea leaving the Tops of some shallow Places that lie +high, and yet flowing about the lower Skirts of them; these make sandy +and plain Islands, that have no high Land in them, and are but +Mock-Islands in effect. Others are made by Divulsion from some +Continent, when an Isthmus, or the Neck of a Promontory running into the +Sea, sinks or falls in, by an Earthquake or otherwise, and the Sea +entring in at the Gap passeth through, and makes that Promontory or +Country become an Island. Thus the Island _Sicily_ is suppos’d to have +been made, and all _Africa_ might be an Island, if the Isthmus between +the _Mediterranean_ and the red Sea should sink down. And these Islands +may have Rocks and Mountains in them, if the Land had so before. Lastly, +There are Islands that have been said to rise from the Bottom of the +Sea; History mentions such in both the _Archipelago_’s, _Ægæan_ and +_Indian_; and this seems to argue that there are great Fragments or +Tracts of Earth that lie loose at the Bottom of the Sea, or that are not +incorporated with the Ground; which agrees very well with our +Explication of the Sea-Channel. + +BUT beside these Islands, and the several Sorts of them, there are +others which I call _Original_; because they could not be produc’d in +any of the forementioned Ways, but are of the same Origin and Antiquity +with the Channel of the Sea; and such are the Generality of our Islands; +they were not made of Heaps of Sands, nor torn from any Continent, but +are as ancient as the Continents themselves, namely, ever since the +Deluge, the common Parent of them both. Nor is there any Difficulty to +understand how Islands were made at the Dissolution of the Earth, any +more than how Continents were made; for Islands are but lesser +Continents, or Continents greater Islands; and according as Continents +were made of greater Masses of Earth, or greater Fragments standing +above the Water, so Islands were made of less, but so big always, and in +such a Posture, as to bear their Tops above the Water. Yet tho’ they +agree thus far, there is a particular Difference to be taken notice of, +as to their Origin; for the Continents were made of those three or four +primary Masses into which the falling Orb of the Earth was divided, but +the Islands were made of the Fractures of these, and broken off by the +Fall, from the Skirts and Extremities of the Continents: We noted +before, that when those great Masses and primary Fragments came to dash +upon the Abyss in their Fall, the sudden Stop of the Motion, and the +weighty Bulk of the descending Fragment broke off all the Edges and +Extremities of it, which Edges and Extremities broken off made the +Islands; and accordingly we see that they generally lie scatter’d along +the Sides of the Continents, and are but Splinters, as it were, of those +greater Bodies. ’Tis true, beside these, there were an infinite Number +of other Pieces broke off that do not appear, some making Rocks under +Water, some Shallows and Banks in the Sea; but the greatest of them when +they fell either one upon another, or in such a Posture as to prop up +one another, their Heads and higher Parts would stand out of the Water +and make Islands. + +THUS I conceive the Islands of the Sea were at first produc’d; we cannot +wonder therefore that they should be so numerous, or far more numerous +than the Continents; these are the Parents, and those are the Children; +nor can we wonder to see along the Sides of the Continents several +Islands, or Sets of Islands, sown, as it were, by Handfuls, or laid in +Trains; for the Manner of their Generation would lead us to think they +would be so plac’d. So the _American_ Islands lie scatter’d upon the +Coast of that Continent; the _Maldivian_ and _Philippine_ upon the +_East-India_ Shore, and the _Hesperides_ upon the _Africk_; and there +seldom happen to be any towards the Middle of the Ocean, tho’ by an +Accident, that also might come to pass. Lastly, It suits very well with +our Explication, that there should be Mountains and Rocks, sometimes in +Clusters, sometimes in long Chains, in all Islands; (as we find there +are in all that are true and original) for ’tis that makes them high +enough to appear above the Water, and strong enough to continue and +preserve themselves in that high Situation. + +AND thus much may suffice for a summary Explication of the Causes of the +Sea-Channel and Islands, according to our _Hypothesis_. + + + + + CHAP. XI. + + + _Concerning the Mountains of the Earth, their Greatness and + irregular Form, their Situation, Causes, and Origin._ + + +WE have been in the Hollows of the Earth, and the Chambers of the Deep, +amongst the Damps and Steams of those lower Regions; let us now go air +our selves on the Tops of the Mountains, where we shall have a more free +and large Horizon, and quite another Face of Things will present it self +to our Observation. + +THE greatest Objects of Nature are, methinks, the most pleasing to +behold; and next to the great Concave of the Heavens, and those +boundless Regions where the Stars inhabit, there is nothing that I look +upon with more Pleasure than the wide Sea and the Mountains of the +Earth. There is something august and stately in the Air of these things, +that inspires the Mind with great Thoughts and Passions; we do +naturally, upon such Occasions, think of God and his Greatness: And +whatsoever hath but the Shadow and Appearance of INFINITE, as all Things +have that are too big for our Comprehension, they fill and over-bear the +Mind with their Excess, and cast it into a pleasing kind of Stupor and +Admiration. + +AND yet these Mountains we are speaking of, to confess the Truth, are +nothing but great Ruins; but such as shew a certain Magnificence in +Nature; as from old Temples and broken Amphitheatres of the _Romans_ we +collect the Greatness of that People. But the Grandeur of a Nation is +less sensible to those that never see the Remains and Monuments they +have left; and those who never see the mountainous Parts of the Earth +scarce ever reflect upon the Causes of them, or what Power in Nature +could be sufficient to produce them. The Truth is, the Generality of +People have not Sense and Curiosity enough to raise a Question +concerning these things, or concerning the Original of them. You may +tell them that Mountains grow out of the Earth like Fuzz-balls, or that +there are Monsters under Ground, that throw up Mountains as Moles do +Mole-hills; they will scarce raise one Objection against your Doctrine. +Or if you would appear more Learned, tell them that the Earth is a great +Animal, and these are Wens that grow upon its Body; this would pass +current for Philosophy; so much is the World drown’d in Stupidity and +sensual Pleasures, and so little inquisitive into the Works of God and +Nature. + +THERE is nothing doth more awaken our Thoughts, or excite our Minds to +enquire into the Causes of such Things, than the actual View of them; as +I have had Experience my self, when it was my Fortune to cross the +_Alps_ and _Apennine_ Mountains; for the Sight of those wild, vast, and +indigested Heaps of Stones and Earth did so deeply strike my Fancy, that +I was not easy ’till I could give my self some tolerable Account how +that Confusion came in Nature, ’Tis true, the Height of Mountains +compar’d with the Diameter of the Earth is not considerable, but the +Extent of them and the Ground they stand upon bears a considerable +Proportion to the Surface of the Earth; and if from _Europe_ we may take +our Measures for the rest, I easily believe, that the Mountains do at +least take up the Tenth Part of the dry Land. The Geographers are not +very careful to describe or note in their Charts the Multitude or +Situation of Mountains; They mark the Bounds of Countries, the Site of +Cities and Towns, and the Course of Rivers, because these are Things of +chief Use to Civil Affairs and Commerce, and that they design to serve, +and not Philosophy or natural History. But _Cluverius_, in his +Description of _Ancient Germany_, _Switzerland_, and _Italy_, hath given +Maps of those Countries more approaching to the natural Face of them, +and we have drawn (at the end of this Chapter) such a Map of either +Hemisphere, without marking Countries or Towns, or any such artificial +Things; distinguishing only Land and Sea, Islands and Continents, +Mountains and not Mountains; and ’tis very useful to imagine the Earth +in this Manner, and to look often upon such bare Draughts, as shew us +_Nature_ undrest; for then we are best able to judge what her true +Shapes and Proportions are. + +’TIS certain that we naturally imagine the Surface of the Earth much +more regular than it is; for unless we be in some mountainous Parts, +there seldom occur any great Inequalities within so much Compass of +Ground as we can at once reach with our Eye; and to conceive the rest, +we multiply the same _Idea_, and extend it to those Parts of the Earth +that we do not see, and so fancy the whole Globe much more smooth and +uniform than it is. But suppose a Man was carried asleep out of a plain +Country amongst the _Alps_, and left there upon the Top of one of the +highest Mountains, when he wak’d and look’d about him, he wou’d think +himself in an inchanted Country, or carried into another World; every +Thing wou’d appear to him so different to what he had ever seen or +imagin’d before. To see on every Hand of him a Multitude of vast Bodies +thrown together in Confusion, as those Mountains are; Rocks standing +naked round about him; and the hollow Valleys gaping under him; and at +his Feet, it may be, an Heap of frozen Snow in the midst of Summer. He +would hear the Thunder come from below, and see the black Clouds hanging +beneath him; upon such a Prospect it would not be easy to him to +persuade himself that he was still upon the same Earth; but if he did, +he would be convinc’d, at least, that there are some Regions of it +strangely rude, and ruin-like, and very different from what he had ever +thought of before. But the Inhabitants of these wild Places are even +with us; for those that live amongst the _Alps_, and the great +Mountains, think that all the rest of the Earth is like their Country, +all broken into Mountains, and Valleys, and Precipices; they never see +other, and most People think of nothing but what they have seen at one +time or an other. + +THESE _Alps_ we are speaking of are the greatest Range of Mountains in +_Europe_; and ’tis prodigious to see and to consider of what extent +these Heaps of Stones and Rubbish are; one way they over-spread _Savoy_ +and _Dauphine_, and reach thro’ _France_ to the _Pyrenean_ Mountains, +and so to the Ocean. The other way they run along the Skirts of +_Germany_, thro’ _Styria_, _Pannonia_, and _Dalmatia_, as far as +_Thrace_ and the Black Sea. Then backwards they cover _Switzerland_ and +the Parts adjacent; and that Branch of them which we call the +_Apennines_ strikes thro’ _Italy_, and is, as it were, the Back-bone of +that Country. This must needs be a large Space of Ground which they +stand upon; yet ’tis not this Part of _Europe_ only that is laden with +Mountains, the Northern Part is as rough and rude in the Face of the +Country, as in the Manners of the People; _Bohemia_, _Silesia_, +_Denmark_, _Norway_, _Sweedland_, _Lapland_, and _Iseland_, and all the +Coasts of the _Baltick Sea_, are full of Clifts, and Rocks, and Crags of +Mountains: Besides the _Riphean_ Mountains in _Muscovy_, which the +Inhabitants there use to call the _Stone-girdle_, and believe that it +girds the Earth round about. + +NOR are the other Parts of our Continent more free from Mountains than +_Europe_, nor other Parts of the Earth than our Continent; They are in +the New World as well as the Old; and if they could discover two or +three New Worlds or Continents more, they would still find them there. +Neither is there any Original Island upon the Earth, but is either all a +Rock, or hath Rocks of Mountains in it. And all the dry Land, and every +Continent, is but a kind of Mountain; tho’ that Mountain hath a +Multitude of lesser ones, and Valleys, and Plains, and Lakes, and +Marshes, and all Variety of Grounds. + +IN _America_, the _Andes_, or a Ridge of Mountains so call’d, are +reported to be higher than any we have, reaching above a Thousand +Leagues in Length, and Twenty in Breadth, where they are the narrowest. +In _Africk_ the Mountain _Atlas_, that for its height was said to bear +the Heavens on its Back, runs all along from the Western Sea to the +Borders of _Ægypt_, parallel with the _Mediterranean_. There also are +the Mountains of the _Moon_, and many more, whereof we have but an +imperfect Account, as neither indeed of that Country in the remote and +inner Parts of it. _Asia_ is better known, and the Mountains thereof +better describ’d: _Taurus_, which is the principal, was adjudg’d by the +Ancient Geographers the greatest in the World. It divides _Asia_ into +two Parts, which have their Denomination from it: And there is an +_Anti-Taurus_ the greater and the less, which accordingly divide +_Armenia_ into greater and less. Then the _Cruciform_ Mountains of +_Imaus_, the famous _Caucasus_, the long Chains of _Tartary_ and +_China_, and the rocky and mountainous _Arabia_. If one could at once +have a Prospect of all these together, one would be easily satisfied, +that the Globe of the Earth is a more rude and indigested Body than ’tis +commonly imagin’d; if one could see, I say, all the Kingdoms and Regions +of the Earth at one view, how they lie in broken Heaps; the Sea hath +overwhelmed one half of them, and what remains are but the taller Parts +of a Ruin. Look upon those great Ranges of Mountains in _Europe_ or in +_Asia_, whereof we have given a short Survey; in what Confusion do they +lie? They have neither Form nor Beauty, nor Shape, nor Order, no more +than the Clouds in the Air. Then how barren, how desolate, how naked are +they? How they stand neglected by Nature? Neither the Rains can soften +them, nor the Dews from Heaven make them fruitful. + +I have given this short Account of the Mountains of the Earth, to help +to remove that Prejudice we are apt to have, or that Conceit, that the +present Earth _is regularly form’d_. And to this Purpose I do not doubt +but that it would be of very good Use to have _natural_ Maps of the +Earth, as we noted before, as well as _civil_; and done with the same +Care and Judgment. + +Our common Maps I call _Civil_, which note the Distinction of Countries +and of Cities, and represent the Artificial Earth as inhabited and +cultivated: But Natural Maps leave out all that, and represent the Earth +as it would be if there was not an Inhabitant upon it, nor ever had +been; the Skeleton of the Earth, as I may so say, with the sight of all +its Parts. Methinks also every Prince should have such a Draught of his +own Country and Dominions, to see how the Ground lies in the several +Parts of them, which highest, which lowest; what respect they have to +one another, and to the Sea; how the Rivers flow, and why; how the +Mountains stand; how the Heaths and how the Marshes are plac’d. Such a +Map or Survey would be useful both in time of War and Peace, and many +good Observations might be made by it, not only as to natural History +and Philosophy, but also in order to the perfect Improvement of a +Country. But to return to our Mountains. + +AND this View of the Multitude and Greatness of them, may help to +rectify our Mistakes about the Form of the Earth; so before we proceed +to examine their Causes it will be good to observe further, that these +Mountains are plac’d in no Order one with another, that can either +respect Use or Beauty; and if you consider them singly, they do not +consist of any Proportion of Parts that is referable to any Design, or +that hath the least Footsteps of Art or Counsel. There is nothing in +Nature more shapeless and ill-figur’d than an old Rock or a Mountain, +and all that Variety that is among them, is but the various Modes of +Irregularity; so as you cannot make a better Character of them, in +short, than to say they are of all Forms and Figures except regular. +Then if you would go within these Mountains (for they are generally +hollow) you would find all things there more rude, if possible, than +without: And lastly, if you look upon an Heap of them together, or a +mountainous Country, they are the greatest Examples of Confusion that we +know in Nature; no Tempest or Earthquake puts Things into more Disorder. +’Tis true, they cannot look so ill now as they did at first; a Ruin that +is fresh, looks much worse than afterwards, when the Earth grows +discolour’d and skinn’d over. But I fancy, if we had seen the Mountains +when they were new born and raw, when the Earth was fresh broken, and +the Waters of the Deluge newly retir’d, the Fractions and Confusions of +them would have appear’d very ghastly and frightful. + +AFTER this general Survey of the Mountains of the Earth and their +Properties, let us now reflect upon the Causes of them. There is a +double Pleasure in Philosophy; first, that of Admiration, whilst we +contemplate Things that are great and wonderful, and do not yet +understand their Causes; for tho’ Admiration proceeds from Ignorance, +yet there is a certain Charm and Sweetness in that Passion. Then the +second Pleasure is greater and more intellectual, which is that of +distinct Knowledge and Comprehension, when we come to have the Key that +unlocks those Secrets, and see the Methods wherein those Things come to +pass that we admir’d before: The Reasons why the World is so or so, and +from what Causes Nature, or any Part of Nature, came into such a State; +and this we are now to enquire after, as to the Mountains of the Earth, +what their Original was, how and when the Earth came into this strange +Frame and Structure? In the Beginning of our World, when the Earth rose +from a Chaos, ’twas impossible it should come immediately into this +mountainous Form; because a Mass that is fluid, as a Chaos is, cannot +lie in any other Figure than what is regular; for the constant Laws of +Nature do certainly bring all Liquors into that Form: And a Chaos is not +call’d so from any Confusion or Brokenness in the Form of it, but from a +Confusion and Mixture of all sorts of Ingredients in the Composition of +it. So we have already produc’d in the precedent Chapters, a double +Argument that the Earth was not originally in this Form, both because it +rose from a Chaos, which could not of it self, or by any immediate +Concretion, settle into a Form of this Nature, as hath been shewn in the +fourth and fifth Chapters; as also because if it had been originally +made thus, it could never have undergone a Deluge, as hath been prov’d +in the second and third Chapters. If this be then a secondary and +succedaneous Form, the great Question is, from what Causes it arises. + +SOME have thought that Mountains, and all other Irregularities in the +Earth, have Rise from Earthquakes, and such like Causes; others have +thought that they came from the universal Deluge; yet not from any +Dissolution of the Earth that was then, but only from the great +Agitation of the Waters, which broke the Ground into this rude and +unequal Form. Both these Causes seem to me very incompetent and +insufficient. Earthquakes seldom make Mountains, they often take them +away, and sink them down into the Caverns that lie under them; besides, +Earthquakes are not in all Countries and Climates as Mountains are; for +as we have observ’d more than once, there is neither Island that is +Original, nor Continent any where in the Earth, in what Latitude soever, +but hath Mountains and Rocks in it. And lastly, what Probability is +there, or how is it credible, that those vast Tracks of Land which we +see fill’d with Mountains both in _Europe_, _Asia_ and _Africa_, were +rais’d by Earthquakes, or any Eruptions from below? In what Age of the +World was this done, and why not continu’d? As for the Deluge, which +they alledge as another Cause, I doubt not but Mountains were made in +the Time of the general Deluge, that great Change and Transformation of +the Earth happen’d then, but not from such Causes as are pretended, that +is, the bare rolling and agitation of the Waters; for if the Earth was +smooth and plain before the Flood, as they seem to suppose as well as we +do, the Waters could have little or no Power over a smooth Surface to +tear it any way in Pieces, no more than they do a Meadow or low Ground +when they lie upon it; for that which makes Torrents and Land floods +violent, is their Fall from the Mountains and high Lands, which our +Earth is now full of; but if the Rain fell upon even and level Ground, +it would only sodden and compress it; there is no possibility how it +should raise Mountains in it. And if we could imagine an universal +Deluge as the Earth is now constituted, it would rather throw down the +Hills and Mountains, than raise new ones; or by beating down their Tops +and loose Parts, help to fill the Valleys, and bring the Earth nearer to +Evenness and Plainness. + +SEEING then there are no Hopes of explaining the Origin of Mountains, +either from particular Earthquakes, or from the general Deluge, +according to the common Notion and Explication of it; these not being +Causes answerable to such vast Effects: Let us try our _Hypothesis_ +again; which hath made us a Channel large enough for the Sea, and Room +for all subterraneous Cavities, and I think will find us Materials +enough to raise all the Mountains of the Earth. We suppose the great +Arch or Circumference of the first Earth to have fallen into the Abyss +at the Deluge, and seeing that was larger than the Surface it fell upon, +’tis absolutely certain, that it could not all fall flat, or lie under +the Water: Now as all those Parts that stood above the Water made dry +Land, or the present habitable Earth, so such Parts of the dry Land as +stood higher than the rest, made Hills and Mountains; and this is the +first and general Account of them, and of all the Inequalities of the +Earth. But to consider these Things a little more particularly: There is +a double Cause and Necessity of Mountains, first this now mention’d, +because the exterior Orb of the Earth was greater than the interior, +which it fell upon, and therefore it could not all fall flat; and +secondly, because this exterior Orb did not fall so flat and large as it +might, or did not cover all the Bottom of the Abyss, as it was very +capable to do; but as we shew’d before in explaining the Channel of the +Ocean, it left a gaping in the Middle, or an _Abyss-channel_, as I +should call it; and the broader this Abyss-channel was, the more +Mountains there would be upon the dry Land; for there would be more +Earth, or more of the falling Orb left, and less Room to place it in, +and therefore it must stand more in Heaps. + +IN what Parts of the Earth these Heaps would lie, and in what particular +manner, it cannot be expected that we should tell; but all that we have +hitherto observ’d concerning Mountains, how strange soever, and +otherwise unaccountable, may easily be explain’d and deduc’d from this +Original; we shall not wonder at their Greatness and Vastness, seeing +they are the Ruins of a broken World; and they would take up more or +less of the dry Land, according as the Ocean took up more or less Space +of our Globe: Then as to their Figure and Form, whether external or +internal, ’tis just such as answers our Expectation, and no more than +what the _Hypothesis_ leads us to; for you would easily believe that +these Heaps would be irregular in all manner of ways, whether consider’d +apart, or in their Situation to one another. And they would lie commonly +in Clusters and in Ridges, for those are two of the most general +Postures of the Parts of a Ruin, when they fall inwards. Lastly, We +cannot wonder that Mountains should be generally hollow; for great +Bodies falling together in Confusion, or bearing and leaning against one +another, must needs make a great many Hollownesses in them, and by their +unequal Applications empty Spaces will be intercepted. We see also from +the same Reason why mountainous Countries are subject to Earthquakes; +and why Mountains often sink and fall down into the Caverns that lie +under them; their Joints and Props being decayed and worn, they become +unable to bear their Weight. And all these Properties you see hang upon +one and the same String, and are just Consequences from our Supposition +concerning the Dissolution of the first Earth. And there is no surer +Mark of a good _Hypothesis_, than when it doth not only hit luckily in +one or two Particulars, but answers all that it is to be apply’d to, and +is adequate to Nature in her whole Extent. + +But how fully or easily soever these things may answer Nature, you will +say, it may be, that all this is but an _Hypothesis_; that is, a kind of +Fiction or Supposition that Things were so and so at first, and by the +Coherence and Agreement of the Effects with such a Supposition, you +would argue and prove that they were really so. This I confess is true, +this is the Method, and if we would know any Thing in Nature further +than our Senses go, we can know it no otherwise than by an _Hypothesis_. +When Things are either too little for our Senses, or too remote and +inaccessible, we have no Way to know the inward Nature, and the Causes +of their sensible Properties, but by reasoning upon an _Hypothesis_. If +you would know, for Example, of what Parts Water, or any other Liquor +consists, they are too little to be discern’d by the Eye; you must +therefore take a Supposition concerning their invisible Figure and Form, +and if that agrees and gives the Reason of all their sensible Qualities, +you understand the Nature of Water. In like manner, if you would know +the Nature of a Comet, or of what Matter the Sun consists, which are +Things inaccessible to us, you can do this no otherwise than by an +_Hypothesis_; and if that _Hypothesis_ be easy and intelligible, and +answers all the _Phænomena_ of those two Bodies, you have done as much +as a _Philosopher_ or as _human Reason_ can do. And this is what we have +attempted concerning the Earth and concerning the Deluge. We have laid +down an _Hypothesis_ that is easy and perspicuous, consisting of a few +things, and those very intelligible, and from this we have given an +Account how the old World was destroy’d by a Deluge of Water, and how +the Earth came into this present Form, so distinguish’d and interrupted +with Sea and Land, Mountains and Valleys, and so broken in the Surface +and inward Parts of it. + +BUT to speak the Truth, this Theory is something more than a bare +_Hypothesis_; because we are assured that the general Ground that we go +upon is true, namely, That the Earth rose at first from a Chaos; for +besides Reason and Antiquity, Scripture it self doth assure us of that; +and that one Point being granted, we have deduc’d from it all the rest +by a direct Chain of Consequences, which I think cannot be broken easily +in any Part or Link of it. Besides, the great Hinge of this Theory, upon +which all the rest turns, is the Distinction we make of the antediluvian +Earth and Heavens from the Postdiluvian, as to their Form and +Constitution. And it will never be beaten out of my Head, but that St. +_Peter_, _2 Epist. chap. iii. 5, 6._ hath made the same Distinction +sixteen hundred Years since, and to the very same purpose; so that we +have sure footing here again, and the Theory riseth above the Character +of a bare _Hypothesis_. And whereas an _Hypothesis_ that is clear and +proportion’d to Nature in every Respect, is accounted morally certain, +we must in Equity give more than a moral Certitude to this Theory. But I +mean this only as to the general Parts of it; for as to Particularities, +I look upon them only as problematical, and accordingly I affirm nothing +therein but with a Power of Revocation, and a Liberty to change my +Opinion when I shall be better inform’d. Neither do I know any Author +that hath treated a Matter new, remote, and consisting of a Multitude of +Particulars, who would not have had occasion, if he had liv’d to have +seen his _Hypothesis_ fully examin’d, to have chang’d his Mind and +Manner of explaining Things in many material Instances. + +TO conclude both this Chapter and this Section, we have here added a Map +or Draught of the Earth, according to the natural Face of it, as it +would appear from the Moon, if we were a little nearer to her; or as it +was at first after the Deluge, before Cities were built, Distinctions of +Countries made, or any Alterations by human Industry. ’Tis chiefly to +expose more to view the Mountains of the Earth, and the Proportions of +Sea and Land; to shew it as it lies in itself, and as a Naturalist ought +to conceive and consider it. ’Tis true, there are far more Mountains +upon the Earth than what are here represented, for more could not +conveniently be plac’d in this narrow Scheme; but the best and most +effectual Way of representing the Body of the Earth as it is by Nature, +would be, not in plain Tables, but by a _rough Globe_, expressing all +the considerable Inequalities that are upon the Earth. The smooth Globes +that we use, do but nourish in us the Conceit of the Earth’s Regularity; +and tho’ they may be convenient enough for geographical Purposes, they +are not so proper for natural Science, nothing would be more useful in +this Respect, than a rough Globe of the largest Dimensions, wherein the +Channel of the Sea should be really hollow, as it is in Nature, with all +its unequal Depths according to the best Soundings, and the Shores +express’d both according to Matter and Form, little Rocks standing where +there are Rocks, and Sands and Beaches in the Places where they are +found; and all the Islands planted in the Sea-channel in a due Form, and +in their solid Dimensions. Then upon the Land should stand all the +Ranges of Mountains, in the same Order or Disorder that Nature hath set +them there: And the in-land Seas, and great Lakes, or rather the Beds +they lie in, should be duly represented; as also the vast Desarts of +Sand as they lie upon the Earth. And this being done with Care and due +Art, would be a true Epitome, or true Model of our Earth. Where we +should see, besides other Instructions, what a rude Lump our World is, +which we are so apt to dote upon. + +[Illustration: The Eastern Hemisphere.] + +[Illustration: The Western Hemisphere.] + + + + + CHAP. XII. + + + _A short Review of what hath been already treated of, and in what + Manner. The several Faces and Schemes under which the Earth would + appear to a Stranger, that should view it first at a Distance, and + then more closely, and the Application of them to our Subject. All + Methods, whether Philosophical or Theological, that have been + offer’d by others for the Explication of the Form of the Earth, are + examin’d and disprov’d. A Conjecture concerning the other Planets, + their natural Form and State compared with ours._ + + +WE have finish’d the three Sections of this Book, and in this last +Chapter we will make a short Review and Reflexion upon what hath been +hitherto treated of, and add some further Confirmations of it. The +Explication of the universal Deluge was the first Proposal and Design of +this Discourse, to make that a Thing credible and intelligible to the +Mind of Man: And the full Explication of this drew in the whole Theory +of the Earth; Whose Original we have deduc’d from its first Source, and +shew’d both what was its primæval Form, and how it came into its present +Form. The Sum of our _Hypothesis_ concerning the universal Deluge was +this; That it came not to pass, as was vulgarly believ’d, by an Excess +of Rains, or any Inundation of the Sea, nor could ever be effected by a +meer Abundance of Waters; unless we suppose some Dissolution of the +Earth at the same time, namely, when the _Great Abyss_ was broken open. +And accordingly we shewed, that without such a Dissolution, or if the +Earth had been always in the same Form it is in now, no Mass of Water, +any where to be found in the World, could have equall’d the Height of +the Mountains, or made such an universal Deluge. Secondly, We shewed +that the Form of the Earth at first, and till the Deluge, was such as +made it capable and subject to a Dissolution: And thirdly, That such a +Dissolution being suppos’d, the Doctrine of the universal Deluge is very +reasonable and intelligible; and not only the Doctrine of the Deluge, +but the same Supposition is a Key to all Nature besides, shewing us how +our Globe became terraqueous, what was the Original of Mountains, of the +Sea-channel, of Islands, of subterraneous Cavities; things which without +this Supposition are as untelligible as the universal Flood itself. And +these things reciprocally confirming one another, our _Hypothesis_ of +the Deluge is arm’d, both Breast and Back, by the Causes and by the +Effects. + +IT remains now, that, as to confirm our Explication of the Deluge, we +shew’d all other Accounts that had been given of it to be ineffectual or +impossible, to confirm our Doctrine concerning the Dissolution of the +Earth, and concerning the Original of Mountains, Seas, and all +Inequalities upon it, or within it, we must examine what Causes have +been assign’d by others, or what Accounts given of these things: That +seeing their Defectiveness, we may have the more Assurance and +Satisfaction in our own Method. + +AND in order to this, let us observe first the general Forms under which +the Earth may be consider’d, or under which it doth appear accordingly +as we view it more nearly or remotely; and the first of these and the +most general is that of a _terraqueous Globe_. If a Philosopher should +come out of another World out of Curiosity to see our Earth, the first +Discovery or Observation he would make would be this, that it was a +terraqueous Globe: Thus much he might observe at a great Distance, when +he came but near the Borders of our World. This we discern in the Moon, +and most of the Planets, that they are divided into Sea and Land, and +how this Division came would be his first Remark and Inquiry concerning +our Earth; and how also those Subdivisions of Islands, or little Earths +which lie in the Water; how these were form’d, and that great Channel +that contains them both. + +THE second Form that the Earth appears under, is that of an uneven and +_mountainous Globe_. When our Traveller had got below the Circle of the +Moon, he would discern the bald Tops of our Mountains, and the long +Ranges of them upon our Continents. We cannot from the Earth discern +Mountains and Valleys in the Moon directly, but from the Motion of the +Light and Shadows which we see there, we easily collect that there are +such Inequalities: And accordingly we suppose that our Mountains would +appear at a great Distance, and the shady Valleys lying under them; and +that this curious Person that came to view our Earth, would make that +his second Enquiry, how those Mountains were formed, and how our Globe +came to be so rude and irregular? For we may justly demand how any +Irregularity came into Nature, seeing all her first Motions and her +first Forms are regular, and whatsoever is not so, is but secondary, and +the Consequence of some Degeneracy, or of some Decay. + +THE third visible Form of our Earth is that of a _broken Globe_; and +broken throughout, but in the outward Parts and Regions of it. This, it +may be, you will say, is not a visible Form; it doth not appear to the +Eye, without reasoning, that the Surface of the Earth is so broken. +Suppose our new Visitant had now pass’d the middle Region of the Air, +and was alighted upon the Top of _Pic Teneriffe_ for his first resting +Place, and that sitting there, he took a View of the great Rocks, the +wide Sea, and of the Shores of _Africk_ and _Europe_; for we’ll suppose +his piercing Eye to reach so far; I will not say that at first Sight he +would pronounce that the Surface of this Globe was broken, unless he +knew it to be so by Comparison with some other Planet like to it; but +the broken Form and Figure of many Parts of the Rocks, and the Posture +in which they lay, or great Portions of them, some inclin’d, some +prostrate, some erected, would naturally lead him to that Thought, that +they were a Ruin; he would see also the Islands tore from the +Continents, and both the Shores of the Continents and their Inland Parts +in the same Disorder and irregular Situation. Besides, he had this great +Advantage in viewing the Earth at a Distance, that he could see a whole +Hemisphere together, which, as he made his Approaches thro’ the Air, +would have much what the same aspect and countenance as ’tis represented +within the great Scheme, _p. 203._ And if any Man should accidentally +hit upon that Scheme, not knowing or thinking that it was the Earth, I +believe his first Thought of it would be, that it was some great broken +Body, or ruin’d Frame of Matter; and the Original, I am sure, is more +manifestly so. But we’ll leave our strange Philosopher to his own +Observations, and with him good Guides and Interpreters in his Survey of +the Earth, and that he would make a favourable Report at his Return +home, of our little dirty Planet. + +IN the mean time let us pursue, in our own Way, this Third _Idea_ of the +Earth a little further, as it is _a broken Globe_. Nature I know hath +dissembled and cover’d this Form as much as may be, and Time hath help’d +to repair some of the old Breaches, or fill them up; besides, the +Changes that have been made by Art and human Industry, by Agriculture, +Planting, and Building Towns, hath made the Face of the Earth quite +another Thing from what it was in its naked Rudeness. As Mankind is much +alter’d from its pristine State, from what it was four thousand Years +ago, or towards the first Ages after the Flood, when the Nations liv’d +in Simplicity or Barbarousness; so is the Earth too, and both so +disguis’d and transform’d, that if one of those primitive Fathers should +rise from the Dead, he would scarce know this to be the same World which +he liv’d in before. But to discern the true Form of the Earth, whether +intire or broken, regular or disorder’d, we must in the first Place take +away all those Ornaments or Additions made by Art or Nature, and view +the bare Carcass of the Earth, as it hath nothing on it but Rocks and +Mountains, Deserts and Fields, and hollow Valleys, and a wide Sea. Then +secondly, We must in our Imagination empty this Channel of the Sea, take +out all the Waters that hinder the Sight of it, and look upon the dry +Ditch, measure the Depth and Breadth of it in our Mind, and observe the +Manner of its Construction, and in what a wild Posture all the Parts of +it lie; according as it hath been formerly represented, _Chap. 10._ And +lastly, we must take off the Cover of all subterraneous Places and deep +Caverns, to see the inside of the Earth; and lay bare the Roots of +Mountains, to look into those Holes and Vaults that are under them, +fill’d sometimes with Fire, sometimes with Water, and sometimes with +thick Air and Vapours. The Object being thus prepar’d, we are then to +look fixedly upon it, and to pronounce what we think of this disfigur’d +Mass, whether this exterior Frame doth not seem to be shatter’d; and +whether it doth more aptly resemble a new-made World, or the Ruins of +one broken. I confess when this _Idea_ of the Earth is present to my +Thoughts, I can no more believe that this was the Form wherein it was +first produc’d, than if I had seen the Temple of _Jerusalem_ in its +Ruins, when defac’d and sack’d by the _Babylonians_; I could have +persuaded my self, that it had never been in any other Posture, and that +_Solomon_ had given Orders for Building it so. + +SO much for the Form of the Earth: It remains now that we examine what +Causes have been assign’d by others, of these Irregularities in the Form +of the Earth, which we explain by the Dissolution of it; what Accounts +any of the Ancients have given, or attempted to give, how the Earth +swell’d into Mountains in certain Places, and in others was depress’d +into low Valleys, how the Body of it was so broken, and how the Channel +of the Sea was made. The Elements naturally lie in regular Forms one +above another, and now we find them mix’d, confounded and transpos’d, +how comes this Disturbance and Disordination in Nature? The Explications +of these Things that have been given by others, may be reduc’d to two +general Sorts, _Philosophical_ or _Theological_, and we will try them +both for our Satisfaction. + +OF Philosophers, none was more concern’d to give an Account of such +Things than _Epicurus_, both because he acknowledged the Origin of the +Earth to have been from a _Chaos_, and also admitted no Causes to act in +Nature but Matter and Motion: Yet all the Account we have from the +_Epicureans_ of the Form of the Earth, and the great Inequalities that +are in it, is so slight and trivial, that methinks it doth not deserve +the Name of a Philosophical Explication. They say that the Earth and +Water were mix’d at first, or rather, the Earth was above the Water, and +as the Earth was condens’d by the Heat of the Sun and the Winds, the +Water was squeez’d out in certain Places, which either it found hollow +or made so; and so was the Channel of the Sea made. Then as for +Mountains, while some Parts of the Earth shrunk and sunk in this Manner, +others would not sink; and these standing still while the others fell +lower, made the Mountains. How the subterraneous Cavities were made +according to them, I do not find. + +THIS is all the Account that Monsieur _Gassendi_ (who seems to have made +it his Business, as well as his Pleasure, to embellish that Philosophy) +can help us to, out of the _Epicurean_ Authors how the Earth came into +this Form; and he that can content himself with this, is, in my Mind, of +an Humour very easy to be pleas’d. Do the Sun and the Wind use to +squeeze Pools of Water out of the Earth, and that in such a Quantity as +to make an Ocean? They dry the Earth, and the Waters too, and rarify +them into Vapours, but I never knew them to be the Causes of pressing +Water out of the Earth by Condensation. Could they compress the Earth +any otherwise, than by drying it and making it hard? And in Proportion, +as it was more dry, would it not the more imbibe and suck up the Water? +And how were the great Mountains of the Earth made in the North and in +the South, where the Influence of the Sun is not great? What sunk the +Earth there, and made the Flesh start from the Bones? But ’tis no Wonder +that _Epicurus_ should give such a mean Account of the Origin of the +Earth, and the Form of its Parts, who did not so much as understand the +general Figure of the Body of it, that it was in some Manner Spherical, +or that the Heavens encompass’d it round. One must have a blind Love for +that Philosophy, and for the Conclusions it drives at, not to see its +Lameness and Defects in those first and fundamental Parts. + +_Aristotle_, though he was not concern’d to give an Account how the +Earth came into this present Form, as he suppos’d it Eternal; yet upon +another Consideration he seems obliged to give some Reason how the +Elements came into this Disorder; seeing he supposeth, that, according +to the Order of Nature, the Water should lie above the Earth in a +Sphere, as the Air doth above the Water, and his Fire above the Air. +This he toucheth upon in his Meteors, but so gently and fearfully, as if +he was handling hot Coals. He saith the Sea is to be consider’d as the +Element, or Body of Waters that belongs to this Earth, and that these +Waters change Places, and the Sea is some Ages in one Part of the Globe, +and some Ages in another; but that this is at such great Distances of +Time, that there can be no Memory or Record of it. And he seems willing +to suppose that the Water was once all over the Earth, but that it dry’d +up in certain Places, and continuing in others, it there made the Sea. + +WHAT a miserable Account is this? As to his Change or Removal of the +Sea-channel in several Ages, as it is without all Proof or Probability, +if he mean it of the Channel of the great Ocean, so ’tis nothing to the +Purpose here; for the Question is not why the Channel of the Sea is in +such a Part of the Earth, rather than in another, but why there is any +such prodigious Cavity in or upon the Earth any where. And if we take +his Supposition, that the Element of Water was once higher than the +Earth, and lay in a Sphere about it, then let him tell us in plain Terms +how the Earth got above, or how the Cavity of the Ocean was made, and +how the Mountains rise; for this Elementary Earth which lay under the +Water, was, I suppose, equal and smooth when it lay there; and what +reason was there, that the Waters should be dry’d in one Part of it, +more than another, if they were every where of an equal Depth, and the +Ground equal under them? It was not the Climates made any Distinction, +for there is Sea towards the Poles, as well as under the Æquator; but +suppose they were dry’d up in certain Places, that would make no +Mountains, no more than there are Mountains in our dry’d Marshes: And +the Places where they were not dry’d, would not therefore become as deep +and hollow as the Sea-channel, and tear the Earth and Rocks in pieces. +If you would say that this very Elementary Earth, as it lay under the +Waters, was unequal, and was so originally form’d into Mountains and +Valleys and great Cavities; besides that the Supposition is altogether +irrational in itself, you must suppose a prodigious Mass of Water to +cover such an Earth; as much as we found requisite for the vulgar +Deluge, namely, eight Oceans; and what then is become of the other +seven? Upon the whole, I do not see that either in _Epicurus_’s way, who +seems to suppose that the Waters were at first within the Earth; nor in +_Aristotle_’s way, who seems to suppose them upon the Earth, any +rational or tolerable Account can be given of the present Form of the +Earth. + +WHEREFORE some Modern Authors, dissatisfied, as very well they might be, +with these Explications given us by the Ancients concerning the Form of +the Earth, have pitch’d upon other Causes, more true indeed in their +kind, and in their degree, but that fall as much short of those Effects +to which they would apply them. They say that all the Irregularities of +the Body of the Earth have risen from Earthquakes in particular Places, +and from Torrents and Inundations, and from Eruptions of Fire, or such +like Causes, whereof we see some Instances more or less every Age; and +these have made that havock upon the Face of the Earth, and turn’d +things upside down, raising the Earth, in some Places, and making great +Cavities or Chasms in others, so as to have brought it at length into +that torn, broken, and disorderly Form in which we now see it. + +THESE Authors do so far agree with us, as to acknowledge, That the +present irregular Form of the Earth must have proceeded from Ruins and +Dissolutions of one sort or other; but these Ruins they make to have +been partial only, in this or in that Country, by piece-meal, and in +several Ages, and from no other Causes, but such as still continue to +act in Nature, namely, accidental Earthquakes and Eruptions of Fires and +Waters. These Causes we acknowledge as readily as they do, but not as +capable to produce so great Effects as they would ascribe to them; the +Surface of the Earth may be a little changed by such Accidents as these, +but for the most part, they rather sink the Mountains, than raise new +Ones: As when Houses are blown up by Mines of Powder, they are not set +higher, but generally fall lower and flatter: Or suppose they do +sometimes raise an Hill, or a little Mount, what’s that to the great +Mountains of our World, to those long and vast Piles of Rocks and +Stones, which the Earth can scarce bear? What’s that to strong-backt +_Taurus_ or _Atlas_, to the _American Andes_, or to a Mountain that +reacheth from the _Pyreneans_ to the _Euxine_ Sea? There’s as much +Difference between these, and those factious Mountains they speak of, as +betwixt them and Mole-hills. + +AND to answer more distinctly to this Opinion, as before in speaking of +Islands we distinguish’d betwixt factitious and original Islands, so, if +you please, we may distinguish here betwixt factitious and original +Mountains; and allowing some few, and those of the fifth or sixth +Magnitude, to have risen from such accidental Causes, we enquire +concerning the rest and the greatest, what was their Original? If we +should suppose that the seven Hills upon which _Rome_ stands, came from +Ruins or Eruptions, or any such Causes, it doth not follow that the +_Alps_ were made so too. And as for Mountains, so for the Cavities of +the Earth, I suppose there may be Disruptions sometimes made by +Earthquakes, and Holes worn by subterraneous Fires and Waters; but +what’s that to the Channel of the _Atlantick Ocean_, or of the _Pacifick +Ocean_, which is extended an hundred and fifty Degrees under the +Æquator, and towards the Poles still further? He that should derive such +mighty Things from no greater Causes, I should think him a very +credulous Philosopher. And we are too subject indeed to that Fault of +Credulity in Matter of Philosophizing: Many when they have found out +Causes that are proper for certain Effects within such a Compass, they +cannot keep them there, but they will make them do every Thing for them; +and extend them often to other Effects of a superior Nature or Degree, +which their Activity can by no Means reach to. _Ætna_ hath been a +burning Mountain ever since, and above the Memory of Man, yet it hath +not destroy’d that Island, nor made any new Channel to the Sea, tho’ it +stands so near it. Neither is _Vesuvius_ above two or three Miles +distant from the Sea-side, to the best of my Remembrance, and yet in so +many Ages it hath made no Passage to it, neither open nor subterraneous. +’Tis true, some _Isthmus’s_ have been thrown down by Earthquakes, and +some Lakes have been made in that Manner, but what’s this to a Ditch +nine thousand Miles broad? Such an one we have upon the Earth, and of a +Depth that is not measurable; what Proportion have these Causes to such +an Instance? And how many thousand Ages must be allow’d to them to do +their Work, more than the Chronology of our Earth will bear? + +BESIDES, When were these great Earthquakes and Disruptions, that did +such great Execution upon the Body of the Earth? Was this before the +Flood or since? If before, then the old Difficulty returns, how could +there be a Flood, if the Earth was in this mountainous Form before that +Time? This, I think, is demonstrated impossible in the second and third +Chapters. If since the Flood, where were the Waters of the Earth before +these Earthquakes made a Channel for them? Besides, where is the History +or Tradition, that speaks of these strange Things, and of this great +Change of the Earth? Hath any writ of the Origins of the _Alps_? In what +Year of _Rome_, or what _Olympiad_ they were born? Or how they grew from +little ones? How the Earth groan’d when it brought them forth, when its +Bowels were torn by the ragged Rocks? Do the Chronicles of the Nations +mention these things, or ancient Fame, or ancient Fables? were they made +all at once, or in successive Ages? These Causes continue still in +Nature, we have still Earthquakes and subterraneous Fires and Waters, +why should they not still operate and have the same Effects? We often +hear of Cities thrown down by Earthquakes, or Countries swallow’d up; +but who ever heard of a new Chain of Mountains made upon the Earth, or a +new Channel made for the Ocean? We do not read that there hath been so +much as a new _Sinus_ of the Sea ever since the Memory of Man: Which is +far more feasible than what they pretend. And Things of this Nature +being both strange and feasible, excite Admiration and great Attention +when they come to pass, and would certainly have been remembered or +propagated in some Way or other, if they had ever happen’d since the +Deluge. They have recorded the Foundation of Cities and Monarchies, the +Appearance of Blazing Stars, the Eruptions of fiery Mountains, the most +remarkable Earthquakes and Inundations, the great Eclipses or +Obscurations of the Sun, and any thing that look’d strange or +Prodigy-like, whether in the Heavens or on Earth: And these, which would +have been the greatest Prodigies, and greatest Changes that ever +happen’d in Nature, would these have escap’d all Observation and Memory +of Men? That’s as incredible as the Things themselves are. + +LASTLY, To comprehend all these Opinions together, both of the Ancient +and Modern Authors, they seem all to agree with us in this, _That_ the +Earth was once under another Form; otherwise why do they go about to +shew the Causes how it came into this Form? I desire then to know what +Form they suppose the Earth to have been under before the Mountains were +made, the Channel of the Sea, or subterraneous Cavities? Either they +must take that Form which we have assign’d it before the Deluge, or else +they must suppose it cover’d with Water, till the Sea-channels were +made, and the Mountains brought forth; as in _Fig. 2. p. 76._ And no +doubt it was once in this Form, both Reason and the Authority of _Moses_ +assure us of it; and this is the Test which every Opinion must be +brought to, _how_ the Earth emerg’d out of that watry Form? And in +particular, as to that Opinion which we are now examining, the Question +is, _how_ by Earthquakes, and fiery Eruptions, subterraneous Waters, and +such like Causes, the Body of the Earth could be wrought from that Form +to this present Form? And the Thing is impossible at first Sight; for +such Causes as these could not take place in such an Earth. As for +subterraneous Waters, there could be none at that Time, for they were +all above Ground; and as for subterraneous Exhalations, whether fiery or +aery, there was no Place for them neither; for the Earth, when it lay +under the Water, was a solid uniform Mass, compact and close united in +its Parts, as we have shewn before upon several Occasions; no Mines or +hollow Vaults for the Vapours to be lodg’d in, no Store-houses of Fire; +nothing that could make Earthquakes, nor any sort of Ruins or Eruptions: +These are Engines that cannot Play but in an Earth already broken, +hollow and cavernous. Therefore the Authors of this Opinion do in effect +beg the Question; they assign such Causes of the present Form of the +Earth, as could not take Place, nor have any Activity until the Earth +was in this Form: These Causes may contribute something to increase the +Rudeness and Inequalities of the Earth in certain Places, but they could +not be the original Causes of it. And that not only because of their +Disproportion to such Effects, but also because of their Incapacity, or +Non-existence at that time, when these Effects were to be wrought. + +THUS much concerning the Philosophical Opinions or the natural Causes +that have been assign’d for the irregular Form of this present Earth. +Let us now consider the Theological Opinions, how Mountains were made at +first, and the wonderful Channel of the Sea: And these Authors say, God +Almighty made them immediately when he made the World; and so dispatch’d +the Business in a few Words. This is a short Account indeed, but we must +take heed that we do not derogate from the Perfection of God, by +ascribing all Things promiscuously to his immediate Action. I have often +suggested that the first Order of Things is regular and simple, +according as the Divine Nature is; and continues so till there is some +Degeneracy in the moral World; I have also noted upon several Occasions, +especially in the _Lat. Treat. Chap. 11._ the deformity and +Incommodiousness of the present Earth; and from these two Considerations +we may reasonably infer, that the present State of the Earth was not +Original, but is a State of Subjection to Vanity, wherein it must +continue till the Redemption and Restitution of all Things. + +BUT besides this general Consideration, there are many others, both +Natural and Theological, against this Opinion, which the Authors of it, +I believe, will find unanswerable. As first, St. _Peter_’s Distinction +betwixt the present Earth and the Antediluvian; _2 Ep. Chap. iii. 5, 6._ +and that in Opposition to certain profane Persons, who seem to have been +of the same Opinion with these Authors, namely, That the Heavens and the +Earth were the same now that they had been from the beginning, and that +there had been no Change in Nature, either of late, or in former Ages; +These St. _Peter_ confutes and upbraids them with Ignorance or +Forgetfulness of the Change that was brought upon Nature at the Deluge, +or that the Antediluvian Heavens and Earth were of a different Form and +Constitution from the present, whereby that World was obnoxious to a +Deluge of Water, as the present is to a Deluge of Fire. Let these +Authors put themselves in the Place of those Objectors, and see what +Answer they can make to the Apostle, whom I leave to dispute the Case +with them. I hope they will not treat this Epistle of St. _Peter_’s so +rudely as _Didymus Alexandrinus_ did, an ancient Christian, and one of +St. _Jerome_’s Masters; he was of the same Opinion with these +Theological Authors, and so fierce in it, that seeing St. _Peter_’s +Doctrine here to be contrary, he said, this Epistle of St. _Peter_’s was +corrupted, and was not to be receiv’d into the Canon. And all this, +because it taught, that the Heavens and the Earth had chang’d their +Form, and would do so again at the Conflagration; so as the same World +would be triform in Success of Time. We acknowledge his Exposition of +St. _Peter_’s Words to be very true; but what he makes an Argument of +the Corruption of this Epistle, is rather, in my Mind, a peculiar +Argument of its Divine Inspiration. In the second Place, these Writers +dash upon the old Rock, the Impossibility of explaining the Deluge; if +there were Mountains from the Beginning, and the Earth then in the same +Form as it is in now. _Thirdly_, They make the State of _Paradise_ as +unintelligible as that of the Deluge; For those Properties that are +assign’d to _Paradise_ by the Ancients, are inconsistent with the +present Form of the Earth: As will appear in the Second Book. _Lastly_, +They must answer, and give an Account of all those Marks which we have +observ’d in Nature (both in this Chapter, and the Ninth, Tenth, and +Eleventh), of Fractions, Ruins, and Dissolutions that have been on the +Earth, and which we have shewn to be inexplicable, unless we admit that +the Earth was once in another Form. + +THESE Arguments being premis’d, let us now bring their Opinion close to +the Test, and see in what manner these Mountains must have been made +according to them, and how the Channel of the Sea, and all other +Cavities of the Earth. Let us to this Purpose consider the Earth again +in that transient, incompleat Form which it had when the Abyss encompast +the whole Body of it, _Fig. 2. p. 77._ we both agree that the Earth was +once in this State, and they say, that it came immediately out of this +State into its present Form, there being made by a supernatural Power a +great Channel or Ditch in one Part of it, which drew off the Waters from +the rest, and the Earth which was squeez’d and forc’d out of this Ditch, +made the Mountains. So there is the Channel of the Sea made, and the +Mountains of the Earth; how the subterraneous Cavities were made +according to these Authors, I do not well know. This I confess seems to +me a very gross Thought, and a way of working very un-God like; but +however, let’s have Patience to examine it. + +AND in the first Place, if the Mountains were taken out of the Channel +of the Sea, then they are equal to it, and would fill it up if they were +thrown in again. But these Proportions upon Examination will not agree; +for though the Mountains of the Earth be very great, yet they do not +equal by much the great Ocean. The Ocean extends to half the Surface of +the Earth; 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 Mountains, the Mountains ought to cover all the dry Land to make +them answer to all the Capacity of the Ocean; whereas we suppos’d them +upon a reasonable Computation to cover but the tenth Part of the dry +Land; and consequently neither they nor the Sea-Channel could have been +produc’d in this manner, because of their great Disproportion to one +another. And the same thing appears, if we compare the Mountains with +the Abyss which cover’d the Earth before this Channel was made; for this +Channel being made great enough to contain all the Abyss, the Mountains +taken out of it must also be equal to all the Abyss; but the Aggregate +of the Mountains will not answer this by many Degrees; for suppose the +Abyss was but half as deep as the deep Ocean, to make this Calculus +answer, all the dry Land ought to be cover’d with Mountains, and with +Mountains as high as the Ocean is deep, or double high to the Depth of +the Abyss, because they are but upon one half of the Globe. And this is +the first Argument against the Reciprocal Production of Mountains and +the Sea, their Incongruency or Disproportion. + +SECONDLY, we are to consider that a great many Mountains of the Earth +are far distant from any Seas, as the great In-land Mountains of +_Asia_ and of _Africk_, and the _Sarmatick_ Mountains, and others in +_Europe_; how were these great Bodies flung thorough the Air from +their respective Seas, whence they were taken, to those Places where +they stand? What Appearance is there in common Reason or Credibility, +that these huge Masses of Earth and Stone that stand in the middle of +Continents were dug out of any Seas? We think it strange, and very +deservedly, that a little Chapel should be transported from _Palestine_ +to _Italy_ over Land and Sea, much more the Transportation of Mount +_Atlas_ or _Taurus_ thorough the Air, or of a Range of Mountains two +or three thousand Miles long, would surely upon all Accounts appear +incongruous and incredible: Besides, neither the hollow Form of +Mountains, nor the stony Matter whereof they commonly consist, agrees +with that Supposition, that they were press’d or taken out of the +Channel of the Sea. + +LASTLY, we are to consider, that the Mountains are not barely laid upon +the Earth, as a Tomb-stone upon a Grave, nor stand as Statues do upon a +Pedestal, as this Opinion seems to suppose; but they are one continued +Substance with the Body of the Earth, and their Roots reach into the +Abyss; as the Rocks by the Sea-side go as deep as the Bottom of the Sea +in one continued Mass: And ’tis a ridiculous Thing to imagine the Earth +first a plain Surface, then all the Mountains set upon it, as Hay-cocks +in a Field, standing upon their flat Bottoms. There is no such common +Surface in Nature, nor consequently any such Super-additions: ’Tis all +one Frame or Mass, only broken and disjointed in the Parts of it. To +conclude, ’Tis not only the Mountains that make the Inequalities of the +Earth, or the Irregularity of its Surface, every Country, every +Province, every Field, hath an unequal and different Situation, higher +or lower inclin’d more or less, and sometimes one way sometimes another, +you can scarce take a Mile’s Compass in any Place where the Surface of +the Ground continues uniform; and can you imagine, that there were +Moulds or Stones brought from the Sea-channel to make all those +Inequalities? Or that Earthquakes have been in every Country and in +every Field? The inner Veins and Lares, the Beds or Strata of the Earth +are also broken as well as the Surface. These must proceed from +universal Causes; and all those that have been alledg’d, whether from +Philosophy or Theology, are but particular or topical. I am fully +satisfied, in Contemplation of these Things, and so I think every +unprejudic’d Person may be, that to such an irregular Variety of +Situation and Construction, as we see every where in the Parts of the +Earth, nothing could answer but some universal Concussion or +Dislocation, in the Nature of a general Ruin. + +WE have now finish’d this first Part of our Theory, and all that +concerns the Deluge or Dissolution of the Earth; and we have not only +establish’d our own Hypothesis by positive Arguments, but also produc’d +and examin’d all Suppositions that have been offer’d by others, whether +Philosophical or Theological, for the Explication of the same things; so +as nothing seems now to remain further upon this Subject. For a +Conclusion of all, we will consider, if you please, the rest of the +Earths, or of the Planets within our Heavens, that appertain to the same +common Sun; to see, so far as we can go by rational Conjectures, if they +be not of the same Fabrick, and have undergone the like Fate, and Forms +with our Earth. It is now acknowledged by the generality of learned Men, +that the Planets are opake Bodies, and particularly our next Neighbour, +the Moon, is known to be a terraqueous Globe, consisting of Mountains +and Valleys as our Earth does; and we have no Reason to believe, but +that she came into that Form by a Dissolution, or from like Causes, as +our Earth did. _Mercury_ is so near the Sun, that we cannot well discern +his Face, whether spotted or no, nor make a Judgment of it. But as for +_Venus_ and _Mars_, if the Spots that be observ’d in them be their +Waters or their Sea, as they are in the Moon, ’tis likely they are also +terraqueous Globes, and in much what a like Form with the Moon, and the +Earth, and, for ought we know, from like Causes. Particularly as to +_Venus_, ’tis a remarkable Passage that St. _Austin_ (_De Civ. Dei, lib. +21. c. viii._) hath preserv’d out of _Varro_: He saith, That _about the +Time of the great Deluge there was a wonderful Alteration or Catastrophe +happen’d to the Planet Venus, and that she chang’d her Colour, Form, +Figure, and Magnitude_. This is a great Presumption that she suffer’d +her Dissolution about the same time that our Earth did. I do not know +that any such Thing is recorded concerning any of the other Planets, but +the Body of _Mars_ looks very rugged, broken, and much disorder’d. + +_Saturn_ and _Jupiter_ deserve a distinct Consideration, as having +something particular and different from the rest of the Planets; +_Saturn_ is remarkable for his Hoop or Ring, which seems to stand off, +or higher than his Body, and would strongly induce one to believe, that +the exterior Earth of that Planet, at its Dissolution, did not all fall +in, but the polar Parts sinking into the Abyss, the middle or +equinoctial Parts still subsisted, and bore themselves up in the Nature +of an Arch about the Planet, or of a Bridge, as it were, built over the +Sea of _Saturn_. And as some have observ’d concerning the Figure of +_Jupiter_, that it is not wholly Spherical, but a Spheroid, protuberant +in the Equator, and depress’d towards the Poles: So I should suspect +_Saturn_ to have been much more so, before his Disruption: Namely, That +the Body of that Planet, in its first State, was more flat and low +towards the Poles, and also weaker and thinner; and about the Equator +higher, fuller and stronger built: By reason of which Figure and +Construction, the Polar Parts did more easily fall in, or were suckt in +(as Cupping Glasses draw in the Flesh) when the Abyss below grew more +empty. Whereas the middle Parts about the Equator, being a more just +Arch and strongly built, would not yield or sink, but stood firm and +unbroken, and continues still in its first Posture. Planets break in +different ways, according to the Quality of their Matter, the manner of +their Construction, and the Nature of the Causes that act upon them. +Their Dissolutions are sometimes total, as in our Earth, sometimes +partial; and both of these may be under great Variety. In partial +Dissolutions, the middle Parts sometimes stand, and the Polar are broke; +or the Polar stand and the Middle are broke. Or one Hemisphere, or part +of an Hemisphere may be sunk, the rest standing. There may be Causes and +Occasions for all these Varieties and many more, in diversifying the +Phænomena of an immense Universe. But to return to _Saturn_. + +THAT this present uncouth Form of _Saturn_ was not its Original Form, I +am very well satisfied, if that Planet rose from a Chaos, as ours did. +And if this be an adventitious Form, I know no Account can be given of +it with more Probability, than by supposing it the Effect of some +Fraction or Disruption in the Polar Parts. Neither do I know any +Phænomenon hitherto observ’d concerning _Saturn_, that does disprove +this _Hypothesis_ or Conjecture. + +AS to _Jupiter_, that Planet without doubt is also turn’d about its +Axis, otherwise how should its four Moons be carried round him? And this +is also collected from the Motion of that permanent Spot (if it be found +to be so) that is upon its Body. Which Spot I take to be either a Lake +or a Chasm and _Hiatus_ into the Abyss of the Planet: That is, part of +the Abyss open or uncover’d, like the Aperture we made in the Seventh +Figure, _C. 6. p. 184._ And this might either have been left so by +Providence, at first, for some Reasons and Causes fitting that Earth: Or +it may have fallen in afterwards, as _Plato_’s _Atlantis_, or as _Sodom_ +and _Gomorrah_, for some Judgment upon part of that World. + +TO conclude, seeing all the Planets that are plac’d in this Heaven, and +are the Foster-Children of this Sun, seem to have some Affinity one with +another, and have much what the same Countenance, and the same general +_Phænomena_; it seems probable, that they rise much what the same way, +and after the like manner as our Earth, each one from its respective +Chaos; and that they had the same Elementary Regions at first, and an +exteriour Orb form’d over their Abyss: and lastly, That every one of +them hath suffer’d, or is to suffer its Deluge, as our Earth hath done. +These, I say, are probable Conjectures according to the Analogy of +Reason and Nature, so far as we can judge concerning Things very remote +and inaccessible. + +AND these things being thus, and our Theory of the Deluge, and the +Dissolution which brought it, having such a general Agreement both with +our Heavens and our Earth, I think there is nothing but the Uncouthness +of the Thing to some Men’s Understandings, the Custom of thinking +otherwise, and the Uneasiness of entring into a new set of Thoughts, +that can be a Bar or Hindrance to its Reception. But it may be improv’d, +I doubt not, in many Respects, and in some Particularities rectified. +The first Attempts in great Things are seldom or never perfect: Such is +the Weakness of our Understandings, and the want of a full Natural +History. And in assigning Causes of such great Effects, fair Conjectures +are to be allow’d, till they be displac’d by others more evident and +more certain. Accordingly I readily submit to these Terms, and leave +this, and all other Parts of the Theory, to further Examination and +Enquiries. + + + + + THE THEORY OF THE EARTH. + BOOK II. + Concerning the Primæval Earth, and concerning _Paradise_. + + CHAP. I. + + + _The Introduction and Contents of the Second Book. The general State + of the Primæval Earth, and of Paradise._ + + +We have already seen a World begin and perish; an Earth rais’d from the +Rudiments of a Chaos, and dissolv’d and destroy’d in an Universal +Deluge. We have given also an imperfect Description of that Primæval +Earth, so far as was necessary to shew the Causes and Manner of its +Dissolution. But we must not content our selves with this; seeing that +Earth was the first Theatre upon which Mortals appear’d and acted, and +continu’d so for above sixteen hundred Years; and that with Scenes, as +both Reason and History tell us, very extraordinary and very different +from these of our present Earth, ’tis reasonable we should endeavour to +make a more full Discovery and Description of it; especially seeing +_Paradise_ was there; that Seat of Pleasure which our first Parents +lost, and which all their Posterity have much ado to find again. + +IN the First Book we so far describ’d this new-found World, as to shew +it very different in Form and Fabrick from the present Earth; there was +no Sea there, no Mountains, nor Rocks, nor broken Caves, ’twas all one +continued and regular Mass, smooth, simple and compleat, as the first +Works of Nature use to be. But to know thus much only, doth rather +excite our Curiosity than satisfy it; what were the other Properties of +this World? How were the Heavens, how the Elements? What Accommodation +for Human Life? Why was it more proper to be the Seat of _Paradise_ than +the present Earth? Unless we know these Things, you will say, it will +seem but an easy _Idea_ to us; and ’tis certain that the more Properties +and Particularities that we know concerning any thing, the more real it +appears to be. + +AS it was our Chief Design therefore in the precedent Book, to give an +Account of the Universal Deluge, by way of a Theory; so we propose to +our selves chiefly in this Book, from the same Theory, to give an +Account of _Paradise_; and in performing of this, we shall be led into a +more full Examination and Display of that first Earth, and of its +Qualities. And if we be so happy, as, by the Conduct of the same +Principles and the same Method, to give as fair an Account, and as +intelligible of the State of _Paradise_ in that Original Earth, as we +have done of the Deluge by the Dissolution of it, and of the Form of +this Earth which succeeded, one must be very morose or melancholy to +imagine, that the Grounds we go upon, all this while, are wholly false +or fictitious. A Foundation which will bear the Weight of two Worlds +without sinking, must surely stand upon a firm Rock. And I am apt to +promise my self that this Theory of the Earth will find Acceptance and +Credit, more or less, with all but those that think it a sufficient +Answer to all Arguments, to say, _it is a Novelty_. + +BUT to proceed in our Disquisition concerning _Paradise_, we may note in +the first Place, two Opinions to be avoided, being both extreams; one +that placeth _Paradise_ in the extra-mundane Regions, or in the Air, or +in the Moon; and the other that makes it so inconsiderable, as to be +confin’d to a little Spot of Ground in _Mesopotamia_ or some other +Country of _Asia_, the Earth being now as it was then. This offends as +much in the Defect, as the other in the Excess. For it is not any single +Region of the Earth that can be _Paradisiacal_, unless all Nature +conspire, and a certain Order of Things proper and peculiar for that +State. Nor is it of less Importance to find out this peculiar Order of +Things, than to find out the particular Seat of _Paradise_, but rather +pre-requisite to it: We will endeavour therefore to discover and +determine both, so far as a Theory can go, beginning with that which is +more general. + +’TIS certain there were some Qualities and Conditions of _Paradise_ that +were not meerly topical, but common to all the rest of the Earth at that +Time; and these we must consider in the first Place, examine what they +were, and upon what they depended. History, both Sacred and Profane, +must tell us what they were, and our Theory must shew us upon what +Causes they depended. I had once, I confess, propos’d to my self another +Method, independent upon History or Effects; I thought to have continued +the Description of the Primitive or antediluvian Earth from the +Contemplation of its Causes only, and then left it to the Judgment of +others to determine, whether that was not the Earth where the Golden Age +was past, and where _Paradise_ stood. For I had observ’d three +Conditions or Characters of it, which I thought were sufficient to +answer all that we knew concerning that first State of Things, viz. _The +Regularity of its Surface; The Situation or Posture of its Body to the +Sun; and the Figure of it_: From these three general Causes I thought +might be deduc’d all the chief Differences of that Earth from the +present, and particularly those that made it more capable of being +_Paradisiacal_. + +BUT upon second Thoughts I judg’d it more useful and expedient to lay +aside the Causes at present, and begin with the Effects, that we night +have some sensible Matter to work upon. Bare _Ideas_ of Things are +look’d upon as romantick till Effects be propos’d, whereof they are to +give an Account; ’Tis that makes us value the Causes when Necessity puts +us upon Enquiry after them; and the Reasons of Things are very +acceptable, when they ease the Mind, anxious and at a loss how to +understand Nature without their help. We will therefore, without more +ado, premise those Things that have been taken Notice of as +extraordinary and peculiar to the first Ages of the World, and to +_Paradise_, and which neither do, nor can, obtain in the present Earth; +whereof the first is a _perpetual Spring or Equinox_; the second, the +_Longævity of Animals_; and the third, _their Production out of the +Earth_, and the great Fertility of the Soil in all other Things. + +THESE Difficulties guard the way to _Paradise_ like the flaming Sword, +and must be remov’d before we can enter; these are general Preliminaries +which we must explain before we proceed to enquire after the particular +Place of this Garden of Pleasure. The Ancients have taken Notice of all +those in the first Ages of the World, or in their _golden Age_, as they +call it; and I do not doubt but what they ascribe to the golden Age, was +more remarkably true of _Paradise_; yet was not so peculiar to it, but +that it did in a good measure extend to other Parts of the Earth at that +Time. And ’tis manifest that their golden Age was contemporary with our +_Paradise_; for they make it begin immediately after the Production and +Inhabitation of the Earth (which they, as well as _Moses_, raise from +the Chaos) and to degenerate by degrees till the Deluge; when the World +ended, and begun again. + +THAT this Parallel may the better appear, we may observe, that as we say +that the whole Earth was, in some Sense, Paradisiacal in the first Ages +of the World, and that there was, besides, one Region or Portion of it +that was peculiarly so, and bore the Denomination of _Paradise_; So the +Ancients, beside their golden Age, which was common to all the Earth, +noted some Parts of it that were more golden, if I may so say, than the +rest, and which did more particularly answer to _Paradise_; as their +_Elysian_ Fields, Fortunate Islands, Gardens of _Hesperides_, +_Alcinous_, _&c._ these had a double Portion of Pleasantness, and, +beside the Advantages which they had common with the rest of the Earth +at that Time, had something proper and singular, which gave them a +distinct Consideration and Character from the rest. + +HAVING made this Observation, let us proceed, and see what Antiquity +saith, concerning that first and Paradisiacal State of Things, upon +those three Heads forementioned; First, that there was a perpetual +Spring, and constant Serenity of the Air. This is often repeated by the +ancient Poets, in their Description of the golden Age. + + _Non alios prima crescentis origine mundi + Iluxisse dies, aliumve habuisse tenorem, + Crediderim: Ver illud erat, Ver magnus agebat + Orbis, & hybernis parcebant flatibus Euri._ + + Virgil. + + _Such Days the new-born Earth enjoy’d of old; + And the calm Heavens in this same Tenor rowl’d: + All the great World had then one constant Spring; + No cold East-winds, such as our Winters bring._ + +For I interpret this in the same Sense with _Ovid_’s Verses of the +golden Age: + + _Ver erat Æternum: Placidiq; tepentibus auris + Mulcebant Zephyri natos sine semine flores._ + + _The Spring was constant, and soft Winds that blew, + Rais’d without Seed, Flow’rs always sweet and new._ + +AND then upon the Expiration of the golden Age, he says, + + _Jupiter antiqui contraxit tempora Veris, &c._ + + _When Jove begun to reign, he chang’d the Year, + And for one Spring four Seasons made appear._ + +THE Ancients suppos’d, that in the Reign of _Saturn_, who was an +antediluvian God, as I may so call him, Time flow’d with a more even +Motion, and there was no Diversity of Seasons in the Year; but +_Jupiter_, they say, first introduc’d that, when he came to manage +Affairs. This is exprest after their way, who seldom give any severe and +philosophical Accounts of the Changes of Nature. And as they suppos’d +this perpetual Spring in the Golden Age, so they did also in their +particular _Elysiums_; as I could shew largely from their Authors, if it +would not multiply Citations too much. ’Tis true, their _Elysiums_ +respected the new Heavens, and new Earth to come, rather than the past; +but they are both fram’d upon the same Model, and have common +Properties. + +THE Christian Authors have no less celebrated the perpetual Spring and +Serenity of the Heavens in _Paradise_; such Expressions or Descriptions +you will find in _Justin Martyr_, _S. Basil_, _Damascen_, _Isidore +Hispalensis_, _De Grat. prim. hom._ and others, insomuch that +_Bellarmine_, I remember, reflecting upon those Characters of +_Paradise_, which many of the Fathers have given in these Respects, +saith, Such Things could not be, unless the Sun had then another Course +from what he hath now; or which is more easy, the Earth another +Situation. Which Conjecture will hereafter appear to have been well +grounded. In the mean Time, let us see the Christian Poetry upon this +Subject, as we have seen the _Roman_ upon the other. _Alcimus Avitus_ +hath thus describ’d _Paradise_ in his Notes upon _Genesis_: + + _Non hic alterni succedit temporis unquam + Bruma, nec æstivi redeunt post frigora Soles; + Hic Ver assiduum Cæli clementia servat. + Turbidus Auster abest, semperque sub aere sudo + Nubila diffugiunt, jugi cessura sereno. + Nec poscit Natura loci, quos non habet, imbres, + Sed contenta suo dotantur gerrmina rore. + Perpetuo viret omne solum, terræque benignæ + Blanda nitet facies: Stant semper collibus herbæ, + Arboribusque comæ, &c._ + + _No Change of Seasons or Excess was there, + No Winter chill’d, nor Summer scorch’d the Air, + But with a constant Spring, Nature was fresh and fair. + Rough Winds or Rains that Region never knew, + Water’d with Rivers and the Morning Dew; + The Heav’ns still clear, the Fields still green and gay, + No Clouds above, nor on the Earth decay; + Trees kept their Leaves and Verdure all the Year, + And Fruits were never out of Season there._ + +And as the Christian Authors, so likewise the _Jewish_ have spoken of +_Paradise_ in the same manner; they tell us also that the Days there +were always of the same Length throughout the whole Year; and that made +’em fancy _Paradise_ to lie under the Equinoctial; as we shall see in +its due Place. ’Tis true, we do not find these Things mention’d expresly +in the Sacred Writings, but the Effects that flow’d from ’em are +recorded there, and we may reasonably suppose Providence to have +foreseen, that when those Effects came to be scan’d and narrowly look’d +into, they would lead us to a Discovery of the Causes, and particularly +of this great and general Cause, that _perpetual Equinox_ and Unity of +Seasons in the Year, till the Deluge. The Longevity of the Antediluvians +cannot be explain’d upon any other Supposition, as we shall have +Occasion to shew hereafter; and that you know is recorded carefully in +Scripture: As also that there was no _Rainbow_ before the Flood; which +goes upon the same Ground, that there was no Variety of Seasons, nor any +Rain: And this by many is thought to be understood by _Moses_’s Words, +_Gen. ii. 5, 6._ which he speaks of the first and Paradisiacal Earth. +Lastly, Seeing the Earth then brought forth the Principles of Life and +all living Creatures (Man excepted) according to _Moses_, _Gen. i. 24._ +we must suppose that the State of the Heavens was such as favour’d these +Conceptions and Births, which could not possibly be brought to +Perfection, as the Seasons of the Year are at present. The first time +that we have mention made in Scripture of Summer and Winter, and the +Differences of Seasons, is at the ending of the Deluge, _Gen. viii. 22._ +_Henceforward all the Days of the Earth, Seed-time and Harvest, Heat and +Cold, Summer and Winter, Day and Night shall not cease._ ’Tis true these +Words are so lax, that they may be understood either of a new Course of +Nature then instituted, or of an old one restor’d; but seeing it doth +appear from other Arguments and Considerations, that there was at that +time a new Course of Nature constituted, it is more reasonable to +interpret the Words in that Sense; which, as it is agreeable to Truth, +according to Reason and Antiquity so it renders that Remark of _Moses_ +of far greater Importance, if it be understood as an Indication of a new +Order then settled in Nature, which should continue henceforwards so +long as the Earth endur’d. Nor do I at all wonder that such things +should not be expresly and positively declar’d in Scripture; for Natural +Mysteries in the Holy Writings, as well as Prophetical, are many times, +on set Purpose, incompleatly deliver’d, so as to awaken and excite our +Thoughts rather than fully resolve them: This being often more suitable +to the Designs of Providence in the Government of the World. But thus +much for this first common or general Character of the Golden Age, and +of _Paradise_, a _perpetual Serenity and perpetual Equinox_. + +THE second Character is the Longevity of Men, and, as is probable, of +all other Animals in Proportion. This, methinks, is as strange and +surprising as the other, and I know no Difference betwixt the +Antediluvian World and the present, so apt to affect us, if we reflect +upon it, as this wonderful Disproportion in the Ages of Men; our +Forefathers and their Posterity: They liv’d seven, eight, nine hundred +Years and upwards, and ’tis a wonder now if a Man live to one hundred. +Our Oaks do not last so long as their Bodies did; Stone and Iron would +scarce outwear them. And this Property of the first Ages, or their +Inhabitants, how strange soever, is well attested, and beyond all +Exception, having the joint Consent of Sacred and Profane History. The +Scripture sets down the precise Age of a Series of Antediluvian +Patriarchs, and by that measures the Time from the beginning of the +World to the Deluge; so as all Sacred Chronology stands upon that +bottom. Yet I know some have thought this so improbable and incongruous +a Thing, that to save the Credit of _Moses_ and the Sacred History, they +interpret these Years of _Lunar_ Years or Months; and so the Ages of +these Patriarchs are reduc’d to much what the same measure with the +common Life of Man at this Time. It may be observ’d in this, as in many +other Instances, that for want of a Theory to make Things credible and +intelligible, Men of Wit and Parts have often deprest the Sense of +Scripture; and that not out of any ill Will to Scripture or Religion, +but because they could not otherwise, upon the Stock of their Notions, +give themselves a rational Account of Things recorded there. But I hope +when we come to explain the Causes of this Longevity, we shall shew that +it is altogether as strange a Thing that Men should have such short +Lives as they have now, as that they had such long Lives in the first +Ages of the World. In the mean time there are a great many collateral +Reasons to assure us that _Lunar_ Years cannot be here understood by +_Moses_, for all Antiquity gives the same Account of those first Ages of +the World, and of the first Men, that they were extreamly long-liv’d. We +meet with it generally in the Description of the Golden Age; and not +only so, but in their Topical _Paradises_ also they always suppos’d a +great Vivacity or Longevity in those that enjoy’d them. And _Josephus_, +speaking upon this Subject, _Book I. C. iv. Jew. Ant._ saith, the +Authors of all the learned Nations, _Greeks_, or _Barbarians_, bare +witness to _Moses_’s Doctrine in this Particular. And in the _Mosaical_ +History it self, there are several Circumstances and Marks that discover +plainly, that the Years of the Patriarchs cannot be understood of +_Lunar_ Years; as we shall have Occasion to shew in another Place. We +proceed in the mean time to the third and last Character, The +extraordinary Fertility of the Soil, and the Production of Animals out +of the new made Earth. + +THE first part of this Character is unquestionable; All Antiquity speaks +of the Plenty of the Golden Age, and of their _Paradises_, whether +Christian or Heathen. The Fruits of the Earth were at first spontaneous, +and the Ground, without being torn and tormented, satisfied the Wants or +Desires of Man. When Nature was fresh and full, all things flow’d from +her more easily and more pure, like the first running of the Grape, or +the Honey-comb; but now she must be prest and squeez’d, and her +Productions taste more of the Earth and of bitterness. The ancient Poets +have often pleas’d themselves in making Descriptions of this happy +State, and in admiring the Riches and Liberality of Nature at that Time; +but we need not transcribe their Poetry here, seeing this Point is not, +I think, contested by any. The second Part of this Character, concerning +the spontaneous Origin of living Creatures out of that first Earth, is +not so unquestionable; and as to Man, _Moses_ plainly implies, that +there was a particular Action or Ministry of Providence in the Formation +of his Body; but as to other Animals, he seems to suppose that the Earth +brought them forth as it did Herbs and Plants. (_Gen. i. 24._ compar’d +with the 11th Verse.) And the Truth is, there is no such great +Difference betwixt Vegetable and Animal Eggs, or betwixt the Seeds out +of which Plants rise, and the Eggs out of which all Animals rise, but +that we may conceive the one as well as the other in the first Earth; +And as some Warmth and Influence from the Sun is required for the +Vegetation of Seeds, so that Influence or Impregnation, which is +necessary to make Animal Eggs fruitful, was imputed by the Ancients to +the _Æther_, or to an active and pure Element which had the same Effect +upon our great Mother the Earth, as the Irradiation of the Male hath +upon the Female’s Eggs. + + _Tum Pater Omnipotens fœcundus imbribus Æther + Conjugis in gremium lætæ descendit._ + + _In fruitful Showers of Æther Jove did glide + Into the Bosom of his joyful Bride._ + +’TIS true, this Opinion of the spontaneous Origin of Animals in the +first Earth hath lain under some _Odium_, because it was commonly +reckon’d to be _Epicurus_’s Opinion peculiarly; and he extended it not +only to all Brute Creatures, but to Mankind also, whom he suppos’d to +grow out of the Earth in great Numbers, in several Parts and Countries, +like other Animals; which is a Notion contrary to the Sacred Writings; +for they declare, that all Mankind, though diffus’d now through the +several Parts and Regions of the Earth, rose at first from one Head or +single Man or Woman; which is a Conclusion of great Importance, and that +could not, I think, by the Light of Nature, have ever been discover’d. +And this makes the _Epicurean_ Opinion the more improbable, for why +should two rise only, if they sprung from the Earth? Or how could they +rise in their full Growth and Perfection, as _Adam_ and _Eve_ did? But +as for the Opinion of Animals rising out of the Earth at first, that was +not at all peculiar to _Epicurus_: The _Stoicks_ were of the same Mind, +and the _Pythagoreans_ and the _Egyptians_, and I think, all that +suppos’d the Earth to rise from a Chaos. Neither do I know any harm in +that Opinion, if duly limited and stated; for what Inconvenience is it, +or what Diminution of Providence, that there should be the Principles of +Life, as well as the Principles of Vegetation, in the new Earth? And +unless you suppose all the first Animals, as well as the first Man, to +have been made at one Stroke, in their full Growth and Perfection, which +we have neither Reason nor Authority sufficient to believe; if they were +made young, little, and weak, as they come now into the World, there +seems to be no way for their Production more proper, and decorous, than +that they should spring from their great Mother the Earth. Lastly, +considering the innumerable little Creatures that are upon the Earth, +Insects and creeping Things; and that these were not created out of +nothing, but form’d out of the Ground; I think that an Office most +proper for Nature, that can set so many Hands to work at once; and that +hath Hands fit for all those little Operations or Manufactures, how +small soever, that would less become the Dignity of Superior Agents. + +THUS much for the Preliminaries, or three general Characters of +_Paradise_, which were common to it with the rest of the Primæval Earth; +and were the chief Ingredients of the Golden Age, so much celebrated by +the Ancients. I know there were several other Differences betwixt that +Earth and this; but these are the Original; and such as are not +necessary to be premis’d for the general Explication of _Paradise_, we +reserve for another Place. We may in the mean time observe, how +preposterously they go to work, that set themselves immediately to find +out some pleasant Place of the Earth to fix _Paradise_ in, before they +have consider’d, or laid any Grounds, to explain the general Conditions +of it, wheresoever it was. These must be first known and determin’d, and +we must take our Aim and Directions from these, how to proceed further +in out Enquiries after it; otherwise we sail without a Compass, or seek +a Port and know not which way it lies. And as we should think him a very +unskilful Pilot that sought a Place in the new World, or _America_, that +really was in the old; so they commit no less an Error, that seek +_Paradise_ in the present Earth, as now constituted, which could only +belong to the former, and to the State of the first World: As will +appear more plainly in the following Chapter. + + + + + CHAP. II. + + + _The great Change of the World since the Flood from what it was in + the first Ages. The Earth under its present Form could not be + Paradisiacal, nor any Part of it._ + + +_THE Scheme of this World passeth away_, saith an Holy Author: the Mode +and Form both of the Natural and Civil World changeth continually more +or less, but most remarkable at certain Periods, when all Nature puts on +another Face; as it will do at the Conflagration, and hath done already +from the Time of the Deluge. We may imagine how different a Prospect the +first World would make from what we see now in the present State of +Things, if we consider only those Generals, by which we have describ’d +it in the foregoing Chapter, and what their Influence would be upon +Mankind and the rest of Nature. For every new State of Nature doth +introduce a new Civil Order, and a new Face and Oeconomy of Human +Affairs: And I am apt to think, that some two Planets, that are under +the same State or Period, do not so much differ from one another, as the +same Planet doth from it self in different Periods of its Duration. We +do not seem to inhabit the same World that our first Fore-fathers did, +nor scarce to be the same Race of Men. Our Life now is so short and +vain, as if we came into the World only to see it and leave it; by that +Time we begin to understand our selves a little, and to know where we +are, and how to act our part, we must leave the Stage, and give Place to +others as meer Novices as we were our selves at our first Entrance. And +this short Life is employ’d in a great Measure to preserve our selves +from Necessity, or Diseases, or Injuries of the Air, or other +Inconveniences; to make one Man easy, ten must work and do drudgery; The +Body takes up so much Time, we have little Leisure for Contemplation, or +to cultivate the Mind. The Earth doth not yield us Food, but with much +Labour and Industry; and what was her free-will Offering before, or an +easy Liberality, can scarce now be extorted from her. Neither are the +Heavens more favourable, sometimes in one Extream, sometimes in another; +The Air often impure or infectious, and, for a great Part of the Year, +Nature her self seems to be sick or dead. To this Vanity the external +Creation is made subject as well as Mankind, and so must continue till +the Restitution of all Things. + +CAN we imagine, in those happy Times and Places we are treating of, that +Things stood in this same Posture? Are these the Fruits of the golden +Age and of _Paradise_, or consistent with their Happiness? And the +Remedies of these Evils must be so universal, you cannot give them to +one Place or Region of the Earth, but all must participate: For these +are Things that flow from the Course of the Heavens, or such general +Causes, as extend at once to all Nature. If there was a perpetual Spring +and perpetual Equinox in _Paradise_, there was at the same Time a +perpetual Equinox all the Earth over; unless you place _Paradise_ in the +middle of the Torrid Zone. So also the long Lives of the Antediluvians +was an universal Effect, and must have had an universal Cause. ’Tis +true, in some single Parts or Regions of the present Earth, the +Inhabitants live generally longer than in others, but do not approach in +any Measure the Age of their antediluvian Fore-fathers; and that degree +of Longevity which they have above the rest, they owe to the Calmness +and Tranquillity of their Heavens and Air; which is but an imperfect +Participation of that Cause which was once universal, and had its Effect +throughout the whole Earth. And as to the Fertility of this Earth, +though in some Spots it be eminently more fruitful than in others, and +more delicious; yet that of the first Earth was a Fertility of another +kind, being spontaneous, and extending to the Production of Animals, +which cannot be without a favourable Concourse from the Heavens also. + +THUS much in general; we will now go over those three fore-mention’d +Characters more distinctly, to shew, by their Unsuitableness to the +present State of Nature, that neither the whole Earth, as it is now, nor +any Part of it, could be _Paradisiacal_. The perpetual Spring, which +belong’d to the golden Age, and to _Paradise_, is an Happiness this +present Earth cannot pretend to, nor is capable of, unless we could +transfer the Sun from the Ecliptick to the Equator, or, which is as +easy, persuade the Earth to change its Posture to the Sun. If +_Archimedes_ had found a Place to plant his Machines in for removing of +the Earth, all that I should have desir’d of him, would have been only +to have given it an Heave at one End, and set it a little to rights +again with the Sun, that we might have enjoy’d the Comfort of a +perpetual Spring, which we have lost by its Dislocation ever since the +Deluge. And there being nothing more indispensably necessary to a +_Paradisiacal_ State than this Unity and equality of Seasons, where that +cannot be, ’tis in vain to seek for the rest of _Paradise_. + +THE spontaneous Fruitfulness of the Ground was a thing peculiar to the +Primigenial Soil, which was so temper’d, as made it more Luxuriant at +that time than it could ever be afterwards; and as that rich Temperament +was spent, so by degrees it grew less fertile. The Origin or Production +of Animals out of the Earth depended not only upon this vital +Constitution of the Soil at first, but also upon such a Posture and +Aspect of the Heavens, as favour’d, or at least permitted Nature, to +make her best Works out of this prepar’d Matter, and better than could +be made in that manner after the Flood. _Noah_, we see, had Orders given +him to preserve the Races of living Creatures in his Ark, when the old +World was destroy’d; which is an Argument to me, that Providence foresaw +that the Earth would not be capable to produce them under its new Form; +and that, not only for want of Fitness in the Soil, but because of the +Diversity of Seasons which were then to take place, whereby Nature would +be disturb’d in her Work, and the Subject to be wrought upon would not +continue long enough in the same due Temper. But this Part of the second +Character, concerning the Original of Animals, deserves to be further +examin’d and explain’d. + +THE first Principles of Life must be tender and ductile, that they may +yield to all the Motions and gentle Touches of Nature; otherwise it is +not possible, that they should be wrought with that Curiosity, and drawn +into all those little fine Threads and Textures, that we see and admire +in some parts of the Bodies of Animals. And as the Matter must be so +constituted at first, so it must be kept in a due Temper till the Work +be finish’d, without any Excess of Heat or Cold; and accordingly we see +that Nature hath made Provision in all sorts of Creatures whether +Oviparous or Viviparous, that the first Rudiments of Life should be +preserv’d from all Injuries of the Air, and kept in a moderate Warmth. +Eggs are enclos’d in a Shell, or Film, and must be cherished with an +equal gentle heat, to begin Formation and continue it, otherwise the +Work miscarries: And in Viviparous Creatures, the Materials of Life are +safely lodg’d in the Female’s Womb, and conserv’d in a fit Temperature +’twixt heat and cold, while the Causes that Providence hath employ’d are +busy at work, fashioning and placing and joining the Parts in that due +Order which so wonderful a Fabrick requires. + +LET us now compare these Things with the Birth of Animals in the +new-made World, when they first rose out of the Earth, to see what +Provision could be made there for their Safety and Nourishment, while +they were a making, and when newly made; and though we take all +Advantages we can, and suppose both the Heavens and the Earth +favourable, a fit Soil and a warm and constant Temper of the Air, all +will be little enough to make this way of Production feasible or +probable. But if we suppose there was then the same Inconstancy of the +Heavens that is now, the same Vicissitude of Seasons, and the same +inequality of Heat and Cold, I do not think it at all possible that they +could be so form’d, or, being new-form’d, preserv’d and nourish’d. ’Tis +true, some little Creatures that are of short Dispatch in their +Formation, and find Nourishment enough wheresoever they are bred, might +be produc’d and brought to Perfection in this way, notwithstanding any +Inequality of Seasons; because they are made all at a Heat, as I may so +say, begun and ended within the compass of one Season. But the great +Question is, concerning the more perfect kinds of Animals, that require +a long stay in the Womb, to make them capable to sustain and nourish +themselves when they first come into the World. Such Animals, being big +and strong, must have a pretty Hardness in their Bones, and Force and +Firmness in their Muscles and Joints, before they can bear their own +weight, and exercise the common Motions of their Body: And accordingly +we see Nature hath ordain’d for these a longer Time of Gestation, that +their Limbs and Members might have time to acquire Strength and +Solidity. Besides, the young ones of these Animals have commonly the +Milk of the Dam to nourish them after they are brought forth, which is a +very proper Nourishment, and like to that which they had before in the +Womb; and by this means their Stomachs are prepar’d by degrees for +coarser Food; Whereas our Terrigenous Animals must have been wean’d as +soon as they were born, or as soon as they were separated from their +Mother the Earth, and therefore must be allow’d a longer Time of +Continuing there. + +THESE Things being consider’d, we cannot in Reason but suppose, that +these Terrigenous Animals were as long, or longer, a Perfecting, than +our Viviparous, and were not separated from the Body of the Earth for +ten, twelve, eighteen, or more Months, according as their Nature was; +and seeing in this Space of Time they must have suffer’d, upon the +common _Hypothesis_, all Vicissitudes and Variety of Seasons, and great +Excesses of Heat and Cold, which are Things incompatible with the tender +Principles of Life, and the Formation of living Creatures, as we have +shewn before; we may reasonably and safely conclude, that Nature had +not, when the World began, the same Course she hath now, or that the +Earth was not then in its present Posture and Constitution: Seeing, I +say, these first spontaneous Births, which both the Holy Writ, Reason +and Antiquity seem to allow, could not be finish’d and brought to +Maturity, nor afterwards preserv’d and nourish’d, upon any other +Supposition. + +LONGEVITY is the last Character to be consider’d, and as inconsistent +with the present State of the Earth as any other. There are many Things +in the Story of the first Ages that seem strange, but nothing so +prodigy-like as the long Lives of those Men; that their Houses of Clay +should stand eight or nine hundred Years and upwards, and those we build +of the hardest Stone, or Marble, will not now last so long. This hath +excited the Curiosity of ingenious and learned Men in all Ages, to +enquire after the possible Causes of that Longevity; and if it had been +always in Conjunction with Innocency of Life and Manners, and expir’d +when that expir’d, we might have thought it some peculiar Blessing or +Reward attending that; but it was common to good and bad, and lasted +till the Deluge, whereas Mankind was degenerate long before. Amongst +Natural Causes, some have imputed it to the Sobriety and Simplicity of +their Diet and manner of Living in those Days, that they eat no Flesh, +and had not all those Provocations to Gluttony, which Wit and Vice have +since invented. This might have some Effect, but not possibly to that +Degree and Measure that we speak of. There are many Monastical Persons +now, that live Abstemiously all their Lives, and yet they think an +hundred Years a very great Age amongst them. Others have imputed it to +the Excellency of their Fruits, and some unknown Virtue in their Herbs +and Plants in those Days; but they may as well say nothing, as say that +which can neither be prov’d nor understood. It could not be either the +Quantity or Quality of their food that was the Cause of their long +Lives, for the Earth was said to be curst long before the Deluge, and +probably by that time was more barren and juiceless (for the generality) +than ours is now; yet we do not see that their Longevity decreas’d at +all, from the Beginning of the World to the Flood. _Methusalah_ was +_Noah_’s Grandfather but one intire Remove from the Deluge, and he liv’d +longer than any of his Fore-fathers. That Food that will nourish the +Parts, and keep us in Health, is also capable to keep us in long Life, +if there be no Impediments otherwise; for to continue Health is to +continue Life; as that Fewel that is fit to raise and nourish a Flame, +will preserve it as long as you please, if you add fresh Fewel, and no +external Causes hinder: Neither do we observe that in those Parts of the +present Earth, where People live longer than in others, that there is +any thing extraordinary in their Food; but that the Difference is +chiefly from the Air and the Temperateness of the Heavens; And if the +Antediluvians had not enjoy’d that Advantage in a peculiar manner, and +differently from what any Parts of the Earth do now, they would never +have seen seven, eight, or nine hundred Years go over their Heads, +though they had been nourish’d with _Nectar_ and _Ambrosia_. + +OTHERS have thought that the long Lives of those Men of the old World +proceeded from the Strength of their _Stamina_, or first Principles of +their Bodies; which if they were now as strong in us, they think we +should still live as long as they did. This could not be the sole and +adequate Cause of their Longevity, as will appear both from History and +Reason. _Shem_, who was born before the Flood, and had in his Body all +the Virtue of the antediluvian _Stamina_ and Constitution, fell three +hundred Years short of the Age of his Fore-fathers, because the greatest +part of his Life was past after the Flood. That their _Stamina_ were +stronger than ours are, I am very ready to believe, and that their +Bodies were greater; and any Race of strong Men, living long in Health, +would have Children of a proportionable strong Constitution with +themselves; but then the Question is, how was this interrupted? We that +are their Posterity, why do not we inherit their long Lives? How was +this Constitution broken at the Deluge, and how did the _Stamina_ fail +so fast when that came? Why was there so great a _Crisis_ then and Turn +of Life, or why was that the Period of their Strength? + +WE see this Longevity sunk half in half immediately after the Flood, and +after that it sunk by gentler degrees, but was still in Motion and +Declension till it was fixt at length before _David_’s time, _Psal. xc. +10._ (_call’d a Psalm of Moses_,) in that which hath been the common +Standard of Man’s Age ever since: As when some excellent Fruit is +transplanted into a worse Climate and Soil, it degenerates continually +till it comes to such a degree of Meanness as suits that Air and Soil, +and then it stands. That the Age of Man did not fall all on a sudden +from the Antediluvian Measure to the present, I impute it to the +remaining _Stamina_ of those first Ages, and the Strength of that +pristine Constitution which could not wear off but by degrees. We see +the _Blacks_ do not quit their Complexion immediately, by removing into +another Climate, but their Posterity changeth by little and little, and +after some Generations they become altogether like the People of the +Country where they are. Thus by the Change of Nature that happen’d at +the Flood, the unhappy Influence of the Air and unequal Seasons, +weaken’d by degrees the innate Strength of their Bodies, and the Vigour +of their Parts, which would have been capable to have lasted several +more hundreds of Years, if the Heavens had continued their Course as +formerly, or the Earth its Position. To conclude this particular, if any +think that the Antediluvian Longevity proceeded only from the _Stamina_, +or the meer Strength of their Bodies, and would have been so under any +Constitution of the Heavens, let ’em resolve themselves these Questions: +First, Why these _Stamina_, or this Strength of Constitution fail’d? +Secondly, Why did it fail so much and so remarkably at the Deluge? +Thirdly, Why in such Proportions as it hath done since the Deluge? And +lastly, Why it hath stood so long immovable, and without any further +Diminution? Within the compass of five hundred Years they sunk from nine +hundred to ninety; and in the compass of more than three thousand Years +since, they have not sunk ten Years, or scarce any thing at all. Who +considers the Reasons of these Things, and the true Resolution of these +Questions, will be satisfied, that to understand the Causes of that +Longevity, something more must be consider’d than the Make and Strength +of their Bodies; which though they had been made as strong as the +_Behemoth_ or _Leviathan_, could not have lasted so many Ages, if there +had not been a particular Concurrence of external Causes, such as the +present State of Nature doth not admit of. + +By this short Review of the three general Characters of _Paradise_ and +the Golden Age, we may conclude how little consistent they are with the +present Form and Order of the Earth. Who can pretend to assign any Place +or Region in this terraqueous Globe, Island or Continent, that is +capable of these Conditions, or that agrees either with the Descriptions +given by the ancient Heathens of their _Paradises_, or by the Christian +Fathers of Scripture _Paradise_? But where then, will you say, must we +look for it, if not upon this Earth? This puts us more into Despair of +finding it than ever; ’tis not above nor below, in the Air or in the +subterraneous Regions; No, doubtless ’twas upon the Surface of the +Earth, but of the Primitive Earth, whose Form and Properties, as they +were different from this, so they were such as made it capable of being +truly _Paradisiacal_, both according to the forementioned Characters, +and all other Qualities, and Privileges reasonably ascrib’d to +_Paradise_. + + + + + CHAP. III. + + + _The Original Differences of the Primitive Earth from the present or + post-diluvian. The three Characters of Paradise and the Golden Age + found in the Primitive Earth. A particular Explication of each + Character._ + + +WE have hitherto only perplex’d the Argument and our selves, by shewing +how inexplicable the State of _Paradise_ is, according to the present +Order of Things, and the present Condition of the Earth. We must now +therefore bring into View that Original and Antediluvian Earth, where we +pretend its Seat was, and shew it capable of all those Privileges which +we have deny’d to the present; in virtue of which Privileges, and of the +order of Nature establish’d there, that Primitive Earth might be truly +_Paradisiacal_, as in the Golden Age; and some Region of it might be +peculiarly so, according to the receiv’d _Idea_ of _Paradise_. And this, +I think, is all the Knowledge and Satisfaction that we can expect, or +that Providence hath allow’d us in this Argument. + +THE Primigenial Earth, which in the first Book (_Chap. 5._) we rais’d +from a Chaos, and set up in an habitable Form, we must now survey again +with more Care, to observe its principal Differences from the present +Earth, and what Influence they will have upon the Question in Hand. +These Differences, as we have said before, were chiefly three; the Form +of it, which was smooth, even, and regular; the Posture and Situation of +it to the Sun, which was direct, and not as it is at present, inclin’d +and oblique; and the Figure of it, which was more apparently and +regularly Oval than it is now. From these three Differences flow’d a +great many more, inferior and subordinate; and which had a considerable +Influence upon the moral World at that Time, as well as the natural. But +we will only observe here, their more immediate Effects, and that in +reference to those general Characters or Properties of the Golden Age +and of _Paradise_, which we have instanc’d in, and whereof we are bound +to give an Account by our _Hypothesis_. + +AND in this respect the most Fundamental of those three Differences we +mentioned, was that of the right Posture and Situation of the Earth to +the Sun; for from this immediately follow’d a perpetual Æquinox all the +Earth over, or, if you will, a perpetual Spring: And that was the great +Thing we found wanting in the present Earth to make it _Paradisiacal_, +or capable of being so. Wherefore this being now found and establish’d +in the Primitive Earth, the other two Properties of Longevity, and of +spontaneous and vital Fertility, will be of more easy Explication. In +the mean Time let us view a little the Reasons and Causes of that +regular Situation in the first Earth. + +THE Truth is, one cannot so well require a Reason of the regular +Situation the Earth had then, for that was most simple and natural; as +of the irregular Situation it hath now, standing oblique and inclin’d to +the Sun or the Ecliptick: Whereby the Course of the Year is become +unequal, and we are cast into a great Diversity of Seasons. But however, +stating the first aright with its Circumstances, we shall have a better +Prospect upon the second, and see from what Causes, and in what Manner, +it came to pass. Let us therefore suppose the Earth, with the rest of +its fellow Planets, to be carried about the Sun in the Ecliptick, by the +Motion of the liquid Heavens; and being at that time perfectly uniform +and regular, having the same Center of its Magnitude and Gravity, it +would by the Equality of its Libration necessarily have its Axis +parallel to the Axis of the same Ecliptick, both its Poles being equally +inclin’d to the Sun. And this Posture I call a _right Situation_, as +oppos’d to oblique or inclin’d; or a _parallel_ Situation, if you +please. Now this is a Thing that needs no Proof besides its own +Evidence; for ’tis the immediate result and common Effect of Gravity or +Libration, that a Body, freely left to it self in a fluid _Medium_, +should settle in such a Posture as best answers to its Gravitation; and +this first Earth whereof we speak, being uniform, and every way equally +balanced, there was no Reason why it should incline at one End, more +than at the other, towards the Sun. As if you should suppose a Ship to +stand North and South under the Equator, if it was equally built and +equally ballasted, it would not incline to one Pole or other, but keep +its Axis parallel to the Axis of the Earth; but if the Ballast lay more +at one End, it would dip towards that Pole, and rise proportionably +higher towards the other. So those great Ships that sail about the Sun +once a Year, or once in so many Years, whilst they are uniformly built +and equally pois’d, they keep steady and even with the Axis of their +Orbit; but if they lose that Equality, and the Center of their Gravity +change, the heavier End will incline more towards the common Center of +their Motion, and the other End will recede from it. So particularly the +Earth, which makes one in that Aëry Fleet, when it scap’d so narrowly +from being Shipwreckt in the great Deluge, was however so broken and +disorder’d, that it lost its equal Poise, and thereupon the Center of +its Gravity changing, one Pole became more inclin’d towards the Sun, and +the other more remov’d from it, and so its right and parallel Situation +which it had before, to the Axis of the Ecliptick, was chang’d into an +Oblique; in which skew Posture it hath stood ever since, and is likely +so to do for some Ages to come. I instance in this, as the most obvious +Cause of the Change of the Situation of the Earth, though, it may be, +upon this followed a Change in its Magnetism, and that might also +contribute to the same Effect. + +HOWEVER, this Change and Obliquity of the Earth’s Posture had a long +train of Consequences depending upon it; whereof that was the most +immediate, that it alter’d the Form of the Year, and brought in that +Inequality of Seasons, which hath since obtain’d: As, on the contrary, +while the Earth was in its first and natural Posture, in a more easy and +regular Disposition to the Sun, that had also another respective train +of Consequences, whereof one of the first, and that which we are most +concern’d in at present, was, that it made a perpetual Equinox or Spring +to all the World, all the Parts of the Year had one and the same Tenor, +Face and Temper; there was no Winter or Summer, Seed-Time or Harvest, +but a continual Temperature of the Air and Verdure of the Earth. And +this fully answers the first and fundamental Character of the Golden Age +and of _Paradise_; and what Antiquity, whether Heathen or Christian, +hath spoken concerning that perpetual Serenity and constant Spring that +reign’d there, which in the one was accounted Fabulous, and in the other +Hyperbolical, we see to have been really and philosophically true. Nor +is there any Wonder in the Thing, the wonder is rather on our side, that +the Earth should stand and continue in that forc’d Posture wherein it is +now, spinning Yearly about an Axis, I mean that of the Equator, that +doth not belong to the Orbit of its Motion; This, I say, is more strange +than that it once stood in a Posture that was streight and regular; as +we more justly admire the Tower at _Pisa_, that stands crook’d, than +twenty other streight Towers that are much higher. + +HAVING got this Foundation to stand upon, the rest of our Work will go +on more easily; and the two other Characters which we mention’d, will +not be of very difficult Explication. The spontaneous Fertility of the +Earth, and its Production of Animals at that time, we have in some +measure explain’d before, supposing it to proceed partly from the +Richness of the primigenial Soil, and partly from this constant Spring +and Benignity of the Heavens, which we have now establish’d: These were +always ready to excite Nature, and put her upon Action, and never to +interrupt her in any of her Motions or Attempts. We have shew’d in the +fifth Chapter of the first Book, how this primigenial Soil was made, and +of what Ingredients; which were such as compose the richest and fattest +Soil, being a light Earth mix’d with unctuous Juices, and then +afterwards refresh’d and diluted with the Dews of Heaven all the Year +long, and cherish’d with a continual Warmth from the Sun. What more +hopeful Beginning of a World than this? You will grant, I believe, that +whatsoever degree, or whatsoever kind of Fruitfulness could be expected +from a Soil and a Sun, might be reasonably expected there. We see great +Woods and Forests of Trees rise spontaneously, and that since the Flood +(for who can imagine that the ancient Forests, whereof some were so +vastly great, were planted by the Hand of Man?) why should we not then +believe that Fruit-trees and Corn rose as spontaneously in that first +Earth? That which makes Husbandry and human Arts so necessary now for +the Fruits and Productions of the Earth, is partly indeed the Decay of +the Soil, but chiefly the Diversity of Seasons, whereby they perish, if +care be not taken of them; but when there was neither Heat nor Cold, +Winter nor Summer, every Season was a Seed-time to Nature, and every +Season an Harvest. + +THIS, it may be, you will allow as to the Fruits of the Earth, but that +the same Earth should produce Animals also, will not be thought so +intelligible. Since it hath been discover’d, that the first Materials of +all Animals are Eggs, as Seeds are of Plants, it doth not seem so hard +to conceive, that these Eggs might be in the first Earth, as well as +those Seeds; for there is a great Analogy and Similitude betwixt them; +especially if you compare these Seeds first with the Eggs of Insects or +Fishes, and then with the Eggs of viviparous Animals. And as for those +Juices which the Eggs of viviparous Animals imbibe thorough their Coats +from the Womb, they might as well imbibe them, or something analogous to +them, from a conveniently temper’d Earth, as Plant-Eggs do; and these +Things being admitted, the Progress is much what the same in Seeds as +Eggs, and in one sort of Eggs as in another. + +’TIS true, Animal-Eggs do not seem to be fruitful of themselves, without +the Influence of the Male; and this is not necessary in Plant-Eggs or +vegetable Seeds. But neither doth it seem necessary in all Animal-Eggs, +if there be any Animals _sponte orta_, as they call them, or bred +without Copulation. And, as we observ’d before, according to the best +Knowledge that we have of this Male influence, it is reasonable to +believe, that it may be supplied by the Heavens or _Æther_. The +Ancients, both the _Stoicks_ and _Aristotle_, have suppos’d that there +was something of an æthereal Element in the Malegeniture, from whence +the Virtue of it chiefly proceeded; and if so, why may we not suppose, +at that Time, some general Impression or Irradiation of that purer +Element to fructify the new made Earth? _Moses_ saith there was an +Incubation of the Spirit of God upon the Mass, and without all doubt +that was either to form or fructify it, and by the Mediation of this +active Principle; but the Ancients speak more plainly with express +mention of this _Æther_, and of the Impregnation of the Earth by it, as +betwixt Male and Female. As in the Place before cited; + + _Tum pater omnipotens fœcundis imbribus Æther + Conjugis in gremium lætæ descendit; & omnes + Magnus alit magno commixtus corpore fœtus._ + +Which Notion, I remember, St. _Austin_ saith, _De Civ. D. lib. iv. c. +10._ _Virgil_ did not take from the Fictions of the Poets, but out of +the Books of the Philosophers. Some of the gravest Authors amongst the +_Romans_ have reported, that this Virtue hath been convey’d into the +Wombs of some Animals by the Winds, or the _Zephyri_; and as I easily +believe that the first fresh Air was more impregnated with this æthereal +Principle than ours is, so I see no reason but those balmy Dews, that +fell every Night in the Primitive Earth, might be the Vehicle of it as +well as the Malegeniture is now; and from them the teeming Earth, and +those vital Seeds which it contain’d, were actuated, and receiv’d their +first Fruitfulness. + +NOW this Principle, howsoever convey’d to those Rudiments of Life which +we call Eggs, is that which gives the first stroke towards Animation; +and this seems to be, by exciting a Ferment in those little Masses, +whereby the Parts are loosen’d, and dispos’d for that Formation which is +to follow afterwards. And I see nothing that hinders, but that we may +reasonably suppose that these Animal Productions might proceed thus far +in the Primigenial Earth. And as to their Progress and the Formation of +the Body, by what Agents or Principles soever that great Work is carried +on in the Womb of the Female, it might by the same be carried on there. +Neither would there be any Danger of miscarrying by Excess of Heat or +Cold, for the Air was always of an equal Temper and moderate Warmth; and +all other Impediments were remov’d, and all Principles ready, whether +active or passive; so as we may justly conclude, that as _Eve_ was the +Mother of all living, as to Mankind, so was the Earth the Great Mother +of all living Creatures besides. + +THE third Character to be explain’d, and the most extraordinary in +Appearance, is that of Longevity. This sprung from the same Root in my +Opinion, with the other; though the Connexion, it may be, is not so +visible. We shew’d in the foregoing Chapter, that no Advantage of Diet, +or of strong Constitutions, could have carried their Lives, before the +Flood, to that wonderful Length, if they had been exposed to the same +Changes of Air and of Seasons that our Bodies are: But taking a +perpetual Equinox, and fixing the Heavens, you fix the Life of Man too; +which was not then in such a rapid Flux as it is now, but seem’d to +stand still as the Sun did once without Declension. There is no Question +but every thing upon Earth, and especially the Animate World, would be +much more permanent, if the general Course of Nature was more steady and +uniform; a Stability in the Heavens makes a Stability in all Things +below; and that Change and Contrariety of Qualities that we have in +these Regions, is the Fountain of Corruption, and suffers nothing to be +long in quiet: Either by intestine Motions and Fermentations excited +within, or by outward Impressions, Bodies are no sooner well +constituted, but they are tending again to Dissolution. The _Æther_ in +their little Pores and Chinks is unequally agitated, and differently +mov’d at different Times, and so is the Air in their greater, and the +Vapours and Atmosphere round about them: All these shake and unsettle +both the Texture and Continuity of Bodies. Whereas in a fix’d State of +Nature, where these Principles have always the same constant and uniform +Motion, when they are once suited to the Forms and Compositions of +Bodies, they give them no further Disturbance; they enjoy a long and +lasting Peace, without any Commotions or Violence within or without. + +WE find our selves sensible Changes in our Bodies upon the Turn of the +Year, and the Change of Seasons; new Fermentations in the Blood and +Resolutions of the Humours; which if they do not amount to Diseases, at +least they disturb Nature, and have a bad Effect, not only upon the +fluid Parts, but also upon the more solid, upon the Springs and Fibres +in the Organs of the Body, to weaken them and unfit them by degrees for +their respective Functions. For though the Change is not sensible +immediately in these Parts, yet after many repeated Impressions every +Year, by unequal Heat and Cold, Driness and Moisture, contracting and +relaxing the Fibres, their Tone at length is in a great Measure +destroy’d, and brought to a manifest Debility; and the great Springs +falling, the lesser, that depend upon them, fall in Proportion, and all +the Symptoms of Decay and old Age follow. We see by daily Experience, +that Bodies are kept better in the same _Medium_, as we call it, than if +they often change their _Medium_, as sometimes in Air, sometimes in +Water, moistned and dry’d, heated and cool’d; these different states +weaken the Contexture of the Parts: But our Bodies, in the present State +of Nature, are put into an hundred different _Mediums_ in the Course of +a Year; sometimes we are steep’d in Water, or in a misty foggy Air, for +several Days together; sometimes we are almost frozen with Cold, then +fainting with Heat at another time of the Year; and the Winds are of a +different Nature, and the Air of a different Weight and Pressure, +according to the Weather and the Seasons: These Things would wear our +Bodies, tho’ they were built of Oak, and that in a very short Time, in +Comparison of what they would last, if they were always encompass’d with +one and the same _Medium_, under one and the same Temper, as it was in +the Primitive Earth. + +THE Ancients seem to have been sensible of this, and of the true Causes +of those long Periods of Life; for wheresoever they assign’d a great +Longevity, as they did not only to their golden Age, but also to their +particular and topical _Paradises_, they also assign’d there a constant +Serenity and Equality of the Heavens, and sometimes expresly a constant +Equinox; as might be made appear from their Authors. And some of our +christian Authors have gone farther, and connected these two together, +as Cause and Effect, for they say that the Longevity of the Antediluvian +Patriarchs proceeded from a favourable Aspect and Influence of the +Heavens at that Time; which _Aspect_ of the Heavens, being rightly +interpreted, is the same thing that we call the position of the Heavens, +or the right Situation of the Sun and the Earth, from whence came a +perpetual Equinox. And if we consider the present Earth, I know no Place +where they live longer than in that little Island of the _Bermudas_, +where, according to the Proportion of Time they hold out there, after +they are arriv’d from other Parts, one may reasonably suppose, that the +Natives would live two hundred Years, and there’s nothing appears in +that Island that should give long Life above other Places, but the +extraordinary Steadiness of the Weather, and of the Temper of the Air +throughout the whole Year, so as there is scarce any considerable +Difference of Seasons. + +BUT because it would take up too much Time to shew in this Place the +full and just Reasons why, and how these long Periods of Life depend +upon the Stability of the Heavens: And how on the contrary, from their +Inconstancy and Mutability these Periods are shorten’d, as in the +present Order of Nature; we will set apart the next Chapter to treat +upon that Subject; yet by way of Digression only, so as those that have +a mind may pass to the following, where the Thread of this Discourse is +continued. In the mean Time you see, we have prepar’d an Earth for +_Paradise_, and given a fair and intelligible Account of those three +general Characters, which, according to the Rules of Method, must be +determin’d before any further Progress can be made in this Argument. For +in the Doctrine of _Paradise_ there are two things to be consider’d, the +State of it and the Place of it; And as it is first in Order of Nature, +so it is much more material, to find out the State of it, than the +Region where it stood. We need not follow the Windings of Rivers, and +the Interpretation of hard Names, to discover this, we take more +faithful Guides: The unanimous Reports of Antiquity, sacred and profane, +supported by a regular Theory. Upon these Grounds we go, and have thus +far proceeded on our way; which we hope will grow more easy and +pleasant, the nearer we come to our Journey’s End. + + + + + CHAP. IV. + + + _A Digression concerning the natural Causes of Longevity. That the + Machine of an Animal consists of Springs, and which are the two + principal. The Age of the Antediluvians to be computed by Solar, not + Lunar Years._ + + +TO confirm our Opinion concerning the Reasons of Longevity in the first +Inhabitants of the World, it will not be amiss to deduce more at large +the natural Causes of _long_, or _short Periods of Life_. And when we +speak of _long_ or _short Periods of Life_, we do not mean those little +Differences of ten, twenty, or forty Years, which we see amongst Men +now-a-days, according as they are of stronger or weaker Constitutions, +and govern themselves better or worse; but those grand and famous +Differences of several hundreds of Years, which we have Examples of in +the different Ages of the World, and particularly in those that liv’d +before and since the Flood. Neither do we think it peculiar to this +Earth to have such an Inequality in the Lives of Men; but the other +Planets, if they be inhabited, have the same Property, and the same +Difference in their different Periods: All Planets that are in their +Antediluvian State, and in their first and regular Situation to the Sun, +have long-liv’d Inhabitants; and those, that are in an oblique +Situation, have short-liv’d; unless there be some counter Causes that +hinder this general Rule of Nature from taking Place. + +WE are now so us’d to a short Life, and to drop away after threescore or +fourscore Years, that when we compare our Lives with those of the +Antediluvians, we think the Wonder lies wholly on their Side, _why_ they +liv’d so long; And so it doth popularly speaking; but if we speak +Philosophically, the Wonder lies rather on our side, _why_ we live so +little, or so short a Time? For seeing our Bodies are such Machines as +have a Faculty of nourishing themselves, that is, of repairing their +lost or decay’d Parts, so long as they have good Nourishment to make Use +of, why should they not continue in good Plight, and always the same, as +a Flame does, so long as it is supplied with Fewel? And that we may the +better see on whether side the Wonder lies, and from what Causes it +proceeds, we will propose this Problem to be examin’d, _Why the Frame or +Machine of an human Body, or of another Animal, having that Constriction +of Parts, and those Faculties which it hath, lasts so short a Time?_ And +tho’ it fall into no Disease, nor have any unnatural Accident, within +the Space of eighty Years, more or less, fatally and inevitably, decays, +dies, and perisheth. + +THAT the State and Difficulty of this Question may the better appear, +let us consider a Man in the Prime and Vigour of his Life, at the Age of +twenty or twenty four Years, of an healthful Constitution, and all his +Vitals sound; let him be nourished with good Food, use due Exercise, and +govern himself with Moderation in all other Things; the Question is, Why +this Body should not continue in the same Plight, and in the same +Strength, for some Ages? or at least, why it should decay so soon and so +fall as we see it does? We do not wonder at Things that happen daily, +though the Causes of them be never so hard to find out; we contrast a +certain Familiarity with common Events, and fancy we know as much of +them as can be known, though in Reality we know nothing of them, but +Matter of Fact; which the vulgar know as well as the Wise or the +Learned. We see daily Instances of the shortness of Man’s Life, how soon +his Race is run, and we do not wonder at it, because it is common; yet +if we examine the Composition of the Body, it will be very hard to find +any good Reasons why the Frame of it should decay so soon. + +I know ’tis easy to give general and superficial Answers and Accounts of +these Things; but they are such, as being strictly examin’d, give no +Satisfaction to an inquisitive Mind; You would say, it may be, that the +Interiour Parts and Organs of the Body wear and decay by Degrees, so as +not performing so well their several Offices and Functions, for the +Digestion and Distribution of the Food and its Juices, all the other +Parts suffer by it, and draws on insensibly a Decay upon the whole Frame +of the Body. This is all true; but why, and how comes this to pass? From +what Causes? Where is the first Failure, and what are the Consequences +of it? The inward parts do not destroy themselves, and we suppose that +there is no want of good Food, nor any Disease, and we take the Body in +its full Strength and Vigour, why doth it not continue thus, as a Lamp +does, if you supply it with Oil? The Causes being the same, why doth not +the same Effect still follow? Why should not the Flame of Life, as well +as any other Flame, if you give it Fewel, continue in its Force without +Languishing or Decay. + +YOU will say, it may be, the Case is not the same in a simple Body, such +as a Lamp or a Fire, and in an organical Body; which being variously +compounded of Multiplicity of Parts, and all those Parts put in +Connexion and Dependance one upon another, if any one fail, it will +disorder the whole Frame; and therefore it must needs be more difficult +for such a Body to continue long in the same State, than for a simple +Body, that hath no Variety of Parts or Operations. I acknowledge such a +Body is much more subject to Diseases and Accidents than a more simple; +but barring all Diseases and Accidents, as we do, it might be of as long +a Duration as any other, if it was supply’d with Nourishment adequately +to all its Parts: As this Lamp we speak of, if it consisted of twenty +Branches, and each of these Branches was to be fed with a different Oil, +and these Oils could be all mix’d together in some common Cistern, +whence they were to be distributed into the several Branches, either +according to their different Degrees of Lightness, one rising higher +than another; or according to the Capacity and Figure of the little +Pipes they were to pass thro’; such a compounded Lamp, made up of such +Artifices, would indeed be more subject to Accidents and to be out of +Order, by the Obstruction of some of the little Pipes, or some unfit +Qualities in the Oils; but all these Casualties and Disorders excepted, +as they are in our Case, if it was supply’d with convenient Liquors, it +would burn as long as any other, tho’ more plain and simple. + +TO instance yet, for more Plainness, in another sort of Machine; suppose +a Mill, where the Water may represent the Nourishment and Humours in our +Body, and the Frame of Wood and Stone, the solid Parts; if we could +suppose this Mill to have a Power of nourishing itself by the Water it +receiv’d, and of repairing all the Parts that were worn away, whether of +the Wood-work or of the Stone, feed it but with a constant Stream, and +it would subsist and grind for ever. And ’tis the same Thing for all +other artificial Machines of this Nature, if they had a Faculty of +nourishing themselves, and repairing their Parts. And seeing those +natural Machines we are speaking of, the Body of Man, and of other +Animals, have and enjoy this Faculty, why should they not be able to +preserve themselves beyond that short Period of Time, which is now the +Measure of their Life? + +THUS much we have said, to shew the Difficulty propos’d, and inforce it; +we must now consider the true Answer and Resolution of it; and to that +purpose bring into View again those Causes which we have assign’d, both +of the long Periods of Life before the Flood, and of the short ones +since. That there was a perpetual Equinox and Stability of the Heavens +before the Flood, we have shew’d both from History and Reason; neither +was there then any thing of Clouds, Rains, Winds, Storms, or unequal +Weather, as will appear in the following Chapter; and to this Steadiness +of Nature, and universal Calmness of the external World, we have imputed +those long Periods of Life which Men enjoy’d at that Time: As on the +contrary, when that great Change and Revolution happened to Nature at +the Deluge, and the Heavens and the Earth were cast in another Mould, +then was brought in, besides many other new Scenes, that Shortness and +Vanity in the Life of Man, and a general Instability in all sublunary +Things, but especially in the animate World. + +IT is not necessary to shew more than we have done already, how that +primitive State of Nature contributed to long Life; neither is it +requir’d that it should actively contribute, but only be permissive, and +suffer our Bodies to act their Parts; for if they be not disturb’d, nor +any Harm done them by external Nature, they are built with Art and +Strength enough to last many hundreds of Years. And, as we observ’d +before, concerning the Posture of the Earth, that that which it had at +first, being simple and regular, was not so much to be accounted for, as +its present Posture, which is irregular; so likewise for the Life of +Man, the Difficulty is not why they liv’d so long in the old World; that +was their due and proper Course; but why our Bodies, being made after +the same manner, should endure so short a Time now. This is it +therefore, which we must now make our Business to give an Account of, +namely, how that Vicissitude of Seasons, Inconstancy of the Air, and +unequal Course of Nature, which came in at the Deluge, do shorten +_Life_; and indeed hasten the Dissolution of all Bodies, animate or +inanimate. + +IN our Bodies we may consider three several Qualities or Dispositions, +and according to each whereof they suffer Decay: _First_, Their +Continuity; _Secondly_, That Disposition whereby they are capable of +receiving Nourishment, which we may call Nutribility; and _Thirdly_, The +Tone or tonick Disposition of the Organs, whereby they perform their +several Functions. In all these three respects they would decay in any +State of Nature, but far sooner and faster in the present State, than in +the Primæval. As for their Continuity, we have noted before that all +consistent Bodies must be less durable now, than under that first Order +of the World, because of the unequal and contrary Motions of the +Elements, or of the Air and Æther that penetrate and pervade them; and +’tis Part of that Vanity which all Things now are subject to, to be more +perishable than in their first Constitution. If we should consider our +Bodies only as breathing Statues, consisting of those Parts they do, and +of that Tenderness, the Air which we breathe, and wherewith we are +continually incompast, changing so often ’twixt moist and dry, hot and +cold, a slow and eager Motion, these different Actions and restless +Changes would sooner weaken and destroy the Union of the Parts, than if +they were always in a calm and quiet _Medium_. + +BUT it is not the gross and visible Continuity of the Parts of our Body +that first decays; there are finer Textures that are spoil’d insensibly, +and draw on the Decay of the rest; such are those other two we +mention’d; that Disposition and Temper of the Parts whereby they are fit +to receive their full Nourishment; and especially that Construction and +Texture of the Organs that are preparatory to this Nutrition. The +Nutribility of the Body depends upon a certain Temperament in the Parts, +soft and yielding, which makes them open to the Blood and Juices in +their Circulation and Passage thro’ them, and mixing intimately and +universally, hold fast and retain many of their Particles; as muddy +Earth doth the Parts of the Water that runs into it and mixeth with it: +And when these nutritious Particles retain’d are more than the Body +spends, that Body is in its Growth; as when they are fewer, ’tis in its +Decay. And as we compar’d the Flesh and tender Parts, when they are +young, and in a growing Disposition, to a muddy Soil, that opens to the +Water, swells and incorporates with it; so when they become hard and +dry, they are like a sandy Earth, that suffers the Water to glide +through it, without incorporating or retaining many of its Parts; and +the sooner they come to this Temper, the sooner follows their Decay: For +the same Causes, that set Limits to our Growth, set also Limits to our +Life; and he that can resolve that Question, _why_ the Time of our +Growth is so short, will also be able to resolve the other in a good +Measure, _why_ the Time of our _Life_ is so short. In both Cases, that +which stops our Progress is external Nature, whose Course, while it was +even and steady, and the ambient Air mild and balmy, preserv’d the Body +much longer in a fresh and fit Temper to receive its full Nourishment, +and consequently gave larger Bounds both to our Growth and Life. + +BUT the third thing we mention’d is the most considerable, the Decay of +the Organick Parts; and especially of the Organs preparatory to +Nutrition. This is the Point chiefly to be examin’d and explain’d, and +therefore we will endeavour to state it fully and distinctly. There are +several Functions in the Body of an Animal, and several Organs for the +Conduct of them; and I am of Opinion, that all the Organs of the Body +are in the Nature of Springs, and that their Action is tonical. The +Action of the Muscles is apparently so, and so is that of the Heart and +the Stomach; and as for those Parts, that make Secretions only, as the +_Glandules_ and _Parenchymata_, if they be any more than merely passive, +as Strainers, ’tis the Tone of the Parts, when distended, that performs +the Separation: And accordingly in all other active Organs, the Action +proceeds from a Tone in the Parts. And this seems to be easily prov’d, +both as to our Bodies, and all other Bodies; for no Matter that is not +fluid, hath any Motion or Action in it, but in Virtue of some Tone; if +Matter be fluid, its Parts are actually in Motion, and consequently may +impel or give Motion to other Bodies; but if it be solid or consistent, +the Parts are not separate or separately mov’d from one another, and +therefore cannot impel or give Motion to any other, but in virtue of +their Tone; they having no other Motion themselves. Accordingly we see +in Artificial Machines, there are but two general Sorts, those that move +by some fluid or volatile Matter, as Water, Wind, Air, or some active +Spirit; and those which move by Springs, or by the Tonick Disposition of +some Part that gives Motion to the rest: For as for such Machines as act +by Weights, ’tis not the Weight that is the active Principle, but the +Air or Æther that impels it. ’Tis true, the Body of an Animal is a kind +of mix’d Machine, and those Organs that are the primary Parts of it, +partake of both these Principles; for there are Spirits and Liquors that +do assist in the Motions of the Muscles, of the Heart, and of the +Stomach; but we have no occasion to consider them at present, but only +the Tone of the solid Organs. + +THIS being observ’d in the first Place, wherein the Force of our Organs +consists, we might here immediately subjoin, how this Force is weaken’d +and destroy’d by the unequal Course of Nature which now obtains, and +consequently our Life shorten’d; for the whole State and Oeconomy of the +Body depends upon the Force and Action of these Organs. But to +understand the Business more distinctly, it will be worth our Time to +examine upon which of the Organs of the Body Life depends more +immediately, and the Prolongation of it; that so reducing our Inquiries +into a narrower Compass, we may manage them with more Ease and more +Certainty. + +IN the Body of Man there are several _Compages_, or Sets of Parts, some +whereof need not be consider’d in this Question; there is that System +that serves for Sense and local Motion, which is commonly call’d the +Animal Compages; and that which serves for Generation, which is call’d +the Genital. These have no Influence upon long Life, being Parts +nourished, not nourishing, and that are fed from others, as Rivers from +their Fountain: Wherefore having laid these aside, there remain two +Compages more, the Natural and Vital, which consist of the Heart and +Stomach, with their Appendages. These are the Sources of Life, and these +are all that is absolutely necessary to the Constitution of a living +Creature; what Parts we find more, few or many of one sort or other, +according to the several kinds of Creatures, is accidental to our +Purpose: The Form of an Animal, as we are to consider it here, lies in +this little Compass, and what is superadded is for some new Purposes, +besides that of mere Life, as for Sense, Motion, Generation, and such +like. As in a Watch, beside the Movement which is made to tell you the +Hour of the Day, which constitutes a Watch; you may have a Fancy to have +an Alarm added, or a Minute-Motion, or that it should tell you the Day +of the Month; and this sometimes will require a new Spring, sometimes +only new Wheels; however, if you would examine the Nature of a Watch, +and upon what its Motion, or, if I may so say, its Life depends, you +must lay aside those secondary Movements, and observe the main Spring, +and the Wheels that immediately depend upon that, for all the rest is +accidental. So for the Life of an Animal, which is a piece of Nature’s +Clock-work, if we would examine upon what the Duration of it depends, we +must lay aside those additional Parts or Systems of Parts, which are for +other Purposes, and consider only the first Principles and Fountains of +Life, and the Causes of their natural and necessary Decay. + +HAVING thus reduc’d our Inquiries to these two Organs, the Stomach and +the Heart, as the two Master-Springs in the Mechanism of an Animal, upon +which all the rest depend, let us now see what their Action is, and how +it will be more or less durable and constant, according to the different +States of external Nature. We determin’d before, that the Force and +Action of all Organs in the Body was tonical, and of none more +remarkably than of these two, the Heart and Stomach; for though it be +not clearly determined what the particular Structure of these Organs, or +of their Fibres is, that makes them tonical, yet ’tis manifest by their +Actions, that they are so. In the Stomach, besides a peculiar Ferment +that opens and dissolves the Parts of the Meat, and melts them into a +Fluor or Pulp; the Coats of it, or Fibres whereof they consist, have a +Motion proper to them, proceeding from their Tone, whereby they close +the Stomach, and compress the Meat when it is receiv’d, and when turn’d +into Chyle, press it forwards, and squeeze it into the Intestines; and +the Intestines also partaking of the same Motion, push and work it still +forwards into those little Veins that convey it towards the Heart. The +Heart hath the same general Motions with the Stomach, of opening and +shutting, and hath also a peculiar Ferment, which rarifies the Blood +that enters into it; and that Blood, by the Spring of the Heart, and the +particular Texture of its Fibres, is thrown out again to make its +Circulation thro’ the Body. This is, in short, the Action of both these +Organs; and indeed the Mystery of the Body of an Animal, and of its +Operations and Oeconomy, consists chiefly in Springs and Ferments; the +one for the solid Parts, the other in the fluid. + +BUT to apply this Fabrick of the organick Parts to our Purpose, we may +observe and conclude, that whatsoever weakens the Tone or Spring of +these two Organs, which are the Bases of all Vitality, weaken the +Principle of Life, and shorten the natural Duration of it; and if of two +Orders or Courses of Nature, the one be favourable and easy to these +tonick Principles in the Body, and the other uneasy and prejudicial, +that Course of Nature will be attended with long Periods of Life, and +this with short. And we have shewn, that in the Primitive Earth the +Course of Nature was even, steady, and unchangeable, without either +different Qualities of the Air, or unequal Seasons of the Year, which +must needs be more easy to these Principles we speak of, and permit them +to continue longer in their Strength and Vigor, than they can possibly +do under all those Changes of the Air, of the Atmosphere, and of the +Heavens, which we now suffer yearly, monthly, and daily. And tho’ sacred +History had not acquainted us with the Longevity of the Antediluvian +Patriarchs, nor profane History with those of the Golden-Age, I should +have concluded from the Theory alone, and the Contemplation of that +State of Nature, that the Forms of all Things were much more permanent +in that World than in ours, and that the Lives of Men and all other +Animals had longer Periods. + +I confess, I am of Opinion that ’tis this that makes not only these +living Springs or tonick Organs of the Body, but all artificial Springs +also, tho’ made of the hardest Metal, decay so fast. The different +Pressure of the Atmosphere, sometimes heavier, sometimes lighter, more +rare or more dense, moist or dry, and agitated with different Degrees of +Motion, and in different Manners! this must needs operate upon that +nicer Contexture of Bodies, which make them tonical or elastick; +altering the Figure or Minuteness of the Pores, and the Strength and +Order of the Fibres upon which that Propriety depends; bending and +unbending, closing and opening the Parts. There is a subtle and æthereal +Element that traverseth the Pores of all Bodies, and when ’tis +straiten’d and pent up there, or stopt in its usual Course and Passage, +its Motion is more quick and eager, as a Current of Water, when ’tis +obstructed, or runs thro’ a narrower Channel; and that Strife and those +Attempts which these little active Particles make to get free, and +follow the same Tracts they did before, do still press upon the Parts of +the Body that are chang’d, to redress and reduce them to their first and +natural Posture, and in this consists the Force of a Spring. Accordingly +we may observe, that there is no Body that is or will be tonical or +elastick, if it be left to it self, and to that Posture it would take +naturally; for then all the Parts are at ease, and the subtle Matter +moves freely and uninterruptedly within its Pores; but if by Distention, +or by Compression, or by Flexion or any other way, the situation of the +Parts and Pores be so alter’d, that the Air sometimes, but for the most +Part that subtiler Element, is uneasy and compress’d too much, it +causeth that Renitency or Tendency to Restitution, which we call the +Tone, or Spring of a Body. Now as this Disposition of Bodies doth far +more easily perish than their Continuity, so I think, there is nothing +that contributes more to its perishing (whether in natural or artificial +Springs) than the unequal Action and different Qualities of the Æther, +Air, and Atmosphere. + +IT will be objected to us, it may be, that in the beginning of the +Chapter we instanc’d in artificial Things, that would continue for ever, +if they had but the Power of nourishing themselves, as Lamps, Mills, and +such like; why then may not natural Machines that have that Power last +for ever? The Case is not the same as to the Bodies of Animals, and the +Things there instanc’d in, for those were springless Machines, that act +only by some external Cause, and not in Virtue of any Tone or interior +Temper of the Parts, as our Bodies do; and when that Tone or Temper is +destroy’d, no Nourishment can repair it. There is something, I say, +irreparable in the tonical Disposition of Matter, which when wholly lost +cannot be restor’d by Nutrition. Nutrition may answer to a bare +Consumption of Parts; but where the Parts are to be preserv’d in such a +Temperament, or in such a Degree of Humidity and Driness, Warmth, Rarity +or Density, to make them capable of that Nourishment, as well as of +their other Operations, as Organs, (which is the Case of our Bodies) +there the Heavens, the Air, and external Causes will change the +Qualities of the Matter in spite of all Nutrition; and the Qualities of +the Matter being chang’d, (in a Course of Nature, where the Cause cannot +be taken away) that is a Fault incorrigible, and irreparable by the +Nourishment that follows, being hindred of its Effect by the +Indisposition or Incapacity of the Recipient. And as they say, a Fault +in the first Concoction cannot be corrected in the second; so neither +can a Fault in the Prerequisites to all the Concoctions be corrected by +any of them. + +I know the Ancients made the Decay and Term of Life to depend rather +upon the Humours of the Body, than the solid Parts, and suppos’d an +_Humidum radicale_ and a _Calidum innatum_, as they call them, a radical +Moisture and congenit Heat to be in every Body, from its Birth and first +Formation; and as these decay’d, Life decay’d. But who’s wiser for this +Account, what doth this instruct us in? We know there is Heat and +Moisture in the Body, and you may call the one _Radical_, and the other +_Innate_ if you please; this is but a sort of Cant, for we know no more +of the real physical Causes of that Effect we enquir’d into, than we did +before. What makes this Heat and Moisture fail, if the Nourishment be +good, and all the Organs in their due Strength and Temper? The first and +original Failure is not in the Fluid, but in the solid Parts, which if +they continued the same, the Humours would do so too. Besides, What +befel this radical Moisture and Heat at the Deluge, that it should decay +so fast afterwards, and last so long before? There is a certain Temper, +no doubt, of the Juices and Humours of the Body, which is more fit than +any other to conserve the Parts from Driness and Decay; but the Cause of +that Driness and Decay, or other Inability in the solid Parts, whence is +that, if not from external Nature? ’Tis thither we must come at length +in our Search of the Reasons of the natural Decay of our Bodies, we +follow the Fate and Laws of that: And I think, by those Causes, and in +that Order, that we have already describ’d and explain’d. + +TO conclude this Discourse, we may collect from it what Judgment is to +be made of those Projectors of Immortality, or Undertakers to make Men +live to the Age of _Methusalah_, if they will use their Methods and +Medicines: There is but one Method for this, to put the Sun into his old +Course, or the Earth into its first Posture; there is no other Secret to +prolong Life; our Bodies will sympathize with the general Course of +Nature, nothing can guard us from it, no Elixir, no Specific, no +Philosopher’s Stone. But there are Enthusiasts in Philosophy, as well as +in Religion; Men that go by no Principles, but their own Conceit and +Fancy, and by a Light within, which shines very uncertainly, and for the +most Part leads them out of the Way of Truth. And so much for this +Disquisition, concerning the _Causes_ of _Longevity_, or of the long and +short Periods of Life in the different Periods of the World. + + + _That the Age of the Antediluvian Patriarchs is to be computed by + Solar or common Years, not by Lunar or Months._ + + +HAVING made this Discourse of the unequal Periods of Life, only in +reference to the Antediluvians and their fam’d Longevity, lest we should +seem to have proceeded upon an ill-grounded and mistaken Supposition, we +are bound to take Notice of, and confute that Opinion which makes the +Years of the Antediluvian Patriarchs to have been _Lunar_, not _Solar_, +and so would bear us in Hand, that they liv’d only so many Months, as +Scripture saith they liv’d Years. Seeing there is nothing could drive +Men to this bold Interpretation but the Incredibility of the Thing, as +they fancied; they having no Motions or _Hypothesis_ whereby it could +appear intelligible or possible to them; and seeing we have taken away +that Stumbling-Stone, and shew’d it not only possible but necessary +according to the Constitution of that World, that the Periods of Life +should be far longer than in this; by removing the Ground or Occasion of +their Misinterpretation, we hope we have undeceiv’d them, and let them +see that there is no need of that Subterfuge, either to prevent an +Incongruity, or save the Credit of the Sacred Historian. + +BUT as this Opinion is inconsistent with Nature, truly understood, so is +it also with common History; for besides, what I have already mention’d +in the first Chapter of this Book, _Josephus_ tells us, (_Lib. i. Jew. +Ant. Chap. iv._) that the Historians of all Nations, both _Greeks_ and +_Barbarians_, give the same account of the first Inhabitants of the +Earth; Manetho, _who writ the Story of the_ Ægyptians; Berosus, _who +writ the Chaldæan History, and those Authors that have given us an +Account of the Phœnician Antiquities, besides Molus and Hestiæus, and +Hieronymus the Ægyptian; and amongst the Greeks, Hesiodus, Hecateus, +Hellanicus, Acusialus, Ephorus and Nicolaus: We have the Suffrages of +all these, and their common Consent, that in the first Ages of the World +Men liv’d a thousand Years._ Now we cannot well suppose that all these +Historians meant _Lunar_ Years, or that they all conspir’d together to +make and propagate a Fable. + +LASTLY, As Nature and profane History do disown and confute this +Opinion, so much more doth sacred History; not indeed in profess’d +Terms, for _Moses_ doth not say that he useth _Solar_ Years; but by +several Marks and Observations, or collateral Arguments, it may be +clearly collected, that he doth not use _Lunar_. As first, because he +distinguisheth _Months_ and _Years_ in the History of the Deluge, and of +the Life of _Noah_; for _Gen. vii. 11._ he saith in the six hundredth +Year of _Noah_’s Life, in the second Month, _&c._ 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 Thing; and +therefore _Noah_’s Years were not the same with Months, nor consequently +those of the other Patriarchs, for we have no Reason to make any +Difference. Besides, what ground was there, or how was it proper or +pertinent to reckon, as _Moses_ does there, first, second, third Month, +as so many going to a Year, if every one of them was a Year? And seeing +the Deluge begun in the six hundredth Year of _Noah_’s Life, and in the +second Month, and ended in the six hundredth and first Year, (_Chap. +viii. 13._) the first or second Month, all that was betwixt these two +Terms, or all the Duration of the Deluge, made but one Year in _Noah_’s +Life, or it may be not so much; and we know _Moses_ reckons a great many +Months in the Duration of the Deluge; so as this is a Demonstration, +that _Noah_’s Years are not to be understood of _Lunar_. And to imagine +that his Years are to be understood one way, and those of his +fellow-Patriarchs another, would be an unaccountable Fiction. This +argument therefore extends to all the Antediluvians, and _Noah_’s Life +will take in the Postdiluvians too; for you see Part of it runs amongst +them, and ties together the two Worlds: So that if we exclude _Lunar_ +Years from his Life, we exclude them from all; those of his Fathers, and +those of his Children. + +SECONDLY, If _Lunar_ Years were understood in the Ages of the +Antediluvian Patriarchs, the Interval betwixt the Creation and the +Deluge would be too short, and in many Respects incongruous. There would +be but 1656 Months from the Beginning of the World to the Flood; which +converted into common Years, make but 127 Years and five Months for that +Interval. This perverts all Chronology, and besides, makes the Number of +People so small and inconsiderable at the Time of the Deluge, that +destroying of the World then was not so much as destroying of a Country +Town would be now: For from one Couple you cannot well imagine there +could arise above five hundred Persons in so short a Time; but if there +were a thousand, ’tis not so many as we have sometimes in a good Country +Village. And were the Flood-gates of Heaven open’d, and the great Abyss +broken up to destroy such an handful of People, and the Waters rais’d +fifteen Cubits above the highest Mountains throughout the Face of the +Earth, to drown a Parish or two? Is not this more incredible than our +Age of the Patriarchs? Besides, This short Interval doth not leave Room +for ten Generations, which we find from _Adam_ to the Flood, nor allows +the Patriarchs Age enough at the Time when they are said to have got +Children. One hundred twenty-seven Years for ten Generations is very +strait; and of these you must take off forty-six Years for one +Generation only, or for _Noah_, for he liv’d six hundred Years before +the Flood, and if they were _Lunar_, they would come however to +forty-six of our Years; so that for the other nine Generations you would +have but eighty one Years, that is, nine Years a-piece; at which Age +they must all be suppos’d to have begun to get Children; which you +cannot but think a very absurd Supposition. Thus it would be, if you +divide the whole Time equally amongst the nine Generations; but if you +consider some single Instances; as they are set down by _Moses_, ’tis +still worse; for _Mahaleel_ and his Grandchild _Enoch_ are said to have +got Children at sixty five Years of Age, which if you suppose Months, +they were but five Years old at that time; now I appeal to any one, +whether it is more incredible that Men should live to the Age of nine +hundred Years, or that they should beget Children at the Age of five +Years. + +YOU will say, it may be, ’tis true these Inconveniences follow, if our +_Hebrew_ Copies of the Old Testament be Authentick: But if the _Greek_ +Translation by the _Septuagint_ be of better Authority, as some would +have it to be, that gives a little Relief in this Case; for the +_Septuagint_ makes the Distance from the Creation to the Flood six +hundred Years more than the _Hebrew_ Text does, and so give us a little +more Room for our ten Generations: And not only so, but they have so +conveniently dispos’d those additional Years, as to salve the other +Inconvenience too, of the Patriarchs having Children so young; for what +Patriarchs are found to have got Children sooner than the rest, and so +soon, that, upon a Computation by _Lunar_ Years, they would be but meer +Children themselves at that time? to these more Years are added, and +plac’d opportunely, before the time of their getting Children; so as one +can scarce forbear to think, that it was done on purpose to cure that +Inconvenience, and to favour and protect the Computation by _Lunar_ +Years. The thing looks so like an Artifice, and as done to serve a Turn, +that one cannot but have a less Opinion of that Chronology for it. + +BUT not to enter upon that Dispute at present, methinks they have not +wrought the Cure effectually enough; for with these six hundred _Lunar_ +Years added, the Sum will be only one hundred seventy three common Years +and odd Months; and from these deducting, as we did before, for _Noah_, +forty six Years, and for _Adam_, or the first Generation, about +eighteen, (for he was two hundred and thirty Years old, according to the +_Septuagint_ when he begot _Seth_) there will remain but one hundred and +nine Years for eight Generations; which will be thirteen Years a piece +and odd Months; a low Age to get Children in, and to hold for eight +Generations together. Neither is the other Inconvenience, we mention’d, +well cur’d by the _Septuagint_ Account, namely, the small Number of +People that would be in the World at the Deluge; for the _Septuagint_ +Account, if understood of _Lunar_ Years, adds but forty six common Years +to the _Hebrew_ Account, and to the Age of the World at the Deluge, in +which time there could be but a very small Accesion to the Number of +Mankind. So as both these Incongruities continue, though not in the same +degree, and stand good in either Account, if it be understood of _Lunar_ +Years. + +_Thirdly_, ’TIS manifest from other Texts of Scripture, and from other +Considerations, that our first Fathers liv’d very long, and considerably +longer than Men have done since, whereas if their Years be interpreted +_Lunar_, there is not one of them that liv’d to the Age that Men do now; +_Methusalah_ himself did not reach threescore and fifteen Years, upon +that Interpretation; which doth express them not only below those that +liv’d next to the Flood, but below all following Generations to this +Day; and those first Ages of the World which were always celebrated for +Strength and Vivacity, are made as weak and feeble as the last Dregs of +Nature. We may observe, that after the Flood for some Time, ’till the +pristine _Crasis_ of the Body was broken by the new Course of Nature, +they liv’d five, four, three, two hundred Years, and the Life of Men +shorten’d by Degrees; but before the Flood, when they liv’d longer, +there was no such Decrease or gradual Declension in their Lives. For +_Noah_, who was the last, liv’d longer than _Adam_; and _Methusalah_, +who was last but two, liv’d the longest of all: So that it was not +simply their Distance from the beginning of the World that made them +live a shorter Time, but some Change which happen’d in Nature after such +a Period of Time; namely at the Deluge, when the Declension begun. Let’s +set down the Table of both States. + +_A TABLE of the Ages of the Antediluvian Fathers._ + + _Adam_ 930 + _Seth_ 912 + _Enos_ 905 + _Cainan_ 910 + _Mahaleel_ 895 + _Jared_ 962 + _Enoch_ 365 + _Methusalah_ 969 + _Lamech_ 777 + _Noah_ 950 + +_A TABLE of the Ages of the Postdiluvian Fathers, from Shem to Joseph._ + + _Shem_ 600 + _Arphaxad_ 438 + _Salah_ 433 + _Eber_ 464 + _Peleg_ 239 + _Reu_ 239 + _Serug_ 230 + _Nahor_ 148 + _Terah_ 205 + _Abraham_ 175 + _Isaac_ 180 + _Jacob_ 147 + _Joseph_ 110 + +From these Tables we see that Mens Lives were much longer before the +Flood, and next after it, than they are now; which also is confirm’d +undeniably by _Jacob_’s Complaint of the Shortness of his Life, in +Comparison of his Forefathers, when he had liv’d one hundred and thirty +Years, _Gen. xlvii. 9._ _The Days of the Years of my Pilgrimage are an +hundred and thirty Years; few and evil have the Days of the Years of my +Life been, and have not attained unto the Days of the Years of the Life +of my Fathers._ There were then, ’tis certain, long-liv’d Men in the +World before _Jacob_’s Time; when were they, before the Flood or after? +We say both, according as the Tables shew it. But if you count by +_Lunar_ Years, there never were any, either before or after, and +_Jacob_’s Complaint was unjust and false; for he was the oldest Man in +the World himself, or at least there was none of his Forefathers that +liv’d so long as he. + +THE Patrons of this Opinion must needs find themselves at a loss, how or +where to break off the Account of _Lunar_ Years in sacred History, if +they once admit it. If they say that way of counting must only be +extended to the Flood, then they make the Postdiluvian Fathers longer +liv’d than the Antediluvian; did the Flood bring in Longevity? How could +that be the Cause of such an Effect? Besides, if they allow the +Postdiluvians to have lived six hundred (common) Years, that being +clearly beyond the Standard of our Lives, I should never stick at two or +three hundred Years more for the first Ages of the World. If they extend +their _Lunar_ Account to the Postdiluvians too, they will still be +intangled in worse Absurdities; for they must make their Lives miserably +short, and their Age of getting Children altogether incongruous and +impossible. _Nahor_, for Example, when he was but two Years and three +Months old must have begot _Terah_, _Abraham_’s Father: And all the rest +betwixt him and _Shem_ must have had Children before they were three +Years old: A pretty race of Pigmies. Then their Lives were +proportionably short, for this _Nahor_ liv’d but eleven Years and six +Months at this Rate; and his Grandchild _Abraham_, who is said to have +died _in a good old Age, and full of Years_, (_Gen. xxv. 8._) was not +fourteen Years old. What a ridiculous Account this gives of Scripture +Chronology and Genealogies? But you’ll say, it may be, these _Lunar_ +Years are not to be carried so far as _Abraham_ neither; tell us then +where you’ll stop, and why you stop in such a Place rather than another. +If you once take in _Lunar_ Years, what Ground is there in the Text, or +in the History, that you should change your way of computing at such a +Time, or in such a Place? All our ancient Chronology is founded upon the +Books of _Moses_, where the Terms and Periods of Times are exprest by +Years, and often by Genealogies and the Lives of Men; Now if these Years +are sometimes to be interpreted _Lunar_, and sometimes _Solar_, without +any Distinction made in the Text, what Light or certain Rule have we to +go by? Let these Authors name to us the Parts and Places where, and only +where the _Lunar_ Years are to be understood, and I dare undertake to +shew, that their Method is not only arbitrary, but absurd and +incoherent. + +TO conclude this Discourse, we cannot but repeat what we have partly +observ’d before, How necessary it is to understand Nature, if we would +rightly understand those Things in holy Writ that relate to the natural +World. For without this Knowledge, as we are apt to think some Things +consistent and credible, that are really impossible in Nature; so on the +other hand, we are apt to look upon other Things as incredible and +impossible that are really founded in Nature. And seeing every one is +willing so to expound Scripture, as it may be to them good Sense, and +consistent with their Notions in other Things, they are forc’d many +times to go against the easy and natural Importance of the Words, and to +invent other Interpretations more compliant with their Principles, and, +as they think, with the Nature of Things. We have, I say, a great +Instance of this before us in the Scripture-History, of the long Lives +of the Antediluvians, where, without any Ground or Shadow of Ground, in +the Narration, only to comply with a mistaken Philosophy, and their +Ignorance of the primitive World, many Men would beat down the Scripture +Account of Years into Months, and sink the Lives of those first Fathers +below the Rate of the worst of Ages. Whereby that great Monument, which +Providence hath left us of the first World, and of its Difference from +the second, would not only be defac’d, but wholly demolish’d. And all +this sprung only from the seeming Incredibility of the Thing; for they +cannot shew in any Part of Scripture, new or old, that these _Lunar_ +Years are made use of, or that any Computation, literal or prophetical, +proceeds upon them: Nor that there is any Thing in the Text or Context +of that Place, that argues or intimates any such Account. We have +endeavour’d, upon this Occasion, effectully to prevent this +Misconstruction of sacred History for the future; both by shewing the +Incongruities that follow upon it, and also that there is no Necessity +from Nature, of any such Shift or Evasion, as that is: But rather on the +contrary, that we have just and necessary Reasons to conclude, That as +the Forms of all Things would be far more permanent and lasting in that +primitive State of the Heavens and the Earth, so particularly the Lives +of Men, and of other Animals. + + + + + CHAP. V. + + + _Concerning the Waters of the primitive Earth: What the State of the + Regions of the Air was then, and how all Waters proceeded from them; + How the Rivers arose, what was their Course, and how they ended. + Some Things in sacred Writ that confirms this Hydrography of the + first Earth; especially the Origin of the Rainbow._ + + +HAVING thus far clear’d our Way to _Paradise_, and given a rational +Account of its general Properties; before we proceed to discourse of the +Place of it, there is one Affair of Moment, concerning this primitive +Earth, that must first be stated and explain’d; and that is, _How_ it +was water’d; from what Causes, and in what Manner? How could Fountains +rise, or Rivers flow in an Earth of that Form and Nature? We have shut +up the Sea with thick Walls on every Side, and taken away all +Communication that could be ’twixt it and the external Earth; and we +have remov’d all the Hills and the Mountains where the Springs use to +rise; and whence the Rivers descend to water the Face of the Ground: And +lastly, we have left no Issue for these Rivers, no Ocean to receive +them, nor any other Place to disburden themselves into. So that our +new-found World is like to be a dry and barren Wilderness, and so far +from being _Paradisiacal_, that it would scarce be habitable. + +I CONFESS there was nothing in this whole Theory that gave such a Stop +to my Thoughts, as this Part of it, concerning the Rivers of the first +Earth; how they rose, how they flow’d, and how they ended. It seem’d at +first, that we had wip’d away at once the Notion and whole Doctrine of +Rivers, we had turn’d the Earth so smooth, that there was not an Hill, +or Rising, for the Head of a Spring, nor any Fall or Descent for the +Course of a River: Besides, I had suck’d in the common Opinion of +Philosophers, That all Rivers rise from the Sea, and return to it again, +and both those Passages, I see, were stopt up in that Earth. This gave +me occasion to reflect upon the modern and more solid Opinion concerning +the Origin of Fountains and Rivers, That they rise chiefly from Rains +and melted Snows, and not from the Sea alone; and as soon as I had +demur’d in that Particular, I saw it was necessary to consider and +examine how the Rains fell in that first Earth, to understand what the +State of their Waters and Rivers would be. + +AND I had no sooner apply’d my self to that Inquiry, but I easily +discover’d, that the Order of Nature in the Regions of the Air would be +then very different from what it is now, and the Meteorology of the +World was of another sort from that of the present. The Air was always +calm and equal, there could be no violent Meteors there, nor any that +proceeded from Extremity of Cold; as Ice, Snow, or Hail; nor Thunder +neither; for the Clouds could not be of a Quality and Consistency fit +for such an Effect, either by falling one upon another, or by their +Disruption. And as for Winds, they could not be either impetuous or +irregular in that Earth; seeing there were neither Mountains nor any +other Inequalities to obstruct the Course of the Vapours; nor any +unequal Seasons, or unequal Action of the Sun, nor any contrary and +struggling Motions of the Air: Nature was then a Stranger to all those +Disorders. But as for watry Meteors, or those that rise from watry +Vapours more immediately, as Dews and Rains, there could not but be +Plenty of these in some Part or other of that Earth; for the Action of +the Sun in raising Vapours was very strong and very constant, and the +Earth was at first moist and soft, and according as it grew more dry, +the Rays of the Sun would pierce more deep into it, and reach at length +the great Abyss which lay underneath, and was an unexhausted Store-house +of new Vapours. But, ’tis true, the same Heat, which extracted these +Vapours so copiously, would also hinder them from condensing into Clouds +or Rain in the warmer Parts of the Earth; and there being no Mountains +at that Time, nor contrary Winds, nor any such Causes to stop them, or +compress them, we must consider which way they would tend, and what +their Course would be, and whether they would any where meet with Causes +capable to change or condense them; for upon this, ’tis manifest, would +depend the Meteors of that Air, and the Waters of that Earth. + +AND as the Heat of the Sun was chiefly towards the middle Parts of the +Earth, so the copious Vapours rais’d there, were most rarified and +agitated; and being once in the open Air, their Course would be that +Way, where they found least Resistance to their Motion; and that would +certainly be towards the Poles, and the colder Regions of the Earth. For +East and West they would meet with as warm an Air, and Vapours as much +agitated as themselves, which therefore would not yield to their +Progress that Way; but towards the North and the South, they would find +a more easy Passage, the Cold of those Parts attracting them, as we call +it, that is, making way to their Motion and Dilatation without much +Resistance, as Mountains and cold Places usually draw Vapours from the +warmer. So as the regular and constant Course of the Vapours of that +Earth, which were rais’d chiefly about the Equinoctial and middle Parts +of it, would be towards the extream Parts of it, or towards the Poles. + +AND in consequence of this, when these Vapours were arriv’d in those +cooler Climates, and cooler Parts of the Air, they would be condens’d +into Rain; for wanting there the Cause of their Agitation, namely, the +Heat of the Sun, their Motion would soon begin to languish, and they +would fall closer to one another in the Form of Water. For the +Difference betwixt Vapours and Water is only gradual, and consists in +this, that Vapours are in a flying Motion, separate and distant each +from another; but the Parts of Water are in a creeping Motion, close to +one another; like a Swarm of Bees when they are settled; as Vapours +resemble the same Bees in the Air, before they settle together. Now +there is nothing puts these Vapours upon the Wing, or keeps them so, but +a strong Agitation by Heat; and when that fails, as it must do in all +colder Places and Regions, they necessarily return to Water again. +Accordingly therefore we must suppose they would soon, after they +reach’d these cold Regions, be condens’d, and fall down in a continual +Rain, or Dew, upon those Parts of the Earth. I say a _continual_ Rain; +for seeing the Action of the Sun, which rais’d the Vapours, was (at that +Time) always the same, and the State of the Air always alike, nor any +cross Winds, nor any thing else that could hinder the Course of the +Vapours towards the Poles, nor their Condensation when arriv’d there; +’tis manifest there would be a constant Source or Store-house of Waters +in those Parts of the Air, and in those Parts of the Earth. + +AND this, I think, was the establish’d Order of Nature in that World, +this was the State of the Antediluvian Heavens and Earth; all their +Waters came from above, and that with a constant Supply and Circulation; +for when the Croud of Vapours rais’d about the middle Parts of the +Earth, found Vent and Issue this Way towards the Poles, the Passage +being once open’d, and the Channel made, the Current would be still +continued without Intermission; and as they were dissolv’d and spent +there, they would suck in more and more of those which followed, and +came in fresh Streams from the hotter Climates. _Aristotle_, I remember, +in his _Meteors_ speaking of the Course of the Vapours, saith, there is +a River in the Air, constantly flowing betwixt the Heavens and the +Earth, made by the ascending and descending Vapours: This was more +remarkably true in the primitive Earth, where the State of Nature was +more constant and regular; there was indeed an uninterrupted Flood of +Vapours rising in one Region of the Earth, and flowing to another, and +there continually distilling in Dews and Rain, which made this aerial +River. As may be easily apprehended from this Scheme of the Earth and +Air. + +[Illustration: The Earth, with Clouds of Vapour Descending from Above.] + +THUS we have found a Source for Waters in the first Earth, which had no +Communication with the Sea; and a Source that would never fail, neither +diminish or overflow, but feed the Earth with an equal Supply throughout +all the Parts of the Year. But there is a second Difficulty that appears +at the End of this, _how_ these Waters would flow upon the even Surface +of the Earth, or form themselves into Rivers; there being no Descent or +Declivity for their Course. There were no Hills, nor Mountains, nor high +Lands in the first Earth, and if these Rains fell in the Frigid Zones, +or towards the Poles, there they would stand in Lakes and Pools, having +no Descent one Way more than another; and so the rest of the Earth would +be no better for them. This, I confess, appear’d as great a Difficulty +as the former, and would be unanswerable for ought I know, if that first +Earth was not water’d by Dews only (as I believe some Worlds are) or had +been exactly Spherical; but we noted before, that it was Oval or Oblong; +and in such a Figure ’tis manifest the polar Parts are higher than the +equinoctial, that is, more remote from the Center, as appears to the Eye +in this Scheme. This affords us a present Remedy, and sets us free of +the second Difficulty; for by this Means the Waters, which fell about +the extream Parts of the Earth, would have a continual Descent towards +the middle Parts of it; this Figure gives them Motion and Distribution; +and many Rivers and Rivulets would flow from those Mother-Lakes, to +refresh the Face of the Earth, bending their Course still towards the +middle Parts of it. + +’TIS true, These Derivations of the Waters at first would be very +irregular and diffuse, till the Channels were a little worn and +hollow’d; and tho’ that Earth was smooth and uniform, yet ’tis +impossible, upon an inclining Surface, but that Waters should find a Way +of creeping downwards, as we see upon a smooth Table, or a flag’d +Pavement; if there be the least Inclination, Water will flow from the +higher to the lower Parts of it, either directly, or winding to and fro: +So the Smoothness of that Earth would be no Hindrance to the Course of +the Rivers, provided there was a general Declivity in the Site and +Libration of it, as ’tis plain there was from the Poles towards the +Æquator. The Current indeed would be easy and gentle all along, and if +it chanc’d in some Places to rest, or be stopt, it would spread it self +into a pleasant Lake, till by fresh Supplies it had rais’d its Waters so +high as to overflow and break loose again; then it would pursue its Way, +with many other Rivers its Companions, thro’ all the temperate Climates +as far as the Torrid Zone. + +BUT you’ll say, When they were got thither, what would become of them +then? _How_ would they end or finish their Course? This is the third +Difficulty _concerning_ the Ending of the Rivers in that Earth; what +Issue could they have when they were come to the middle Parts of it, +whither it seems they all tended? There was no Sea to lose themselves +in, as our Rivers do; nor any subterraneous Passages to throw themselves +into; how would they die, what would be their Fate at last? I answer, +The greater Rivers, when they were come towards those Parts of the +Earth, would be divided into many Branches, or a Multitude of Rivulets; +and those would be partly exhal’d by the Heat of the Sun, and partly +drunk up by the dry and sandy Earth. But how and in what Manner this +came to pass, requires a little further Explication. + +WE must therefore observe in the first Place, that those Rivers, as they +drew nearer to the æquinoctial Parts, would find a less Declivity or +Descent of Ground than in the beginning, or former Part of their Course; +that is evident from the oval Figure of the Earth, for near the middle +Parts of an Oval, the Semi-diameters, as I may call them, are very +little shorter one than another; and for this Reason the Rivers, when +they were advanc’d towards the middle Parts of the Earth, would begin to +flow more slowly, and, by that Weakness of their Current, suffer +themselves easily to be divided and distracted into several lesser +Streams and Rivulets; or else having no Force to wear a Channel, would +lie shallow upon the Ground like a Plash of Water; and in both Cases +their Waters would be much more expos’d to the Action of the Sun, than +if they had kept together in a deeper Channel, as they were before. + +SECONDLY, We must observe, that seeing these Waters could not reach to +the Middle of the Torrid Zone, for want of Descent; that Part of the +Earth having the Sun always perpendicular over it, and being refresh’d +by no Rivers, would become extreamly dry and parch’d, and be converted +at length into a kind of sandy Desert; so as all the Waters that were +carried thus far, and were not exhaled and consum’d by the Sun, would be +suck’d up, as in a Spunge, by these Sands of the Torrid Zone. This was +the common Grave wherein the Rivers of the first Earth were buried; and +this is nothing but what happens still in several Parts of the present +Earth; especially in _Africk_, where many Rivers never flow into the +Sea, but expire after the same Manner as these did, drunk up by the Sun +and the Sands. And one Arm of _Euphrates_ dies, as I remember, amongst +the Sands of _Arabia_, after the Manner of the Rivers of the first +Earth. + +THUS we have conquer’d the greatest Difficulty, in my Apprehension, in +this whole Theory, _To_ find out the State of the Rivers in the +primitive and antediluvian Earth, their Origin, Course, and Period. We +have been forc’d to win our Ground by Inches, and have divided the +Difficulty into Parts, that we might encounter them single with more +Ease. The Rivers of the Earth, you see, were in most respects different, +and in some, contrary to ours; and if you could turn our Rivers +backwards, to run from the Sea towards their Fountain-heads, they would +more resemble the Course of those Antediluvian Rivers; for they were +greatest at their first setting out, and the Current afterwards, when it +was more weak, and the Channel more shallow, was divided into many +Branches and little Rivers; like the Arteries in our Body, that carry +the Blood; they are greatest at first, and the further they go from the +Heart, their Source, the less they grow, and divided into a Multitude of +little Branches, which lose themselves insensibly in the Habit of the +Flesh, as these little Floods did in the Sands of the Earth. + +[Illustration: The Earth, with Zones near the Poles, and Rivers flowing +from there towards the Equator.] + +BECAUSE it pleaseth more and makes a greater Impression upon us, to see +Things represented to the Eye, than to read their Description in Words, +we have ventur’d to give a Model of the Primæval Earth, with its Zones +or greater Climates, and the general Order and Tracts of its Rivers: Not +that we believe Things to have been in the very same Form as here +exhibited; but this may serve as a general _Idea_ of that Earth, which +may be wrought into more exactness, according as we are able to enlarge +or correct our Thoughts hereafter. And as the Zones here represented, +resemble the _Belts_ or _Fasciæ_ of _Jupiter_, so we suppose them to +proceed from like Causes, if that Planet be in an Antediluvian State, as +the Earth we here represent. As for the Polar Parts in that first Earth, +I can say very little of them, they would make a Scene by themselves, +and a very particular one; the Sun would be perpetually in their +Horizon, which makes me think the Rains would not fall so much there, as +in the other Parts of the Frigid Zones, where accordingly we have made +their chief Seat and Receptacle. That they flow’d from thence in such +like Manner as is here represented, we have already prov’d; and +sometimes in their Passage swelling into Lakes, and towards the End of +their Course parting into several Streams and Branches, they would water +those Parts of the Earth like a Garden. + +WE have before compar’d the Branchings of these Rivers towards the End +of their Course, to the Ramifications of the Arteries in the Body, when +they are far from the Heart near the extream Parts; and some, it may be, +looking upon this Scheme, would carry the Comparison further, and +suppose, that as in the Body the Blood is not lost in the Habit of the +Flesh, but strain’d through it, and taken up again by the little +Branches of the Veins; so in that Earth the Waters were not lost in +those Sands of the Torrid Zone, but strain’d or percolated thorough +them, and receiv’d into the Channels of the other Hemisphere. This +indeed would in some Measure answer the Notion which several of the +ancient Fathers make use of, that the Rivers of _Paradise_ were +trajected out of the other Hemisphere into this, by subterraneous +Passages. But I confess I could never see it possible how such a +Trajection could be made, nor how they could have any Motion, being +arriv’d in another Hemisphere; and therefore I am apt to believe that +Doctrine amongst the Ancients arose from an Entanglement in their +Principles: They suppos’d generally, that _Paradise_ was in the other +Hemisphere, as we shall have occasion to shew hereafter; and yet they +believ’d that _Tygris_, _Euphrates_, _Nile_, and _Ganges_, were the +Rivers of _Paradise_, or came out of it; and these two Opinions they +could not reconcile, or make out, but by supposing that these four +Rivers had their Fountain-heads in the other Hemisphere, and by some +wonderful Trajection broke out again here. This was the Expedient they +found out to make their Opinions consistent one with another; but this +is a Method to me altogether unconceivable; and, for my part, I do not +love to be led out of my Depth, leaning only upon Antiquity. How there +could be any such Communication, either above Ground, or under Ground, +betwixt the two Hemispheres, does not appear; and therefore we must +still suppose the Torrid Zone to have been the Barrier betwixt them, +which nothing could pass either Way. + +WE have now examin’d and determin’d the State of the Air, and of the +Waters in the Primitive Earth, by the Light and Consequences of Reason; +and we must not wonder to find them different from the present Order of +Nature; what things are said of them, or relating to them in Holy Writ, +do testify or imply as much; and it will be worth our time to make some +Reflection upon those Passages for our further Confirmation. _Moses_ +tells us, that the _Rainbow_ was set in the Clouds after the Deluge; +those Heavens then, that never had a Rainbow before, were certainly of a +Constitution very different from ours. And St. _Peter_, _2 Epist. chap. +iii. v. 5._ doth formally and expresly tell us, that the _Old Heavens_, +or the Antediluvian Heavens had a different Constitution from ours, and +particularly, that they were compos’d or constituted of Water, which +Philosophy of the Apostle’s may be easily understood, if we attend to +two things, first, that the Heavens he speaks of were not the Starry +Heavens, but the aerial Heavens, or the Regions of our Air, where the +Meteors are: Secondly, that there were no Meteors in those Regions, or +in those Heavens, till the Deluge, but watry Meteors, and therefore, he +says, they consisted of Water. And this shews the Foundation upon which +that Description is made, how coherently the Apostle argues, and answers +the Objection there propos’d: How justly also he distinguisheth the +first Heavens from the present Heavens, or rather opposeth them one to +another; because as those were constituted of Water, and watry Meteors +only, so the present Heavens, he saith, have Treasures of Fire, fiery +Exhalations and Meteors, and a Disposition to become the Executioners of +the Divine Wrath and Decrees in the final Conflagration of the Earth. + +THIS minds me also of the _Celestial Waters_, or the Waters above the +Firmaments, which, Scripture sometimes mentions, and which, methinks, +cannot be explain’d so fitly and emphatically upon any Supposition as +this of ours. Those who place them above the Starry Heavens, seem +neither to understand Astronomy nor Philosophy; and, on the other hand, +if nothing be understood by them, but the Clouds and the middle Region +of the Air, as it is at present, methinks that was no such eminent and +remarkable Thing, as to deserve a particular Commemoration by _Moses_ in +his six Days Work; but if we understand them, not as they are now, but +as they were then, the only Source of Waters, or the only Source of +Waters upon that Earth, (for they had not one Drop of Water but what was +Celestial,) this gives it a new Force and Emphasis: Besides the whole +middle Region having no other sort of Meteors but them, that made it +still the greater Singularity, and more worthy Commemoration. As for the +Rivers of _Paradise_, there is nothing said concerning their Source, or +their Issue, that is either contrary to this, or that is not agreeable +to the general Account we have given of the Waters and Rivers of the +first Earth. They are not said to rise from any Mountain, but from a +great River or a kind of a Lake in _Eden_, according to the Custom of +the Rivers of that Earth. And as for their End and Issue, _Moses_ doth +not say, that they disburthen themselves into this or that Sea, as they +usually do in the Description of great Rivers, but rather implies that +they spent themselves in compassing and watering certain Countries, +which falls in again very easily with our _Hypothesis_. But I say this +rather to comply with the Opinions of others, than of my _own_ Judgment: +For I think, that Suggestion about the Supercelestial Waters made by +_Moses_, was not so much according to the strict Nature and Speciality +of Causes, as for the Ease and Profit of the People, in their Belief and +Acknowledgment of Providence for so great a Benefit, by what Causes +soever it was brought to pass. + +BUT to return to the Rainbow which we mentioned before, and is not to be +past over so slightly. This we say is a Creature of the modern World, +and was not seen nor known before the Flood. _Moses_ (_Gen. ix. 12, +13._) plainly intimates as much, or rather directly affirms it; for he +says, the Bow was set in the Clouds after the Deluge, as a Confirmation +of the Promise, or Covenant, which God made with _Noah_, that he would +drown the World no more with Water. And how could it be a Sign of this, +or given as a Pledge and Confirmation of such a Promise, if it was in +the Clouds before, and with no Regard to this Promise; and stood there, +it may be, when the World was going to be drown’d? This would have been +but cold Comfort to _Noah_, to have had such a Pledge of the Divine +Veracity. You’ll say, it may be, that it was not a Sign or Pledge, that +signified naturally, but voluntarily only, and by Divine Institution: I +am of Opinion, I confess, that it signify’d naturally, and by Connexion +with the Effect, importing thus much, that the State of Nature was +chang’d from what it was before, and so chang’d, that the Earth was no +more in a Condition to perish by Water. But however, let us grant that +it signifieth only by Institution, to make it significant in this Sense, +it must be something new, otherwise it could not signify any new thing, +or be the Confirmation of a new Promise. If God Almighty had said to +_Noah_, I make a Promise to you, and to all living Creatures, that the +World shall never be destroy’d by Water again, and for Confirmation of +this, Behold, _I set the Sun in the Firmament_: Would this have been any +strengthening of _Noah_’s Faith or any Satisfaction to his Mind? Why +says _Noah_, the Sun was in the Firmament when the Deluge came, and was +a Spectator of that sad Tragedy; why may it not be so again? What Sign +or Assurance is this against a second Deluge? When God gives a Sign in +the Heavens, or on the Earth, of any Prophecy or Promise to be +fulfill’d, it must be by something new, or by some Change wrought in +Nature; whereby God doth testify to us, that he is able and willing to +stand to his Promise. God says to _Ahaz_, Isai. vii. _Ask a Sign of the +Lord; ask it either in the Depth, or in the Height above_: And when +_Ahaz_ would ask no Sign, God gives one unask’d, _Behold a Virgin shall +conceive and bear a Son_. So when _Zachary_, _Luke 1._ was promis’d a +Son, he asketh for a Sign, _Whereby shall I know this? for I am old, and +my Wife well stricken in Years_, and the Sign given him was, that he +became dumb, and continued so till the Promise was fulfilled. +Accordingly, when _Abraham_ ask’d a Sign whereby he might be assured of +God’s Promise that his Seed should inherit the Land of _Canaan_, _Gen. +xv. 8._ ’Tis said (_ver. 17._) _When the Sun went down and it was dark, +behold a smoaking Furnace and a burning Lamp passed betwixt the Pieces_ +of the Beasts that he had cut asunder. So in other Instances of Signs +given in external Nature, as the Sign given to King _Hezekiah_, _Isai. +xxxviii._ for his Recovery, and to _Gideon_ for his Victory; to confirm +the Promise made to _Hezekiah_, _Judge vii._ the Shadow went back ten +Degrees in _Ahaz_ Dial. And for _Gideon_, _his Fleece was wet, and all +the Ground about it dry_; and then to change the Trial, _it was dry, and +all the Ground about it wet_. These were all Signs very proper, +significant, and satisfactory, having something surprising and +extraordinary, yet these were Signs by Institution only; and to be such +they must have something new and strange, as a Mark of the Hand of God, +otherwise they can have no Force or Significancy. Accordingly we see, +_Moses_ himself in another Place, speaks this very Sense, when in the +Mutiny or Rebellion of _Corah_ and _Dathan_, he speaks thus to the +People, _If these Men die the common Death of Men, then the Lord hath +not sent me. But if the Lord make a new Thing and the Earth open her +Mouth and swallow them up, &c. then you shall understand that these Men +have provoked the Lord, Numb. xxvi. 29, 30._ So in the Case of _Noah_, +if God _created a new Creature_ (which are _Moses_’s Words in the +forecited Place) the Sign was effectual: But where every thing continues +to be as it was before, and the Face of Nature, in all its Parts, the +very same, it cannot signify any thing new, nor any new Intention in the +Author of Nature; and consequently, cannot be a Sign or Pledge, a Token +or Assurance of the Accomplishment of any new Covenant or Promise made +by him. + +THIS, methinks, is plain to common Sense, and to every Man’s Reason; but +because it is a Thing of Importance, to prove that there was no Rainbow +before the Flood, and will confirm a considerable Part of this Theory, +by discovering what the state of the Air was in the old World, give me +leave to argue it a little further, and to remove some Prejudices that +may keep others from assenting to clear Reason. I know ’tis usually +said, that Signs like Words, signify any Thing by Institution, or may be +apply’d to any Thing by the Will of the Imposer; as hanging out a white +Flag is calling for Mercy; a Bush at the Door a Sign of Wine to be sold, +and such like. But these are Instances nothing to our Purpose, these are +Signs of something present, and that signify only by Use and repeated +Experience; we are speaking of Signs of another Nature given in +Confirmation of a Promise, or Threatning, or Prophecy, and given with +Design to cure our Unbelief, or to excite and beget in us faith in God, +in the Prophet, or in the Promiser; such Signs, I say, when they are +wrought in external Nature, must be some new Appearance, and must +thereby induce us to believe the Effect, or more to believe it, than if +there had been no Sign, but only the Affirmation of the Promiser; for +otherwise the pretended Sign is a mere Cypher and Superfluity. But a +Thing that obtain’d before, and in the same Manner, (even when that came +to pass, which we are now promis’d shall not come to pass again) +signifies no more, than if there had been no Sign at all: It can neither +signify another Course in Nature, nor another Purpose in God; and +therefore is perfectly insignificant. Some instance in the Sacraments, +Jewish or Christian, and make them Signs in such a Sense as the Rainbow +is: But those are rather Symbolical Representations or Commemorations; +and some of them Marks of Distinction and Consecration of our selves to +God in such a Religion; they were also new, and very particular when +first instituted; but all such Instances fall short, and do not reach +the Case before us; we are speaking of Signs confirmatory of a Promise; +when there is something affirm’d _de futuro_, and to give us a further +Argument of the Certainty of it, and of the Power and Veracity of the +Promiser, a Sign is given. This, we say, must indispensably be something +new, otherwise it cannot have the Nature, Virtue, and influence of a +Sign. + +WE have seen how incongruous it would be to admit, that the Rainbow +appear’d before the Deluge, and how dead a Sign that would make it, how +forc’d, fruitless and ineffectual, as to the Promise it was to confirm: +Let us now on the other hand suppose, that it first appear’d to the +Inhabitants of the Earth after the Deluge, how proper, and how apposite +a Sign would this be for Providence to pitch upon, to confirm the +Promise made to _Noah_ and his Posterity, _That_ the World should be no +more destroy’d by Water? It hath a secret Connexion with the Effect it +self, and was so far a natural Sign; but however, appearing first after +the Deluge, and in a watery Cloud, there was, methinks, a great Easiness +and Propriety of Application for such a purpose. And if we suppose, that +while God Almighty was declaring his Promise to _Noah_, and the Sign of +it, there appeared at the same Time in the Clouds a fair Rainbow, that +marvellous and beautiful Meteor, which _Noah_ had never seen before; it +could not but make a most lively Impression upon him, quickning his +Faith, and giving him Comfort and Assurance, that God would be stedfast +to his Promise. + +NOR ought we to wonder that Interpreters have commonly gone the other +Way, and suppos’d that the Rainbow was before the Flood: this, I say, +was no wonder in them, for they had no _Hypothesis_ that could answer to +any other Interpretation: And in the Interpretation of the Texts of +Scripture that concern natural Things, they commonly bring them down to +their own Philosophy and Notions: As we have a great Instance in that +Discourse of St. _Peter_’s (_2 Epist. c. iii. 5._) concerning the Deluge +and the Antediluvian Heavens and Earth, which, for want of a Theory, +they have been scarce able to make Sense of; for they have forcedly +apply’d to the present Earth, or the present Form of the Earth, what +plainly respected another. A like Instance we have in the _Mosaical_ +Abyss, or _Tehom-Rabba_, by whose Disruption the Deluge was made; this +they knew not well what to make of, and so have generally interpreted it +of the Sea, or of our subterraneous Waters; without any Propriety either +as to the Word, or as to the Sense. A third Instance is this of the +Rainbow, where their Philosophy hath misguided them again; for to give +them their due, they do not alledge, nor pretend to alledge any Thing +from the Text, that should make them interpret thus, or think the +Rainbow was before the Flood; but they pretend to go by certain Reasons, +as that the Clouds were before the Flood, therefore the Rainbow; and if +the Rainbow was not before the Flood, then all things were not made +within the six Days Creation: To whom these Reasons are convictive, they +must be led into the same Belief with them, but not by any Thing in the +Text, nor in the true Theory, at least if ours be so; for by that you +see, that the Vapours were never condens’d into Drops, nor into Rain, in +the temperate and inhabited Climates of that Earth, and consequently +there could never be the Production or Appearance of this Bow in the +Clouds. Thus much concerning the Rainbow. + +TO recollect our selves and conclude this Chapter, and the whole +Disquisition concerning the Waters of the primitive Earth; we seem to +have so well satisfied the Difficulties propos’d in the beginning of the +Chapter, that they have rather given us an Advantage; a better +Discovery, and such a new Prospect of that Earth, as makes it not only +habitable, but more fit to be _Paradisiacal_. The Pleasantness of the +Site of _Paradise_ is made to consist chiefly in two Things, its Waters, +and its Trees, (_Gen. ii._ and _Chap. xiii. 10._ _Ezek. xxxi. 8._) and +considering the Richness of that first Soil in the primitive Earth, it +could not but abound in Trees, as it did in Rivers and Rivulets; and be +wooded like a Grove, as it was water’d like a Garden, in the temperate +Climates of it; so as it would not be, methinks, so difficult to find +one _Paradise_ there, as not to find more than one. + + + + + CHAP. VI. + + + _A Recollection and Review of what hath been said concerning the + Primitive Earth: with a more full Survey of the State of the first + World Natural and Civil, and the Comparison of it with the present + World._ + + +WE have now, in a good Measure, finish’d our Description of the first +and antediluvian Earth: And as Travellers, when they see strange +Countries, make it part of their Pleasure and Improvement to compare +them with their own, to observe the Differences, and wherein they excel, +or come short of one another: So it will not be unpleasant, nor +unuseful, it may be, having made a Discovery, not of a new Country, but +of a new World, and travell’d it over in our Thoughts and Fancy, now to +sit down and compare it with our own: And ’twill be no hard Task, from +the general Differences which we have taken Notice of already, to +observe what lesser would arise, and what the whole Face of Nature would +be. + +’TIS also one Fruit of travelling, that by seeing Variety of Places, and +People, of Humours, Fashions, and Forms of Living, it frees us by +degrees, from that Pedantry and Littleness of Spirit, whereby we are apt +to censure every thing for absurd and ridiculous, that is not according +to our own Way, and the Mode of our own Country: But if, instead of +crossing the Seas, we could waft our selves over to our neighbouring +Planets, we should meet with such Varieties there, both in Nature and +Mankind, as would very much enlarge our Thoughts and Souls, and help to +cure those Diseases of little Minds, that make them troublesome to +others, as well as uneasy to themselves. + +BUT seeing our heavy Bodies are not made for such Voyages, the best and +greatest thing we can do in this kind, is to make a Survey and +Reflection upon the antediluvian Earth, which in some Sense was another +World from this, and, it may be, as different as some two Planets are +from one another. We have declar’d already the general Grounds upon +which we must proceed, and must now trace the Consequences of them, and +drive them down into Particulars, which will shew us in most things, +wherein that Earth, or that World, differed from the present. The Form +of that Earth, and its Situation to the Sun, were two of its most +fundamental Differences from ours: As to the Form of it, ’twas all one +smooth Continent, one continued Surface of Earth, without any Sea, any +Mountains, or Rocks; any Holes, Dens, or Caverns: And the Situation of +it to the Sun was such as made a perpetual Æquinox. These two join’d +together, lay the Foundation of a new Astronomy, Meteorology, +Hydrography and Geography; such as were proper and peculiar to that +World. The Earth by this means having its Axis parallel to the Axis of +the Ecliptick, the Heavens would appear in another Posture; and their +diurnal Motion, which is imputed to the _Primum Mobile_, and supposed to +be upon the Poles of the Æquator, would then be upon the same Poles with +the second and periodical Motions of the Orbs and Planets, namely, upon +the Poles of the Ecliptick, by which Means the _Phænomena_ of the +Heavens would be more simple and regular, and much of that Entangledness +and Perplexity, which we find now in Astronomy, would be taken away. +Whether the Sun and Moon would suffer any Eclipses then, cannot well be +determin’d, unless one knew what the Course of the Moon was at that +time, or whether she was then come into our Neighbourhood: Her Presence +seems to have been less needful when there were no long Winter Nights, +nor the great Pool of the Sea to move or govern. + +AS for the Regions of the Air and the Meteors, we have in the preceding +Chapter set down what the State of them would be, and in how much a +better Order, and more peaceable, that Kingdom was, till the Earth was +broken and displac’d, and the Course of Nature chang’d: Nothing violent, +nothing frightful, nothing troublesome or incommodious to Mankind, came +from above, but the Countenance of the Heavens was always smooth and +serene. I have often thought it a very desirable Piece of Power, if a +Man could but command a fair Day, when he had occasion for it, for +himself, or for his Friends; ’tis more than the greatest Prince or +Potentate upon Earth can do; yet they never wanted one in that World, +nor ever saw a foul one. Besides they had constant Breezes from the +Motion of the Earth, and the Course of the Vapours, which cool’d the +open Plains, and made the Weather temperate, as well as fair. But we +have spoken enough in other Places upon this Subject of the Air and the +Heavens, let us now descend to the Earth. + +THE Earth was divided into two Hemispheres, separated by the Torrid +Zone, which at that time was uninhabitable, and utterly unpassable; so +as the two Hemispheres made two distinct Worlds, which, so far as we can +judge, had no manner of Commerce or Communication one with another. The +Southern Hemisphere the Antients call’d _Antichthon_, _the opposite +Earth_, or the _Other World_. And this Name and Notion remain’d long +after the Reason of it had ceas’d. Just as the Torrid Zone was generally +accounted uninhabitable by the Ancients, even in their Time, because it +really had been so once, and the Tradition remain’d uncorrected, when +the Causes were taken away; namely, when the Earth had chang’d its +Posture to the Sun, after the Deluge. + +THIS may be look’d upon as the first Division of that primæval Earth, +into two Hemispheres, naturally sever’d and disunited: But it was also +divided into five Zones, two Frigid, two Temperate, and the Torrid +betwixt them. And this Distinction of the Globe into five Zones, I +think, did properly belong to that original Earth, and primitive +Geography, and improperly, and by Translation only, to the present. For +all the Zones of our Earth are habitable, and their Distinctions are in +a manner but imaginary, not fixed by Nature; whereas in that Earth where +the Rivers fail’d, and the Regions became uninhabitable, by reason of +Driness and Heat, there begun the Torrid Zone; and where the Regions +became uninhabitable by reason of Cold and Moisture, there begun the +Frigid Zone; and these being determin’d, they became Bounds on either +side to the Temperate. But all this was alter’d when the Posture of the +Earth was chang’d, and chang’d for that very purpose, as some of the +Ancients have said, _That the uninhabitable Parts of the Earth might +become habitable._ Yet though there was so much of the first Earth +uninhabitable, there remain’d as much to be inhabited, as we have now; +for the Sea, since the breaking up of the Abyss, hath taken away half of +the Earth from us, a great part whereof was to them good Land. Besides, +we are not to suppose, that the Torrid Zone was of that Extent we make +it now, twenty three Degrees and more on either side of the Æquator: +These Bounds are set only by the Tropicks, and the Tropicks by the +Obliquity of the Course of the Sun, or of the Posture of the Earth, +which was not in that World. Where the Rivers stop’d, there the Torrid +Zone would begin, but the Sun was directly perpendicular to no part of +it but the middle. + +HOW the Rivers flow’d in the first Earth, we have before explain’d +sufficiently, and what Parts the Rivers did not reach, were turn’d into +Sands and Deserts by the Heat of the Sun; for I cannot easily imagine, +that the sandy Desarts of the Earth were made so at first, immediately +and from the beginning of the World; from what Causes should that be, +and to what purpose in that Age? But in those Tracks of the Earth that +were not refreshed with Rivers and Moisture, which cement the Parts, the +Ground would moulder and crumble into little Pieces, and then those +Pieces by the Heat of the Sun were bak’d into Stone. And this would come +to pass chiefly in the hot and scorch’d Regions of the Earth, though it +might happen sometimes where there was not that Extremity of Heat, if by +any Chance a Place wanted Rivers and Water to keep the Earth in due +Temper; but those Sands would not be so early or ancient as the other. +As for greater loose Stones, and rough Pebbles, there were none in that +Earth; _Deucalion_ and _Pyrrah_, when the Deluge was over, found new +made Stones to cast behind their Backs; the Bones of their Mother Earth, +which then were broken in Pieces, in that great Ruine. + +AS for Plants and Trees, we cannot imagine but that they must needs +abound in the Primitive Earth, seeing it was so well water’d, and had a +Soil so fruitful; a new unlaboured Soil, replenish’d with the Seeds of +all Vegetables; and a warm Sun that would call upon Nature early for her +First-fruits, to be offer’d up at the beginning of her Course. Nature +had a wild Luxuriancy at first, which humane Industry by degrees gave +Form and Order to: The Waters flow’d with a constant and gentle Current, +and were easily led which way the Inhabitants had a Mind, for their Use, +or for their Pleasure; and shady Trees, which grow best in moist and +warm Countries, grac’d the Banks of their Rivers or Canals. But that +which was the Beauty and Crown of all, was their perpetual Spring, the +Fields always green, the Flowers always fresh, and the Trees always +covered with Leaves and Fruit: But we have occasionally spoken of these +things in several Places, and may do again hereafter, and therefore need +not enlarge upon them here. + +AS for Subterraneous Things, Metals and Minerals, I believe they had +none in the first Earth; and the happier they; no Gold, nor Silver, nor +coarser Metals. The Use of these is either imaginary, or in such Works, +as, by the Constitution of their World, they had little Occasion for. +And Minerals are either for Medicine, which they had no need of further +than Herbs; or for Materials to certain Arts, which were not then in +use, or were supplied by other ways. These subterraneous things, Metals +and metallick Minerals, are fictitious, not original Bodies, coæval with +the Earth; but are made in Process of Time, after long Preparations and +Concoctions, by the Action of the Sun within the Bowels of the Earth. +And if the _Stamina_, or Principles of them rise from the lower Regions +that lie under the Abyss, as I am apt to think they do, it doth not seem +probable that they could be drawn thro’ such a Mass of Waters, or that +the Heat of the Sun could on a sudden penetrate so deep, and be able to +loosen them, and raise them into the exterior Earth. And as the first +Age of the World was call’d _Golden_, though it knew not what Gold was; +so the following Ages had their Names from several Metals, which lay +then asleep in the dark and deep Womb of Nature, and saw not the Sun +till many Years and Ages afterwards. + +HAVING run through the several Regions of Nature, from Top to Bottom, +from the Heavens to the lower Parts of the Earth, and made some +Observations upon their Order in the antediluvian World; let us now look +upon Man and other living Creatures, that make up the superior and +animate Part of Nature. We have observed, and sufficiently spoken to +that Difference betwixt the Men of the old World, and those of the +present, in Point of Longevity, and given the Reasons of it; but we must +not imagine that this long Life was peculiar to Man, all other Animals +had their Share of it, and were in their Proportion longer-liv’d than +they are now. Nay, not only Animals, but also Vegetables; and the Forms +of all living Things were far more permanent: The Trees of the Field and +of the Forest, in all Probability, out-lasted the Lives of Men; and I do +not know but the first Groves of Pines and Cedars that grew out of the +Earth, or that were planted in the Garden of God, might be standing when +the Deluge came, (_Ezek. xxxi. 8._) and see from first to last, the +entire Course and Period of a World. + +We might add here, with St. _Austin_, (_Civ. Dei, lib. 15. c. 9._) +another Observation, both concerning Men and other living Creatures in +the first World, that they were greater as well as longer-liv’d, than +they are at present: This seems to be a very reasonable Conjecture; for +the State of every Thing that hath Life is divided into the Time of its +Growth, its Consistency and its Decay; and when the whole Duration is +longer, every one of these Parts, though not always in like Proportions, +will be longer. We must suppose then, that the Growth both in Men and +other Animals lasted longer in that World than it doth now, and +consequently carried their Bodies both to a greater Height and Bulk. And +in like Manner, their Trees would be both taller, and every Way bigger +than ours; neither were they in any Danger there, to be blown down by +Winds and Storms, or struck with Thunder, tho’ they had been as high as +the _Ægyptian_ Pyramids; and whatsoever their Height was, if they had +Roots and Trunks proportionable, and were streight and well pois’d, they +would stand firm, and with a greater Majesty. _The Fowls of Heaven +making their Nests in their Boughs, and under their Shadow the Beasts of +the Field bringing forth their Young._ When Things are fairly possible +in their Causes, and possible in several Degrees, higher or lower, ’tis +Weakness of Spirit in us, to think there is nothing in Nature, but in +that one Way, or in that one Degree, that we are us’d to. And whosoever +believes those Accounts given us, both by the Ancients (_Plin. l. 7. c. +2._ _Strab. l. 17._) and Moderns, (_Hort. Malabar, vol. 3._) of the +_Indian_ Trees, will not think it strange that those of the first Earth +should much exceed any that we now see in this World. That allegorical +Description of the Glory of _Assyria_ in _Ezekiel_, _Chap._ xxxi. by +Allusion to Trees, and particularly to the Trees of _Paradise_, was +chiefly for the Greatness and Stateliness of them; and there is all +Fairness of Reason to believe, that in that first Earth, both the Birds +of the Air, and the Beasts of the Field, and the Trees and their Fruit, +were all in their several Kinds more large and goodly than Nature +produces any now. + +SO much in short, concerning the natural World, inanimate or animate; we +should now take a Prospect of the moral World of that time, or of the +civil and artificial World; what the Order and Oeconomy of these was, +what the Manner of Living, and how the Scenes of humane Life were +different from ours at present. The Ancients, especially the Poets, in +their Description of the golden Age, exhibit to us an Order of Things, +and a Form of Life, very remote from any Thing we see in our Days; but +they are not to be trusted in all Particulars; many times they +exaggerate Matters on purpose, that they may seem more strange, or more +great, and by that Means move and please us more. A _Moral_ or +_Philosophick History_ of the World, well writ, would certainly be a +very useful Work, to observe and relate how the Scenes of humane Life +have chang’d in several Ages, the Modes and Forms of Living, in what +Simplicity Men begun at first, and by what Degrees they came out of that +Way, by Luxury, Ambition, Improvement, or Changes in Nature; then what +new Forms and Modifications were superadded by the Invention of Arts, +what by Religion, what by Superstition. This would be a View of Things +more instructive, and more satisfactory, than to know what Kings reign’d +in such an Age, and what Battles were fought, which common History +teacheth, and teacheth little more. Such Affairs are but the little +Under-plots in the Tragi comedy of the World; the main Design is of +another Nature, and of far greater Extent and Consequence. But to return +to the Subject. + +As the animate World depends upon the inanimate, so the civil World +depends upon them both, and takes its Measures from them; Nature is the +Foundation still, and the Affairs of Mankind are a Superstructure that +will be always proportion’d to it. Therefore we must look back upon the +Model, or Picture, of their natural World, which we have drawn before, +to make our Conjectures, or Judgment, of the civil and artificial, that +were to accompany it. We observ’d from their perpetual Æquinox, and the +Smoothness of the Earth, that the Air would be always calm, and the +Heavens fair, no cold or violent Winds, Rains, or Storms, no Extremity +of Weather in any kind, and therefore they would need little Protection +from the Injuries of the Air, in that State; whereas now, one great Part +of the Affairs of Life is to preserve our selves from those +Inconveniencies, by Building and Cloathing. How many Hands, and how many +Trades are employ’d about these two Things? Which then were in a manner +needless, or at least in such Plainness and Simplicity, that every Man +might be his own Workman. Tents and Bowers would keep them from all +Incommodities of the Air and Weather, better than Stone Walls and strong +Roofs defend us now; and Men are apt to take the easiest Ways of Living, +till Necessity or Vice put them upon others that are more laborious, and +more artificial. We also observ’d and prov’d, that they had no Sea in +the primitive and antediluvian World, which makes a vast difference +’twixt us and them. This takes up half of our Globe, and a good part of +Mankind is busied with Sea Affairs and Navigation. They had little need +of merchandizing then, Nature supply’d them at Home with all +Necessaries, which were few, and they were not so greedy of +Superfluities as we are. We may add to these, what concern’d their Food +and Diet; Antiquity doth generally suppose, that Men were not +carnivorous in those Ages of the World, or did not feed upon Flesh, but +only upon Fruit and Herbs. And this seems to be plainly confirm’d by +Scripture; for after the Deluge, God Almighty gives _Noah_ and his +Posterity a Licence to eat Flesh, (_Gen._ ix. 2, 3.) _Every moving Thing +that liveth shall be Meat for you._ Whereas before, in the new-made +Earth, God had prescrib’d them Herbs and Fruit for their Diet, (_Gen._ +i. 29.) _Behold I have given you every Herb bearing Seed, which is upon +the Face of all the Earth; and every Tree, in the which is the Fruit of +a Tree yielding Seed, to you it shall be for Meat._ And of this natural +Diet they would be provided to their Hands, without further Preparation, +as the Birds and the Beasts are. + +UPON these general Grounds we may infer and conclude, that the civil +World then as well as the natural, had a very different Face and Aspect +from what it hath now; for of these Heads, Food and Cloathing, Building +and Traffick, with that Train of Arts, Trades and Manufactures that +attend them, the civil Order of Things is in a great Measure constituted +and compounded; These make the Business of Life, the several Occupations +of Men, the Noise and Hurry of the World; these fill our Cities, and our +Fairs, and our Havens and Ports; yet all these fine Things are but the +Effects of Indigency and Necessitousness, and were, for the most part, +needless and unknown in that first State of Nature. The Ancients have +told us the same Things in Effect; but telling us them without their +Grounds, which they themselves did not know, they look’d like poetical +Stories, and pleasant Fictions, and with most Men past for no better. We +have shewn them in another Light, with their Reasons and Causes, deduc’d +from the State of the natural World, which is the Basis upon which they +stand; and this doth not only give them a just and full Credibility, but +also lays a Foundation for After-thoughts, and further Deductions, when +they meet with Minds dispos’d to pursue Speculations of this Nature. + +AS for Laws, Government, natural Religion, Military and Judicial +Affairs, with all their Equipage, which make an higher Order of Things +in the civil and moral World, to calculate these upon the Grounds given, +would be more difficult, and more uncertain; neither do they at all +belong to the present Theory. But from what we have already observ’d, we +may be able to make a better Judgment of those traditional Accounts +which the Ancients have left us concerning these Things, in the early +Ages of the World, and the primitive State of Nature. No doubt in these, +as in all other Particulars, there was a great Easiness and Simplicity, +in Comparison of what is now; we are in a more pompous, forc’d, and +artificial Method, which partly the Change of Nature, and partly the +Vices and Vanities of Men have introduc’d and establish’d. But these +things, with many more, ought to be the Subject of a _Philosophick +History_ of the World, which we mentioned before. + +THIS is a short and general Scheme of the primæval World, compared with +the modern; yet these things did not equally run thro’ all the Parts and +Ages of it; there was a Declension and Degeneracy, both natural and +moral, by Degrees, and especially towards the latter End; but the +principal Form of Nature remaining till the Deluge and the Dissolution +of the Heavens and Earth, till then also this civil Frame of Things +would stand in a great Measure. And tho’ such a State of Nature, and of +Mankind, when ’tis propos’d crudely, and without its Grounds, appear +fabulous or imaginary, yet ’tis really in itself a State, not only +possible, but more easy and natural, than what the World is in at +present. And if one of the old antediluvian Patriarchs should rise from +the Dead, he would be more surpriz’d to see our World in that Posture it +is, than we can be by the Story and Description of his. As an _Indian_ +hath more Reason to wonder at the _European_ Modes, than we have to +wonder at their plain Manner of Living. ’Tis we that have left the Track +of Nature, that are wrought and screw’d up into Artifices, that have +disguis’d ourselves; and ’tis in our World that the Scenes are chang’d, +and become more strange and fantastical. + +I WILL conclude this Discourse with an easy Remark, and without any +particular Application of it. ’Tis a strange Power that Custom hath upon +weak and little Spirits, whose Thoughts reach no further than their +Senses; and what they have seen and been us’d to, they make the Standard +and Measure of Nature, of Reason, and of all _Decorum_. Neither are +there any Sort of Men more positive and tenacious of their petty +Opinions, than they are; nor more censorious, even to Bitterness and +Malice. And ’tis generally so, that those that have the least Evidence +for the Truth of their beloved Opinions, are most peevish and impatient +in the Defence of them. This sort of Men are the last that will be made +wise Men, if ever they be, for they have the worst of Diseases that +accompany Ignorance, and do not so much as know themselves to be sick. + + + + + CHAP. VII. + + + _The Place of Paradise cannot be determined from the Theory only, + nor from Scripture only. What the Sense of Antiquity was concerning + it, both as to the Jews and Heathens, and especially as to the + Christian Fathers. That they generally plac’d it out of this + Continent, in the southern Hemisphere._ + + +WE have now prepared our Work for the last finishing Strokes; described +the first Earth, and compar’d it with the present; and not only the two +Earths, but in a good Measure the whole State and Oeconomy of those two +Worlds. It remains only to determine the Place of _Paradise_ in that +primæval Earth; I say, in that primæval Earth, for we have driven the +Point so far already, that the Seat of it could not be in the present +Earth, whose Form, Site, and Air, are so dispos’d, as could not consist +with the first and most indispensible Properties of _Paradise_: And +accordingly, we see with what ill Success our modern Authors have rang’d +over the Earth, to find a fit Spot of Ground to plant _Paradise_ in; +some would set it on the Top of an high Mountain, that it might have +good Air and fair Weather, as being above the Clouds, and the middle +Region; but then they were at a Loss for Water, which made a great Part +of the Pleasure and Beauty of that Place. Others therefore would seat it +in a Plain, or in a River-Island, that they might have Water enough; but +then it would be subject to the Injuries of the Air, and foul Weather at +the Seasons of the Year; from which, both Reason and all Authority have +exempted _Paradise_. ’Tis like seeking a perfect Beauty in a mortal +Body, there are so many Things required to it, as to Complexion, +Features, Proportions and Air, that they never meet all together in one +Person; neither can all the Properties of a terrestrial _Paradise_ ever +meet together in one Place, tho’ never so well chosen, in this present +Earth. + +BUT in the primæval Earth, which we have described, ’tis easy to find a +Seat that had all those Beauties and Conveniencies. We have every where +thro’ the temperate Climates, a clear and constant Air, a fruitful Soil, +pleasant Waters, and all the general Characters of _Paradise_; so that +the Trouble will be rather in that Competition, what Part or Region to +pitch upon in particular. But to come as near it as we can, we must +remember in the first Place, how that Earth was divided into two +Hemispheres, distant and separated from one another, not by an imaginary +Line, but by a real Boundary that could not be past; so as the first +Inquiry will be, in whether of these Hemispheres was the Seat of +_Paradise_. To answer this only according to our Theory, I confess, I +see no natural Reason or Occasion to place it in one Hemisphere more +than in another; I see no Ground of Difference or Pre-eminence, that one +had above the other; and I am apt to think, that depended rather upon +the Will of God, and the Series of Providence that was to follow in this +Earth, than upon any natural Incapacity in one of these two Regions more +than in the other, for planting in it the Garden of God. Neither doth +Scripture determine, with any Certainty, either Hemisphere for the Place +of it; for when ’tis said to be in _Eden_, or to be the Garden of +_Eden_, ’tis no more than the Garden of _Pleasure_ or _Delight_, as the +Word signifies: And even the _Septuagint_, who render this Word _Eden_, +as a proper Name twice, (_Gen._ ii. _ver._ 8, & 10.) do in the same +Story render it twice as a common Name, signifying τρυφὴ _Pleasure_, +(_Chap._ ii. 15. and _Chap._ iii. 24.) and so they do accordingly render +it in _Ezekiel_, (_Chap._ xxxi. 9, 16, 18.) where this Garden of _Eden_ +is spoken of again. Some have thought that the Word _Mekiddim_, (_Gen._ +ii. 8.) was to be render’d _in the East_, or _Eastward_, as we read it, +and therefore determin’d the Site of _Paradise_; but ’tis only the +_Septuagint_ translate it so; all the other _Greek_ Versions, and St. +_Jerome_, the _Vulgate_, the _Chaldee_ Paraphrase, and the _Syriack_ +render it _from the Beginning_, or _in the Beginning_, or to that +Effect. And we that do not believe the _Septuagint_ to have been +infallible, or inspir’d, have no Reason to prefer their single Authority +above all the rest. Some also think the Place of _Paradise_ may be +determined by the four Rivers that are named, as belonging to it, and +the Countries they ran through; but the Names of those Rivers are to me +uncertain, and two of them altogether unintelligible. Where are there +four Rivers in our Continent that come from one Head, as these are said +to have done, either at the Entrance or Issue of the Garden? ’Tis true, +if you admit our _Hypothesis_, concerning the Fraction and Disruption of +the Earth at the Deluge, then we cannot expect to find Rivers now as +they were before; the general Source is chang’d, and their Channels are +all broke up; but if you do not admit such a Dissolution of the Earth, +but suppose the Deluge to have been only like a standing Pool, after it +had once cover’d the Surface of the Earth, I do not see why it should +make any great Havock or Confusion in it; and they that go that Way, are +therefore the more oblig’d to shew us still, the Rivers of _Paradise_. +Several of the Ancients, as we shall shew hereafter, suppos’d these four +Rivers to have their heads in the other Hemisphere; and if so, the Seat +of _Paradise_ might be there too. But let them first agree among +themselves concerning these Rivers, and the Countries they run thro’, +and we will undertake to shew that there cannot be any such in this +Continent. + +SEEING then neither the Theory doth determine, nor Scripture, where the +Place of _Paradise_ was, nor in whether Hemisphere, we must appeal to +Antiquity, or the Opinions of the Ancients; for I know no other Guide +but one of these three, Scripture, Reason, and ancient Tradition; and +where the two former are silent, it seems very reasonable to consult the +third. And that our Inquiries may be comprehensive enough, we will +consider what the _Jews_, what the _Heathens_, and what the _Christian_ +Fathers have said, or determin’d, concerning the Seat of _Paradise_. The +_Jews_ and _Hebrew_ Doctors place it in neither Hemisphere, but betwixt +both, under the Æquinoctial, as you may see plainly in _Abravanel_, +_Manasses_, _Ben-Israel_, _Maimonides_, _Eben Ezra_, and others. But the +Reason why they carried it no further than the Line, is, because they +suppos’d it certain, as _Eben Ezra_ tells us, that the Days and Nights +were always equal in _Paradise_, and they did not know how that could +be, unless it stood under the Æquinoctial. But we have shewn another +Method, wherein that perpetual Equinox came to pass, and how it was +common to all the Parts and Climates of that Earth, which if they had +been aware of, and that the Torrid Zone at that time was utterly +uninhabitable, having remov’d their _Paradise_ thus far from Home, they +would probably have remov’d it a little further into the temperate +Climates of the other Hemisphere. + +THE ancient Heathens, Poets and Philosophers, had the Notion of +_Paradise_, or rather of several _Paradises_ in the Earth; and ’tis +remarkable, that they plac’d them generally, if not all of them, out of +this Continent; in the Ocean, or beyond it, or in another Orb or +Hemisphere. The Garden of the _Hesperides_, the fortunate _Islands_, the +_Elysian Fields_, _Ogygia_ and _Toprabane_, as it is describ’d by +_Diodorus Siculus_, with others such like; which as they were all +characteriz’d like so many _Paradises_, so they were all seated out of +our Continent, by their Geography and Descriptions of them. + +THUS far Antiquity seems to incline to the other Hemisphere, or to some +Place beyond the Bounds of our Continent for the Seat of _Paradise_: But +that which we are most to depend upon in this Affair, is Christian +Antiquity, the Judgment and Tradition of the Fathers upon this Argument. +And we may safely say in the first Place, negatively, that none of the +Christian Fathers, _Latin_ or _Greek_, ever plac’d _Paradise_ in +_Mesopotamia_; that is a Conceit and Invention of some modern Authors, +which have been much encourag’d of late, because it gave Men Ease and +Rest, as to further Enquiries, in an Argument they could not well +manage. _Secondly_, We may affirm, that none of the Christian Fathers +have plac’d _Paradise_ in any determinate Region of our Continent, +_Asia_, _Africk_, or _Europe_. I have read of one or two Authors, I +think, that fancied _Paradise_ to have been at _Jerusalem_; but ’twas a +mere Fancy, that no Body regarded or pursu’d. The Controversy amongst +the Fathers concerning _Paradise_ was quite another Thing from what it +is now of late: They disputed and controverted, whether _Paradise_ was +corporeal or intellectual only, and allegorical; this was the grand +Point amongst them. Then of those that thought it corporeal, some plac’d +it high in the Air, some inaccessible, by Desarts or Mountains, and many +beyond the Ocean, or in another World; and in these chiefly consisted +the Differences and Diversity of Opinions amongst them; nor do we find +that they nam’d any particular Place or Country in the known Parts of +the Earth for the Seat of _Paradise_, or that one contested for one Spot +of Ground, and another for another, which is the vain Temerity of modern +Authors; as if they could tell to an Acre of Land where _Paradise_ +stood, or could set their Foot upon the Centre of the Garden. These have +corrupted and misrepresented the Notion of our _Paradise_, just as some +Modern Poets have the Notion of the _Elysian_ Fields, which _Homer_ and +the Ancients plac’d remote, on the Extremities of the Earth, and these +would make a little green Meadow in _Campania Felix_ to be the fam’d +_Elysium_. + +Thus much concerning the Fathers, negatively; but to discover as far as +we can, what their positive Assertions were in this Argument, we may +observe, that tho’ their Opinions be differently exprest, they generally +concenter in this, that the _Southern Hemisphere_ was the Seat of +_Paradise_. This, I say, seems manifestly to be the Sense of Christian +Antiquity and Tradition, so far as there is anything definitive in the +Remains we have upon that Subject. Some of the Fathers did not believe +_Paradise_ to be corporeal and local, and those are to be laid aside in +the first Place, as to this Point; others that thought it local, did not +determine any thing (as most of them indeed did not) concerning the +particular Place of it; but the rest that did, tho’ they have exprest +themselves in various Ways, and under various Forms; yet, upon a due +Interpretation, they all meet in one common and general Conclusion, that +_Paradise_ was seated beyond the Æquinoctial, or in the other +Hemisphere. + +AND to understand this aright, we must reflect in the first Place, upon +the Form of the primæval Earth, and of the two Hemispheres of which it +consisted, altogether incommunicable one with another, by reason of the +Torrid Zone betwixt them; so as those two Hemispheres were then as two +distinct Worlds, or distinct Earths, that had no Commerce with one +another. And this Notion, or Tradition, we find among Heathen Authors, +as well as Christian; this opposite Earth being called by them +_Antichthon_, and its Inhabitants _Antichthones_: For those Words +comprehend both the _Antepodes_ and _Anœci_, or all beyond the Line, as +is manifest from their best Authors, as _Achilles_, _Tatius_, and _Cæsar +Germanicus_, upon _Aratus_, _Probus Grammaticus_, _Censorinus_, +_Pomponius Mela_, and _Pliny_. And these were called another World, and +look’d upon as another Stock and Race of Mankind, as appears from +_Cicero_ and _Macrobius_, (_Somn. Scip._) But as the latter Part was +their Mistake, so the former is acknowledged by Christian Authors, as +well as others; and particularly St. _Clement_, in his Epistle to the +_Corinthians_, mentions a _World_, or _Worlds beyond the Ocean subject +to divine Providence, and the great Lord of Nature as well as ours_. +This Passage of St. _Clement_ is also cited by St. _Jerome_, in his +Commentary upon _Eph. ii. 2._ and by _Origen Periarchon_, (_Lib. 2. c. +3._) where the Inhabitants of that other World are call’d +_Antichthones_. + +I MAKE this Remark in the first Place, that we may understand the true +Sense and Importance of those Phrases and Expressions amongst the +Ancients, when they say _Paradise_ was in _another World_. Which are not +to be so understood, as if they thought _Paradise_ was in the Moon, or +in _Jupiter_, or hung above like a Cloud or a Meteor, they were not so +extravagant; but that _Paradise_ was in another Hemisphere, which was +call’d _Antichthon_, another _Earth_, or another _World_ from ours; and +justly reputed so, because of an Impossibility of Commerce or +Intercourse betwixt their respective Inhabitants. And this Remark being +premis’d, we will now distribute the Christian Authors and Fathers, that +have deliver’d their Opinion concerning the Place of _Paradise_, into +three or four Ranks or Orders; and tho’ they express themselves +differently, you will see, when duly examin’d and expounded, they all +conspire and concur in the foremention’d Conclusion, _That_ the Seat of +_Paradise_ was in the other Hemisphere. + +IN the first Rank then we will place and reckon those that have set +_Paradise_ in another _World_, or in another _Earth_; seeing, according +to the foregoing Explication, that is the same thing as to affirm it +seated beyond the Torrid Zone in the other Hemisphere. In this Number +are _Ephrem Syrus_, _Moses Bar Cepha_, _Tatianus_, and of latter Date, +_Jacobus de Valentia_. To these are to be added again such Authors as +say, that _Adam_, when he was turn’d out of _Paradise_, was brought into +_our Earth_, or into our Region of the Earth; for this is tantamount +with the former; and this seems to be the Sense of St. _Jerome_ in +several Places against _Joviniam_, as also of _Constantine_, in his +_Oration_ in _Eusebius_, and is positively asserted by _Sulpitius +Severus_. And lastly, Those Authors that represent _Paradise_ as remote +from our World, and inaccessible; so St. _Austin_, _Procopius Gazæus_, +_Beda_, _Strabus Fuldensis_, _Historia Scholiastica_, and others; these, +I say, pursue the same Notion of Antiquity; for what is remote from our +World, (that is, from our Continent, as we before explain’d it) is to be +understood to be that _Antichthon_, (Οἱκουμένη) or Anti-hemisphere, +which the Ancients oppos’d to ours. + +ANOTHER Set of Authors, that interpret the _Flaming Sword_ that guarded +_Paradise_ to be the _Torrid Zone_, do plainly intimate, that _Paradise_ +in their Opinion lay beyond the Torrid Zone, or in the Anti-hemisphere; +and thus _Tertullian_ interprets the Flaming Sword, and in such Words as +fully confirm our Sense: _Paradise_, he says, _by the Torrid Zone, as by +a Wall of Fire, was sever’d from the Communication and Knowledge of our +World_. It lay then on the other Side of this Zone. And St. _Cyprian_, +or the ancient Author that passeth under his Name, in his Comment upon +_Genesis_, expresseth himself to the same Effect; so also St. _Austin_ +and _Isidore Hispalensis_ are thought to interpret it: And _Aquinas_, +who makes _Paradise_ inaccessible, gives this Reason for it, _Propter +vehementiam æstus in locis intermediis ex propinquitate Solis, & hoc +significatur per Flammeum Gladium_: _Because of that vehement Heat in +the Parts betwixt us and that, arising from the Nearness of the Sun, and +this is signified by the Flaming Sword_. And this Interpretation of the +_Flaming Sword_ receives a remarkable Force and Emphasis from our Theory +and Description of the primæval Earth, for there the Torrid Zone was as +a Wall of Fire indeed, or a Region of Flame, which none could pass or +subsist in, no more than in a Furnace. + +THERE is another Form of Expression amongst the Ancients concerning +_Paradise_, which if decyphered, is of the same Force and Signification +with this we have already instanc’d in: They say sometimes, _Paradise_ +was _beyond the Ocean_, or that the Rivers of _Paradise_ came from +beyond the Ocean. This is of the same Import with the former Head, and +points still at the other Hemisphere; for, as we noted before, some of +them fixt their _Antichthon_ and _Antichthones_ beyond the Ocean; that +is, since there was an Ocean; since the Form of the Earth was chang’d, +and the Torrid Zone became habitable, and consequently could not be a +Boundary or Separation, betwixt the two Worlds. Wherefore, as some run +still upon the old Division by the Torrid Zone, others took the new +Division by the Ocean. Which Ocean they suppos’d to lie from East to +West betwixt the Tropicks; as may be seen in ancient Authors, _Geminus_, +_Herodotus_, _Cicero de republica_, and _Clemens Romanus_, whom we cited +before. St. _Austin_ (_De Civ. Dei, lib. 16. c. 9._) also speaks upon +the same Supposition, when he would confute the Doctrine of the +_Antipodes_, or _Antichthones_; and _Macrobius_, I remember, makes it an +Argument of Providence, that the Sun and the Planets, in what Part of +their Course soever they are betwixt the two Tropicks, have still the +Ocean under them, that they may be cool’d and nourish’d by its Moisture. +They thought the Sea, like a Girdle, went round the Earth, and the +temperate Zones on either Side were the habitable Regions, whereof this +was called the _Oicoumene_, and the other _Antichthon_. + +THIS being observ’d, ’tis not material whether their Notion was true or +false, it shews us what their Meaning was, and what Part of the Earth +they design’d, when they spoke of any Thing beyond the Ocean; namely, +that they meant beyond the Line, in the other Hemisphere or in the +_Antichthon_; and accordingly, when they say _Paradise_, or the +Fountains of its Rivers were beyond the Ocean, they say the same Thing +in other Terms with the rest of those Authors we have cited. In _Moses +Bar Cepha_ above-mention’d, we find a Chapter upon this Subject, +_Quomodo trajecerint Mortales inde ex Paradisi terra in hanc terram._ +_How Mankind past out of that Earth or Continent, where Paradise was, +into that where we are_. Namely how they past the Ocean, _that lay +betwixt them_, as the Answer there given explains it. And so _Ephrem +Syrus_ is cited often in that Treatise, placing _Paradise_ beyond the +Ocean. The _Essenes_ also, who were the most Philosophick Sect of the +_Jews_, plac’d _Paradise_, according to _Josephus_, beyond the Ocean, +under a perfect Temperature of Air. And that Passage in _Eusebius_, in +the Oration of _Constantine_, being corrected and restor’d to the true +reading, represents _Paradise_, in like manner, as in another Continent, +from whence _Adam_ was brought after his Transgression, into this. And +lastly, there are some Authors, whose Testimony and Authority may +deserve to be consider’d, not for their own Antiquity, but because they +are professedly Transcribers of Antiquity and Traditions; such as +_Strabus_, _Comestor_, and the like, who are known to give this Account +or Report of _Paradise_ from the Ancients, that it was _interposito +Oceano ab Orbe nostro vel a Zona nostra habitabili secretus_, _separated +from our Orb or Hemisphere, by the Interposition of the Ocean_. + +IT is also observable, that many of the Ancients that took _Tigris_, +_Euphrates_, _Nile_ and _Ganges_, for the Rivers of _Paradise_, said +that those Heads or Fountains of them, which we have in our Continent, +are but their _capita secunda_, their second Sources, and that their +first Sources were in another Orb where _Paradise_ was; and thus _Hugo +de Sancto Victore_ says, _Sanctos communiter sensisse_, That the Holy +Men of old were generally of that Opinion. To this Sense also _Moses Bar +Cepha_ often expresseth himself; as also _Epiphanius_, _Procopius +Gazæus_, and _Severianus_ in _Catena_. Which Notion amongst the +Ancients, concerning the Trajection or Passage of the paradisiacal +Rivers under Ground, or under Sea, from one Continent into another, is +to me, I confess, unintelligible, either in the first or second Earth; +but however it discovers their Sense and Opinion of the Seat of +_Paradise_, that it was not to be sought for in _Asia_ or in _Africa_, +where those Rivers rise to us; but in some remoter Parts of the World, +where they suppos’d their first Sources to be. + +THIS is a short Account of what the Christian Fathers have left us +concerning the Seat of _Paradise_; and the Truth is, ’tis but a short +and broken account; yet ’tis no wonder it should be so, if we consider, +as we noted before, that several of them did not believe _Paradise_ to +be local and corporeal; others that did believe it so, yet did not offer +to determine the Place of it, but left that Matter wholly untouch’d and +undecided: and the rest that did speak to that Point, did it commonly +both in general Terms, and in Expressions that were disguis’d, and +needed Interpretation; but all these Differences and Obscurities of +Expression, you see, when duly stated and expounded, may signify one and +the same Thing, and terminate all in this common Conclusion, _That +Paradise_ was without our Continent, according to the general Opinion +and Tradition of Antiquity. And I do not doubt but the Tradition would +have been both more express and more universal, if the Ancients had +understood Geography better; for those of the Ancients that did not +admit or believe that there were _Antipodes_ or _Antichthones_, as +_Lactantius_, St. _Austin_, and some others; these could not join in the +common Opinion about the Place of _Paradise_, because they thought there +was no Land, nor any thing habitable ἔξω τὴς οἱκουμένες, or beside this +Continent. And yet St. _Austin_ was so cautious, that as he was bounded +on the one Hand by his false _Idea_ of the Earth, that he could not join +with Antiquity as to the Place of _Paradise_; so on the other Hand, he +had that Respect for it, that he would not say any thing to the +contrary; therefore being to give his Opinion, he says only, _Terrestrem +esse Paradisum, & locum ejus ab hominum cognitione esse remotissimum_: +_That it is somewhere upon the Earth, but the Place of it very remote +from the Knowledge of Men_. + +AND as their Ignorance of the Globe of the Earth was one Reason why the +Doctrine of _Paradise_ was so broken and obscure, so another Reason why +it is much more so at present is, because the chief ancient Books writ +upon that Subject are lost. _Ephrem Syrus_ who liv’d in the fourth +Century, writ a Commentary _in Genesin sine de Ortu rerum_, concerning +the Origin of the Earth; and by those Remains that are cited from it, we +have reason to believe that it contained many Things remarkable +concerning the first Earth, and concerning _Paradise_. _Tertullian_ also +writ a Book _de Paradiso_, which is wholly lost; and we see to what +Effect it would have been, by his making the Torrid Zone to be the +_Flaming Sword_, and the Partition betwixt this Earth and _Paradise_, +which two Earths he more than once distinguisheth as very different from +one another, (_Cont. Marc. lib. 2. c. 2. c. 5._) The most ancient Author +that I know upon this Subject, at least of those that writ of it +literally, is _Moses Bar Cepha_ a _Syrian_ Bishop, who liv’d about 700 +Years since, and his Book is translated into _Latin_ by that learned and +judicious Man _Andreas Masius_. _Bar Cepha_ writes upon the same Views +of _Paradise_ that we have here presented, that it was beyond the Ocean, +in another Track of Land, or another Continent from that which we +inhabit: As appears from the very Titles of his 8th, 10th, and 14th +Chapters. But we must allow him for his mistaken Notions about the Form +of the Earth; for he seems to have fancied the Earth plain, (not only as +oppos’d to rough and mountainous, for so it was plain; but as oppos’d to +spherical) and the Ocean to have divided it in two Parts, an interior, +and an exterior, and in that exterior Part was _Paradise_. Such +Allowances must often be made for Geographical Mistakes, in examining +and understanding the Writings of the Ancients. The rest of the _Syrian_ +Fathers, as well as _Ephrem_ and _Bar Cepha_, incline to the same +Doctrine of _Paradise_, and seem to have retain’d more of the ancient +notions concerning it, than the _Greek_ and _Latin_ Fathers have; and +yet there is in all some Fragments of this Doctrine, and but Fragments +in the best. + +WE might add in the last Place, that as the most ancient Treatises +concerning _Paradise_ are lost, so also the ancient _Glosses_ and +_Catenae_ upon Scripture, where we might have found the Traditions and +Opinions of the Ancients upon this Subject, are many of them either lost +or unpublish’d; and upon this Consideration, we did not think it +improper to cite some Authors of small Antiquity, but such as have +transcrib’d several Things out of ancient Manuscript-glosses into their +Commentaries. They living however before Printing was invented, or +Learning well restor’d, and before the Reformation. I add that also, +_before the Reformation_, for since that Time the Protestant Authors +having lessen’d the Authority of Traditions, the pontifical Doctors +content themselves to insist only upon such as they thought were useful +or necessary, left by multiplying others that were but Matter of +Curiosity, they should bring the first into Question, and render the +whole Doctrine of Traditions more dubious and exceptionable; and upon +this Account, there are some Authors that writ an Age or two before the +Reformation, that have with more Freedom told us the Tenets and +Traditions of the Ancients in these Speculations, that are but +collateral to Religion, than any have done since. + +AND I must confess I am apt to think, that what remains concerning the +Doctrine of _Paradise_, and the primæval Earth, is in a good Measure +traditional; for one may observe, that those that treat upon these +Subjects, quote the true Opinions, and tell you some of the Ancients +held so and so; as that _Paradise_ was in another Earth, or higher than +this Earth; that there were no Mountains before the Flood, nor any Rain, +and such like; yet they do not name those ancient Authors that held +these Opinions; which makes me apt to believe, either that they were +convey’d by traditional Communication from one to another, or that there +were other Books extant upon those Subjects, or other Glosses, than what +are now known. + +FINALLY, To conclude this Discourse concerning the Seat of _Paradise_, +we must mind you again upon what Basis it stands. We declar’d freely, +that we could not by our Theory alone determine the particular Place of +it, only by that we are assur’d, that it was in the primæval Earth, and +not in the present; but in what Region, or in whether Hemisphere of that +Earth it was seated, we cannot define from Speculation only. ’Tis true, +if we hold fast to that Scripture-conclusion, That all Mankind rose from +one Head, and from one and the same Stock and Lineage, (which doth not +seem to be according to the Sentiments of the Heathens) we must suppose +they were born in one Hemisphere, and after some Time translated into +the other, or a Colony of them: But this still doth not determine in +whether of the two they begun, and were first seated before their +Translation; and I am apt to think that depended rather, as we noted +before, upon the Divine Pleasure, and the Train of Affairs that was to +succeed, than upon natural Causes and Differences. Some of the Ancients, +I know, made both the Soil and the Stars more noble in the southern +Hemisphere, than in ours; but I do not see any Proof or Warrant for it; +wherefore, laying aside all natural Topicks, we are willing, in this +Particular, to refer our selves wholly to the Report and Majority of +Votes among the Ancients; who yet do not seem to me to lay much Stress +upon the Notion of a particular and topical Paradise, and therefore use +general and remote Expressions concerning it. And finding no Place for +it in this Continent, they are willing to quit their Hands of it, by +placing it in a Region somewhere far off, and inaccessible. This, +together with the old Tradition, that Paradise was in another Earth, +seems to me to give an Account of most of their Opinions concerning the +Seat of Paradise, and that they were generally very uncertain where to +fix it. + + + + + CHAP. VIII. + + + _The Uses of this Theory for the Illustration of Antiquity; The + ancient Chaos explain’d; The Inhabitability of the Torrid Zone; The + Change of the Poles of the World; The Doctrine of the Mundane Egg; + How America was first peopled; How Paradise within the Circle of the + Moon._ + + +WE have now dispatch’d the Theory of the primæval Earth, and reviv’d a +forgotten World. ’Tis pity the first and fairest Works of Nature should +be lost out of the Memory of Man, and that we should so much dote upon +the Ruins, as never to think upon the Original Structure. As the Modern +Artists, from some broken Pieces of an ancient Statue, make out all the +other Parts and Proportions; so from the broken and scatter’d Limbs of +the first World, we have shewn you how to raise the whole Fabrick again; +and renew the Prospect of those pleasant Scenes that first saw the +Light, and first entertain’d Man, when he came to act upon this +new-erected Stage. + +WE have drawn this Theory chiefly to give an Account of the universal +Deluge, and of _Paradise_; but as when one lights a Candle to look for +one or two Things which they want, the Light will not confine it self to +those two Objects, but shews all the other in the Room; so, methinks, we +have unexpectedly cast a Light upon all Antiquity, in seeking after +these two Things, or in retrieving the Notion and Doctrine of the +primæval Earth, upon which they depended. For in ancient Learning, there +are many Discourses, and many Conclusions deliver’d to us, that are so +obscure and confus’d, and so remote from the present State of Things, +that one cannot well distinguish whether they are Fictions or Realities: +And there is no way to distinguish with Certainty, but by a clear Theory +upon the same Subject; which shewing us the Truth directly and +independently upon them, shews us also by Reflection, how far they are +true or false, and in what Sense they are to be interpreted and +understood. And the present Theory being of great extent, we shall find +it serviceable in many Things, for the Illustration of such dubious and +obscure Doctrines in Antiquity. + +TO begin with their ancient CHAOS, what a dark Story have they made of +it, both their Philosophers and Poets; and how fabulous in Appearance? +’Tis deliver’d as confusedly as the Mass it self could be, and hath not +been reduc’d to Order, nor indeed made intelligible by any. They tell us +of _moral_ Principles in the Chaos, instead of _natural_, of _Strife_ +and _Discord_, and _Division_ on the one Hand, and _Love_, _Friendship_, +and _Venus_ on the other; and, after a long Contest, Love got the better +of Discord, and united the disagreeing Principles: This is one Part of +their Story. Then they make the Forming of the World out of the Chaos a +kind of _Genealogy_ or Pedigree; _Chaos_ was the common Parent of all, +and from Chaos sprung first _Night_, and _Tartarus_, or _Oceanus_; Night +was a teeming Mother, and of her were born _Æther_ and the _Earth_; The +Earth conceiv’d by the Influences of Æther, and brought forth Man and +all Animals. + +THIS seems to be a poetical Fiction rather than Philosophy; yet when +’tis set in a true Light, and compar’d with our Theory of the Chaos, +’twill appear a pretty regular Account, how the World was form’d at +first, or how the Chaos divided it self successively into several +Regions, rising one after another, and propagated one from another, as +Children and Posterity from a common Parent. We shew’d in the first +Book, _Chap. 5._ how the Chaos, from an uniform Mass, wrought it self +into several Regions or Elements; the grossest Part sinking to the +Center; upon this lay the Mass of Water, and over the Water was a Region +of dark, impure, caliginous Air; this impure caliginous Air is that +which the Ancients call _Night_, and the Mass of Water _Oceanus_ or +_Tartarus_; for those two Terms with them are often of the like Force, +_Tartarus_ being _Oceanus_ inclos’d and lock’d up: Thus we have the +first Offspring of the Chaos, or its first born Twins, _Nox_ and +_Oceanus_. Now this turbid Air purifying it self by degrees, as the more +subtle Parts flew upwards, and compos’d the Æther; so the earthy Parts +that were mix’d with it drop’d down upon the Surface of the Water, or +the liquid Mass; and that Mass on the other Hand sending up its lighter +and more oily Parts towards its Surface, these two incorporate there, +and by their Mixture and Union compose a Body of Earth quite round the +Mass of Waters: And this was the first habitable Earth, which, as it +was, you see, the Daughter of _Nox_ and _Oceanus_, so it was the Mother +of all other Things, and all living Creatures, which at the Beginning of +the World sprung out of its fruitful Womb. + +THIS Doctrine of the Chaos, for the greater Pomp of the Business, the +Ancients call’d their _Theogonia_, or the Genealogy of the Gods; for +they gave their Gods, at least their terrestrial Gods, an Original and +Beginning; and all the Elements and greater Portions of Nature they made +Gods and Goddesses, or their Deities presided over them in such a +Manner, that the Names were us’d promiscuously for one another. We also +mention’d before some moral Principles which they plac’d in the Chaos, +_Eris_ and _Eros_; Strife, Discord, and Dissatisfaction, which prevail’d +at first; and afterward _Love_, _Kindness_ and _Union_ got the upper +Hand, and in spite of those factious and dividing Principles, gather’d +together the separated Elements, and united them into an habitable +World. This is all easily understood, if we do but look upon the Schemes +of the rising World, as we have set them down in that fifth Chapter; for +in the first Commotion of the Chaos, after an intestine Struggle of all +the Parts, the Elements separated from one another into so many distinct +Bodies or Masses; and in this State and Posture Things continu’d a good +while, which the Ancients, after their poetick or moral Way, call’d the +Reign of _Eris_ or Contention, of Hatred, Slight, and Disaffection; and +if Things had always continued in that System, we should never have had +an habitable World. But Love and good Nature conquer’d at length; +_Venus_ rose out of the Sea, and receiv’d into her Bosom, and intangled +into her Embraces, the falling Æther, _viz._ the Parts of lighter Earth, +which were mix’d with the Air in that first Separation, and gave it the +Name of _Night_: These, I say, fell down upon the oily Parts of the +Sea-mass, which lay floating upon the Surface of it, and by that Union +and Conjunction a new Body, and a new World was produc’d, which was the +first habitable Earth. This is the Interpretation of their mystical +Philosophy of the Chaos, and the Resolution of it into plain natural +History: Which you may see more fully discuss’d in the _Latin_ Treatise, +_Lib. 2. c. 7._ + +IN consequence of this, we have already explain’d, in several Places, +the _Golden Age_ of the Ancients, and laid down such Grounds as will +enable us to discern what is real, and what poetical, in the Reports and +Characters that Antiquity hath given of those first Ages of the World. +And if there be any Thing amongst the Ancients that refers to another +Earth, as _Plato_’s _Atlantis_, which, he says, was absorpt by an +Earthquake, and an Inundation, as the primæval Earth was; or his +_Æthereal_ Earth, mention’d in his _Phædo_, which he opposeth to this +broken hollow Earth; makes it to have long-liv’d Inhabitants, and to be +without Rains and Storms, as that first Earth was also; or the pendulous +_Gardens_ of _Alcinous_, or such like; to which nothing answers in +present Nature, by reflecting upon the State of the first Earth, we find +an easy Explication of them. We have also explain’d what the +_Antichthon_ and _Antichthones_ of the Ancients were, and what the true +Ground of that Distinction was. But nothing seems more remarkable, than +the _Inhabitability of the Torrid Zone_, if we consider what a general +Fame and Belief it had amongst the Ancients, and yet in the present Form +of the Earth, we find no such Thing, nor any Foundation for it. I cannot +believe that this was so universally receiv’d upon a slight Presumption +only, because it lay under the Course of the Sun, if the Sun had then +the same Latitude from the Æquator, in his Course and Motion, that he +hath now, and made the same Variety of Seasons; whereby even the hottest +Parts of the Earth have a Winter, or something equivalent to it. But if +we apply this to the primæval Earth, whose Posture was direct to the +Sun, standing always fixt in its Equinoctial, we shall easily believe, +that the Torrid Zone was then uninhabitable by Extremity of Heat, there +being no Difference of Seasons, nor any Change of Weather, the Sun +hanging always over Head at the same Distance, and in the same +Direction. Besides this, the Descent of the Rivers in that first Earth +was such, that they could never reach the Equinoctial Parts, as we have +shewn before; by which Means, and the want of Rain, that Region must +necessarily be turn’d into a dry Desart. Now this being really the State +of the first Earth, the Fame and general Belief that the Torrid Zone was +uninhabitable had this true Original, and continued still with Posterity +after the Deluge, though the Causes then were taken away; for they being +ignorant of the Change that was made in Nature at that Time, kept up +still the same Tradition and Opinion current, till Observation and +Experience taught later Ages to correct it. As the true Miracles that +were in the Christian Church at first, occasioned a Fame and Belief of +their Continuance long after they had really ceas’d. + +THIS gives an easy Account, and, I think, the true Cause of that +Opinion, amongst the Ancients generally receiv’d, _That the Torrid Zone +was uninhabitable_. I say, generally receiv’d; for not only the Poets, +both _Greek_ and _Latin_, but their Philosophers, Astronomers and +Geographers, had the same Notion, and deliver’d the same Doctrine; as +_Aristotle_, _Cleomedes_, _Achilles_, _Tatius_, _Ptolomy_, _Cicero_, +_Strabo_, _Mela_, _Pliny_, _Macrobius_, _&c._ And to speak Truth, the +whole Doctrine of the Zones is calculated more properly for the first +Earth, than for the present; for the Divisions and Bounds of them now +are but arbitrary, being habitable all over, and having no visible +Distinction; whereas they were then determin’d by Nature, and the Globe +of the Earth was really divided into so many Regions of a very different +Aspect and Quality; which would have appear’d at a Distance, if they had +been look’d upon from the Clouds, or from the Moon, as _Jupiter_’s +Belts, or as so many Girdles or Swathing-bands about the Body of the +Earth: And so the Word imports, and so the Ancients use to call them +_Cinguli_ and _Fasciæ_. But in the present Form of the Earth, if it was +seen at a Distance, no such Distinction would appear in the Parts of it, +nor scarce any other but that of Land and Water, and of Mountains and +Valleys, which are nothing to the purpose of Zones. And to add this Note +further, When the Earth lay in this regular Form, divided into Regions +or Walks, if I may so call them, as this gave Occasion of its +Distinction by Zones; so if we might consider all that Earth as a +_Paradise_, and _Paradise_ as a Garden; (for it is always call’d so in +Scripture, and in _Jewish_ Authors.) And, as this Torrid Zone, bare of +Grass and Trees, made a kind of Gravel-walk in the Middle, so there was +a green Walk on either Hand of it, made by the temperate Zones; and +beyond those lay a Canal, which water’d the Garden from either Side. +(_See Fig. 3. c. 5._) + +BUT to return to Antiquity; We may add under this Head another +Observation or Doctrine amongst the Ancients, strange enough in +Appearance, which yet receives an easy Explication from the preceding +Theory; They say, _The Poles_ of the World did once change their +Situation, and were at first in another Posture from what they are in +now, till that Inclination happen’d: This the ancient Philosophers often +make mention of, as _Anaxagoras_, _Empedocles_, _Diogenes_, _Leucippus_, +_Democritus_; (_See the Lat. Treat. 2. lib. 2. c. 10._) as may be seen +in _Laertius_, and in _Plutarch_; and the Stars, they say, at first were +carried about the Earth in a more uniform Manner. This is no more than +what we have observ’d and told you in other Words, namely, That the +Earth chang’d its Posture at the Deluge, and thereby made these seeming +Changes in the Heavens; its Poles before pointed to the Poles of the +Ecliptick, which now point to the Poles of the Equator, and its Axis is +become parallel with that Axis; and this is the Mystery and +Interpretation of what they say in other Terms; this makes the different +Aspect of the Heavens and of its Poles: And I am apt to think, that +those Changes in the Course of the Stars, which the Ancients sometimes +speak of, and especially the _Egyptians_, if they did not proceed from +Defects in their Calendar, had no other physical Account than this. + +AND as they say the Poles of the World were in another Situation at +first, so at first they say, there was no Variety of Seasons in the +Year, as in their Golden Age. Which is very coherent with all the rest, +and still runs along with the Theory. And you may observe, that all +these Things we have instanc’d in hitherto, are but Links of the same +Chain, in Connexion and Dependance upon one another. When the primæval +Earth was made out of the Chaos, its Form and Posture was such, as of +Course brought on all those Scenes which Antiquity hath kept the +Remembrance of; tho’ now in another State of Nature they seem very +strange; especially being disguis’d, as some of them are, by their odd +Manner of representing them, _That_ the Poles of the World stood once in +another Posture; That the Year had no Diversity of Seasons: That the +Torrid Zone was uninhabitable; That the two Hemispheres had no +possibility of Intercourse, and such like: These all hang upon the same +String; or lean one upon another as Stones in the same Building; whereof +we have, by this Theory, laid the very Foundation bare, that you may see +what they all stand upon, and in what Order. + +THERE is still one remarkable Notion or Doctrine among the Ancients +which we have not spoken to; ’tis partly symbolical, and the Propriety +of the Symbol, or of the Application of it, hath been little understood; +’tis their Doctrine of the _Mundane Egg_, or their comparing the World +to an Egg, and especially in the original Composition of it. This seems +to be a mean Comparison, the World and an Egg; what Proportion, or what +Resemblance betwixt these two Things? And yet I do not know any +symbolical Doctrine, or Conclusion, that hath been so universally +entertain’d by the _Mystæ_, or wise and learned of all Nations; as hath +been noted before in the fifth Chapter of the first Book, and at large +in the _Latin_ Treatise. (_Lib. 2. c. 10._) ’Tis certain, that by the +World in this Similitude, they do not mean the Great Universe, for that +hath neither Figure, nor any determinate Form of Composition, and it +would be a great Vanity and Rashness in any one to compare this to an +Egg: The Works of God are immense, as his Nature is infinite, and we +cannot make any Image or Resemblance of either of them; but this +Comparison is to be understood of the _Sublunary World_, or of the +_Earth_: And for a general Key to Antiquity upon this Argument, we may +lay this down as a Maxim or Canon, _That what the Ancients have said +concerning the Form and Figure of the World, or concerning the Original +of it from a Chaos, or about its Periods and Dissolution, are never to +be understood of the great Universe, but of our Earth, or of this +sublunary and terrestrial World_. And this Observation being made, do +but reflect upon our Theory of the Earth, the Manner of its Composition +at first, and the Figure of it, being compleated, and you will need no +other Interpreter to understand this Mystery. We have shew’d there, +(_Book 1. c. 5._) that the Figure of it, when finish’d, was Oval, and +the inward Form of it was a Frame of four Regions, encompassing one +another, where that of Fire lay in the Middle like the Yolk, and a Shell +of Earth inclos’d them all. This gives a Solution so easy and natural, +and shews such an Aptness and Elegancy in the Representation, that one +cannot doubt upon a View and Compare of Circumstances, but that we have +truly found out the Riddle of the Mundane Egg. + +AMONGST other Difficulties arising from the Form of this present Earth, +that is one, How _America_ could be peopled, or any other Continent, or +Island remote from all Continents the Sea interposing. This Difficulty +does not hold in our Theory of the first Earth, where there was no Sea. +And after the Flood, when the Earth was broken and the Sea laid open, +the same Race of Men might continue there, if settled there before. For +I do not see any Necessity of deducing all Mankind from _Noah_ after the +Flood. If _America_ was peopled before, it might continue so; not but +that the Flood was universal. But when the great Frame of the Earth +broke at the Deluge, Providence foresaw into how many Continents it +would be divided after the ceasing of the Flood; and accordingly, as we +may reasonably suppose, made Provision to save a Remnant in every +Continent, that the Race of Mankind might not be quite extinct in any of +them. What Provision he made in our Continent we know from sacred +History; but as that takes Notice of no other Continent but ours, so +neither could it take Notice of any Method that was us’d there for +saving of a Remnant of Men; but ’twere great Presumption, methinks, to +imagine, that Providence had a Care of none but us, or could not find +out Ways of Preservation in other Places, as well as in that where our +Habitations were to be. _Asia_, _Africa_ and _Europe_, were repeopled by +the Sons of _Noah_, _Shem_, _Ham_, and _Japhet_; but we read nothing of +their going over into _America_, or sending any Colonies thither; and +that World, which is near as big as ours, must have stood long without +People, or any thing of humane Race in it, after the Flood, if it stood +so till this was full, or till Men navigated the Ocean, and by chance +discover’d it: It seems more reasonable to suppose, that there was a +Stock providentially reserv’d there, as well as here, out of which they +sprung again; but we do not pretend in an Argument of this Nature to +define or determine any Thing positively. To conclude, As this is but a +secondary Difficulty, and of no great Force, so neither is it any Thing +peculiar to us, or to our _Hypothesis_, but alike common to both; and if +they can propose any reasonable Way whereby the Sons of _Noah_ might be +transplanted into _America_, with all my Heart; but all the Ways that I +have met with hitherto, have seem’d to me mere Fictions, or mere +Presumptions. Besides, finding Birds and Beasts there, which are no +where upon our Continent, nor would live in our Countries if brought +hither; ’tis a fair Conjecture that they were not carried from us, but +originally bred and preserv’d there. + +THUS much for the Illustration of Antiquity in some Points of human +Literature, by our Theory of the primæval Earth; there is also in +_Christian Antiquity_ a Tradition or Doctrine, that appears as obscure +and as much a Paradox as any of these, and better deserves an +Illustration, because it relates more closely and expresly to our +present Subject: ’Tis that Notion or Opinion amongst the Ancients +concerning _Paradise_, that it was seated as high as the Sphere of the +Moon, or _within the lunar Circle_. This looks very strange, and indeed +extravagantly at first Sight; but the Wonder will cease, if we +understand this not of _Paradise_ taken apart from the rest of the +Earth, but of the whole primæval Earth, wherein the Seat of _Paradise_ +was; That was really seated much higher than the present Earth, and may +be reasonably suppos’d to have been as much elevated as the Tops of our +Mountains are now. And that Phrase of reaching to _the Sphere of the +Moon_, signifies no more than those other Expressions of _reaching to +Heaven_, or _reaching above the Clouds_; which are Phrases commonly us’d +to express the Height of Buildings, or of Mountains, and such like +Things: So the Builders of _Babel_ said, they would make a Tower should +reach to Heaven; _Olympus_ and _Parnassus_ are said by the Poets to +reach to Heaven, or to rise above the Clouds; and _Pliny_ and _Solinus_ +use this very Expression of the _Lunar Circle_, when they describe the +Height of Mount _Atlas_, _Eductus in viciniam Lunaris Circuli_, (_Solin. +c. 17._) The Ancients, I believe, aim’d particularly by this Phrase, to +express an Height above the middle Region, or above our Atmosphere, that +_Paradise_ might be serene; and where our Atmosphere ended, they +reckon’d the Sphere of the Moon begun, and therefore said it reach’d to +the Sphere of the Moon. Many of the Christian Fathers exprest their +Opinion concerning the high Situation of _Paradise_ in plain and formal +Terms, as St. _Basil_, _Damascen_, _Moses Bar Cepha_, _&c._ but this +Phrase of reaching to the _Lunar Circle_ is repeated by several of them, +and said to be of great Antiquity. _Aquinas_, _Albertus_, and others, +ascribe it to _Bede_, but many to St. _Austin_; and therefore _Ambrosius +Catharinus_, (_Com. in Gen. c. 2._) is angry with their great Schoolman, +that he should derive it from _Bede_, seeing St. _Austin_ writing to +_Orosius_, deliver’d this Doctrine, which surely, says he, St. _Austin_ +_neither feign’d nor dream’d only, but had receiv’d it from Antiquity_: +And from so great Antiquity, that it was no less than Apostolical, if we +credit _Albertus Magnus_, and the ancient Books he appeals to; (_Sum. +Theol. par. 2. tract. 13. q. 79._) for he says this Tradition was +deriv’d as high as from St. _Thomas_ the Apostle. His Words are these, +after he had deliver’d his own Opinion, _Hoc tamen dico, &c._ _But this +I say without Prejudice to the better Opinion, for I have found it in +some most ancient Books, that Thomas the Apostle was the Author of that +Opinion, which is usually attributed to Bede and Strabus, namely, That +Paradise was so high as to reach to the Lunar Circle._ But thus much +concerning this Opinion, and concerning Antiquity. + +TO conclude all, we see this Theory, which was drawn only by a Thread of +Reason, and the Laws of Nature, abstractedly from all Antiquity, +notwithstanding casts a Light upon many Passages there, which were +otherwise accounted Fictions, or unintelligible Truths; and tho’ we do +not alledge these as Proofs of the Theory, for it carries its own Light +and Proof with it; yet, whether we will or no, they do mutually confirm, +as well as illustrate one another; and ’tis a Pleasure also, when one +hath wrought out Truth by a meer Dint of thinking, and Examination of +Causes, and propos’d it plainly and openly, to meet with it again among +the Ancients, disguis’d, and in an old fashion’d Dress; scarce to be +known or discover’d, but by those that beforehand knew it very well. And +it would be a further Pleasure and Satisfaction to have render’d those +Doctrines and Notions for the future, intelligible and useful to others, +as well as delightful to our selves. + + + + + CHAP. IX. + + + _A general Objection against this Theory, viz. That if there had + been such a Primitive Earth, as we pretend, the Fame of it would + have sounded throughout all Antiquity. The Eastern and Western + Learning consider’d. The most considerable Records of both are lost. + What Footsteps remain relating to this Subject. The Jewish and + Christian Learning consider’d; how far lost as to this Argument, and + what Notes or Traditions remain. Lastly, how far the sacred Writings + bear witness to it. The providential Conduct of Knowledge in the + World. A Recapitulation and State of the Theory._ + + +HAVING gone through the two first Parts, and the two first Books of this +Theory that concern the primitive World, the universal Deluge, and the +State of _Paradise_, we have leisure now to reflect a little, and +consider what may probably be objected against a Theory of this Nature. +I do not mean single Objections against single Parts, for those may be +many, and such as I cannot foresee; but what may be said against the +Body and Substance of the Theory, and the Credibility of it appearing +new and surprizing, and yet of great Extent and Importance. This, I +fancy, will induce many to say, surely this cannot be a Reality; for if +there had been such a primitive Earth, and such a primitive World as is +here represented, and so remarkably different from the present, it could +not have been so utterly forgotten, or lain hid for so many Ages; all +Antiquity would have rung of it; the Memory of it would have been kept +fresh by Books or Traditions. Can we imagine that it should lie buried +for some thousands of Years in deep Silence and Oblivion? And now only +when the second World is drawing to an End, we begin to discover that +there was a first, and that of another Make and Order from this. + +TO satisfy this Objection, or Surmise rather, it will be convenient to +take a good large Scope and Compass in our Discourse; we must not +suppose that this primitive World hath been wholly lost out of the +Memory of Man, or out of History, for we have some History and +Chronology of it preserv’d by _Moses_, and likewise in the Monuments of +the Ancients, more or less; for they all suppos’d a World before the +Deluge. But ’tis the Philosophy of this primitive World that hath been +lost in a great Measure; what the State of Nature was then, and wherein +it differ’d from the present or postdiluvian order of Things. This, I +confess, hath been little taken notice of; it hath been generally +thought or presum’d, that the World before the Flood was of the same +Form and Constitution with the present World: This we do not deny, but +rather think it design’d and providential, that there should not remain +a clear and full Knowledge of that first State of Things; and we may +easily suppose how it might decay and perish, if we consider how little +of the remote Antiquities of the World have ever been brought down to +our Knowledge. + +THE _Greeks_ and _Romans_ divided the Ages of the World into three +Periods or Intervals, whereof they call’d the first the _Obscure_ +Period, the second the _Fabulous_, and the third _Historical_. The dark +and obscure Period was from the Beginning of the World to the Deluge; +what pass’d then, either in Nature, or amongst Men, they have no +Records, no Account, by their own Confession; all that Space of Time was +cover’d with Darkness and Oblivion; so that we ought rather to wonder at +those Remains they have, and those broken Notions of the Golden Age, and +the Conditions of it, how they were sav’d out of the common Ship-wrack, +than to expect from them the Philosophy of that World, and all its +Differences from the present. And as for the other Nations that pretend +to greater Antiquities, to more ancient History and Chronology, from +what is left of their Monuments, many will allow only this Difference, +that their fabulous Age begun more high, or that they had more ancient +Fables. + +BUT besides that our Expectations cannot be great from the Learning of +the _Gentiles_, we have not the Means or Opportunity to inform our +selves well what Notions they did leave us concerning the primitive +World; for their Books and Monuments are generally lost, or lie hid +unknown to us. The Learning of the World may be divided into the Eastern +Learning and the Western; and I look upon the Eastern as far more +considerable for philosophical Antiquities, and philosophical +Conclusions; I say _Conclusions_, for I do not believe either of them +had any considerable Theory, or Contexture of Principles and Conclusions +together: But ’tis certain that in the East, from what Source soever it +came, humane or divine, they had some extraordinary Doctrines and +Notions disperst amongst them. Now as by the western Learning we +understand that of the _Greeks_ and _Romans_; so by the eastern that +which was amongst the _Egyptians_, _Phœnicians_, _Chaldæans_, +_Assyrians_, _Indians_, _Ethiopians_, and _Persians_; and of the +Learning of these Nations, how little have we now left? Except some +Fragments and Citations in _Greek_ Authors, what do we know of them? The +modern _Brackmans_, and the _Persees_, or _Pagan Persians_, have some +broken Remains of Traditions relating to the Origin and Changes of the +World: But if we had not only those Books entire, whereof we have now +the Gleanings and Reversions only; but all that have perish’d besides, +especially in that famous Library at _Alexandria_; if these, I say, were +all restor’d to the World again, we might promise our selves the +Satisfaction of seeing more of the Antiquities, and natural History of +the first World, than we have now left, or can reasonably expect. That +Library we speak of at _Alexandria_, was a Collection, beside _Greek_ +Books, of _Egyptian_, _Chaldæan_, and all the Eastern Learning; and +_Cedrenus_ makes it to consist of an hundred thousand Volumes: But +_Josephus_ saith, when the Translation of the Bible by the _Septuagint_ +was to be added to it, _Demetrius Phalerius_, (who was Keeper or +Governor of it) told the King then, that he had already two hundred +thousand Volumes, and that he hop’d to make them five hundred thousand; +and he was better than his Word, or his Successors for him; for +_Ammianus Marcellinus_, and other Authors, report them to have increas’d +to seven hundred thousand. This Library was unfortunately burnt in the +sacking of _Alexandria_ by _Cæsar_, and considering that all these were +ancient Books, and generally of the eastern Wisdom, ’twas an inestimable +and irreparable Loss to the Commonwealth of Learning. In like manner we +are told of a vast Library of Books of all Arts and Sciences in _China_, +burnt by the Command or Caprice of one of their Kings. Wherein the +_Chineses_, according to their Vanity, were us’d to say, greater Riches +were lost, than will be in the last Conflagration. + +WE are told also of the _Abyssine_, or _Ethiopick_ Library, as something +very extraordinary. ’Twas formerly in great Reputation, but is now, I +suppose, embezzled and lost. But I was extreamly surpriz’d by a Treatise +brought to me some few Months since, wherein are mention’d some +_Ethiopick_ Antiquities relating to the primæval Earth and the Deluge: +To both which they give such Characters and Properties as are in Effect +the very same with those assign’d them in this Theory. They say the +first Earth was much greater than the present, higher and more advanc’d +into the Air: That it was smooth and regular in its Surface, without +Mountains or Valleys, but hollow within; and was spontaneously fruitful, +without plowing or sowing. This was its first State: but when Mankind +became degenerate and outragious with Pride and Violence, the angry +Gods, as they say, by Earthquakes and Concussions, broke the habitable +Orb of the Earth, and thereupon the subterraneous Waters gushing out, +drown’d it in a Deluge, and destroy’d Mankind. Upon this Fraction it +came into another Form, with a Sea, Lakes and Rivers, as we now have. +And those Parts of the broken Earth that stood above the Waters became +Mountains, Rocks, Islands, and so much of the Land as we now inhabit. +This Account is given us by _Barnardinus Ramazzinus_, (in his Treatise +_De Fontium Mutinensium Scaturigine_.[2]) Taken from a Book writ by +_Fransisco Patricio_, to whom this wonderful Tradition was deliver’d by +Persons of Credit, from an _Æthiopian_ Philosoper then in _Spain_. I +have not yet had the good Fortune to see that Book of _Francisco +Patricio_; ’twas writ in _Italian_ with this Title, _Della Rhetorica +degli Antichi_: Printed at _Venice_, 1562. This Story indeed deserves to +be enquired after, for we do not any where amongst the Ancients, meet +with such a full and explicit Narration of the State of the first and +second Earth. That which comes nearest to it are those Accounts we find +in _Plato_, from the _Ægyptian_ Antiquities, in his _Timæus_, +_Politicus_, and _Phœdo_, of another Earth, and another State of Nature +and Mankind. But none of them are so full and distinct as this +_Æthiopian_ Doctrine. + +AS for the Western Learning, we may remember what the _Ægyptian_ Priest +says to _Solon_, in _Plato_’s _Timæus_, _You Greeks are always +Children_, and know nothing of Antiquity; and if the _Greeks_ were so, +much more the _Romans_, who came after them in time; and for so great a +People, and so much civiliz’d, never any had less Philosophy, and less +of the Sciences amongst them than the _Romans_ had: They studied only +the Art of Speaking, of Governing, and of Fighting; and left the rest to +the _Greeks_ and eastern Nations, as unprofitable. Yet we have Reason to +believe, that the best philosophical Antiquities that the _Romans_ had, +perish’d with the Books of _Varro_, of _Numa Pompilius_, and of the +ancient _Sibyls_, (_De Civ. Dei, lib. 6. Dion. Halic. Ant. Rom. lib. +4._) _Varro_ writ, as St. _Austin_ tells us, a Multitude of Volumes, and +of various Sorts, and I had rather retrieve his Works, than the Works of +any other _Roman_ Author; not his Etymologies and Criticisms, where we +see nothing admirable, but his _Theologia Physica_, and his +_Antiquitates_; which in all Probability would have given us more Light +into remote Times, and the natural History of the past World, than all +the _Latin_ Authors besides have done. He has left the foremention’d +Distinction of three Periods of Time; He had the Doctrine of the +_Mundane Egg_, as we see in _Probus Grammaticus_; and he gave us that +Observation of the Star _Venus_, concerning the great Change she +suffered about the Time of our Deluge. + +_Numa Pompilius_ was doubtless a contemplative Man, and ’tis thought +that he understood the true System of the World, and represented the Sun +by his _Vestal Fire_; tho’, methinks, _Vesta_ does not so properly refer +to the Sun, as to the Earth, which hath a sacred Fire too, that is not +to be extinguish’d. He order’d his Books to be buried with him, which +were found in a Stone Chest by him, four hundred Years after his Death: +They were in all twenty-four, whereof twelve contain’d sacred Rites and +Ceremonies, and the other twelve the Philosophy and Wisdom of the +_Greeks_; the _Romans_ gave them to the _Prætor Petilius_ to peruse; and +to make his Report to the Senate, whether they were fit to be publish’d +or no: The _Prætor_ made a wise politick Report, that the Contents of +them might be of dangerous Consequence to the establish’d Laws and +Religion; and thereupon they were condemn’d to be burnt, and Posterity +was depriv’d of that ancient Treasure, whatsoever it was. What the nine +Books of the _Sibyl_ contain’d, that were offer’d to King _Tarquin_, we +little know; she valued them high, and the higher still, the more they +seem’d to slight or neglect them; which is a Piece of very natural +Indignation or Contempt, when one is satisfied of the Worth of what they +offer. ’Tis likely they respected, besides the Fate of _Rome_, the Fate +and several Periods of the World, both past and to come, and the most +mystical Passages of them. And in these Authors and Monuments are lost +the greatest Hopes of natural and philosophick Antiquities, that we +could have had from the _Romans_. + +AND as to the _Greeks_, their best and sacred Learning was not +originally their own; they enrich’d themselves with the Spoils of the +East, and the Remains we have of that eastern Learning, is what we pick +out of the _Greeks_; whose Works, I believe, if they were intirely +extant, we should not need to go any further for Witnesses to confirm +all the principal Parts of this Theory. With what Regret does one read +in _Laertius_, _Suidas_, and others, the promising Titles of Books writ +by the _Greek_ Philosophers, Hundreds or Thousands, whereof there is not +one now extant; and those that are extant are generally but Fragments? +Those Authors also that have writ their Lives, or collected their +Opinions, have done it confusedly and injudiciously. I should hope for +as much Light and Instruction, as to the Original of the World, from +_Orpheus_ alone, if his Works had been preserv’d, as from all that is +extant now of the other _Greek_ Philosophers. We may see from what +remains of him, that he understood in a good Measure how the Earth rose +from a Chaos, what was its external Figure, and what the Form of its +inward Structure: The Opinion of the _Oval_ Figure of the Earth is +ascrib’d to _Orpheus_ and his Disciples; and the Doctrine of the +_Mundane Egg_ is so peculiarly his, that ’tis call’d by _Proclus_, the +_Orphick Egg_; not that he was the first Author of that Doctrine, but +the first that brought it into _Greece_. + +THUS much concerning the Heathen Learning, Eastern and Western, and the +small Remains of it in Things Philosophical; ’tis no Wonder then if the +Account we have left us from them of the primitive Earth, and the +Antiquities of the natural World be very imperfect. And yet we have +trac’d, (in the precedent Chapter, and more largely in our _Latin_ +Treatise) the Footsteps of several Parts of this Theory amongst the +Writings and Traditions of the Ancients, and even of those Parts that +seem the most strange and singular, and that are the Basis upon which +the rest stand. We have shewn there, that their Account of the Chaos, +tho’ it seem’d to many but a poetical Rhapsody, contain’d the true +Mystery of the Formation of the primitive Earth, (_Tell. Theor. lib. 2. +c. 7._) We have also shewn upon the same Occasion, that both the +external Figure and internal Form of that Earth were compriz’d and +signified in their ancient Doctrine of the Mundane Egg, which hath been +propagated through all the learned Nations, (_Ibid._ _cap. 10._) And +lastly, as to the Situation of that Earth, and the Change of its Posture +since, that the Memory of that has been kept up, we have brought several +Testimonies and Indications from the _Greek_ Philosophers, (_Ibid._) And +these were the three great and fundamental Properties of the primitive +Earth, upon which all the other depend, and all its Differences from the +present Order of Nature. You see then, tho’ Providence hath suffer’d the +ancient Heathen Learning and their Monuments, in a great Part, to +perish, yet we are not left wholly without Witnesses amongst them, in a +Speculation of this great Importance. + +YOU will say, it may be, tho’ this Account, as to the Books and Learning +of the Heathen, may be look’d upon as reasonable, yet we might expect +however, from the _Jewish_ and _Christian_ Authors, a more full and +satisfactory Account of that primitive Earth, and of the old World. +First, as to the _Jews_, ’tis well known that they have no ancient +Learning, unless by Way of Tradition, amongst them. There is not a Book +extant in their Language excepting the Canon of the Old Testament, that +hath not been writ since our Saviour’s Time. They are very bad Masters +of Antiquity, and they may in some Measure be excus’d, because of their +several Captivities, Dispersions, and Desolations. In the _Babylonish_ +Captivity their Temple was ransack’d, and they did not preserve, as is +thought, so much as the Autograph, or original Manuscript of the Law, +nor the Books of those of their Prophets that were then extant, and kept +in the Temple; and at their Return from the Captivity after seventy +Years, they seem to have forgot their native Language so much, that the +Law was to be interpreted to them in _Chaldee_, after it was read in +_Hebrew_; for so I understand that Interpretation in _Nehemiah_, (_Chap. +viii. 7, 8._) ’Twas a great Providence, methinks, that they should any +Way preserve their Law, and other Books of Scripture, in the Captivity, +for so long a Time; for ’tis likely they had not the Liberty of using +them in any publick Worship, seeing they return’d so ignorant of their +own Language, and, as ’tis thought, of their Alphabet and Character too. +And if their sacred Books were hardly preserv’d, we may easily believe +all others perish’d in that publick Desolation. + +YET there was another Destruction of that Nation, and their Temple, +greater than this, by the _Romans_; and if there were any Remains of +Learning preserv’d in the former Ruin, or any Recruits made since that +Time, this second Desolation would sweep them all away. And accordingly +we see they have nothing left in their Tongue, beside the Bible, so +ancient as the Destruction of _Jerusalem_. These and other publick +Calamities of the _Jewish_ Nation may reasonably be thought to have +wasted their Records of ancient Learning, _if they had any_; for to +speak Truth, the _Jews_ are a People of little Curiosity, as to Sciences +and philosophical Enquiries: They were very tenacious of their own +Customs, and careful of those Traditions that did respect them, but were +not remarkable, that I know of, or thought great Proficients in any +other sort of Learning. There has been a great Fame, ’tis true, of the +_Jewish Cabala_, and of great Mysteries contain’d in it; and, I believe, +there was once a traditional Doctrine amongst some of them, that had +extraordinary Notions and Conclusions: But where is this now to be +found? The _Essenes_ were the likeliest Sect, one would think, to retain +such Doctrines; but ’tis probable they are now so mixt with Things +fabulous and fantastical, that what one should alledge from thence would +be of little or no Authority. One Head in this _Cabala_ was the Doctrine +of the _Sephiroth_, (_Vide Men. ben Isr. de Creat. prob. 28._) and tho’ +the Explication of them be uncertain, the inferior _Sephiroth_ in the +corporeal World cannot so well be apply’d to any Thing, as to those +several Orbs and Regions, infolding one another, whereof the primigenial +Earth was compos’d. Yet such Conjectures and Applications, I know, are +of no Validity, but in Consort with better Arguments. I have often +thought also, that their first and second Temple represented the first +and second Earth or World; and that of _Ezekiel_’s, which is the third, +is still to be erected, the most beautiful of all, when this second +Temple of the World shall be burn’d down. If the Prophecies of _Enoch_ +had been preserv’d, and taken into the Canon by _Ezra_, after their +Return from _Babylon_, when the Collection of their sacred Books is +suppos’d to have been made, we might probably have had a considerable +Account there, both of Times past and to come, of Antiquities and +Futuritions; for those Prophecies are generally suppos’d to have +contain’d both the first and second Fate of this Earth, and all the +Periods of it. But as this Book is lost to us, so I look upon all others +that pretend to be Ante-mosaical or Patriarchal, as spurious and +fabulous. + +THUS much concerning the _Jews_. As for _Christian_ Authors, their +Knowledge must be from some of these foremention’d _Jews_ or _Heathens_; +or else by Apostolical Tradition: For the _Christian_ Fathers were not +very speculative, so as to raise a Theory from their own Thoughts and +Contemplations, concerning the Origin of the Earth. We have instanc’d, +in the last Chapter, in a _Christian_ Tradition concerning _Paradise_, +and the high Situation of it, which is fully consonant to the Scite of +the Primitive Earth, where _Paradise_ stood, and doth seem plainly to +refer to it, being unintelligible upon any other Supposition. And ’twas, +I believe, this Elevation of _Paradise_, and the Pencil Structure of +that _Paradisiacal_ Earth, that gave Occasion to _Celsus_, as we see by +_Origen_’s Answer, to say, that the _Christian Paradise_ was taken from +the pensile Gardens of _Alcinous:_ But we may see now what was the +Ground of such Expressions or Traditions amongst the Ancients, which +Providence left to keep Men’s Minds awake; not fully to instruct them, +but to confirm them in the Truth, when it should come to be made known +in other Methods. We have noted also above, that the ancient Books and +Authors amongst the _Christians_, that were most likely to inform us in +this Argument, have perish’d, and are lost out of the World, such as +_Ephrem Syrus de ortu rerum_, and _Tertullian de Paradiso_; and that +Piece, which is extant of _Moses Bar Cepha_’s upon this Subject, +receives more Light from our _Hypothesis_, than from any other I know; +for, correcting some Mistakes about the Figure of the Earth, which the +Ancients were often guilty of, the Obscurity or Confusion of that +Discourse in other Things may be easily rectified, if compar’d with this +Theory. + +OF this Nature also is that Tradition that is common both to _Jews_ and +_Christians_, and which we have often mentioned before, that there was a +perpetual Serenity, and perpetual Equinox in _Paradise_; which cannot be +upon this Earth, not so much as under the Equinoctial; for they have a +Sort of Winter and Summer, there, a Course of Rains at certain times of +the Year, and great Inequalities of the Air, as to Heat and Cold, +Moisture and Drought. They had also Traditions amongst them, _That there +was no Rain from the Beginning of the World till the Deluge_, and _that +there were no Mountains till the Flood_, (Lat. Treat. Lib. 2. c. 10.) +and such like. These, you see, point directly at such an Earth, as we +have describ’d. And I call these _Traditions_, because we cannot find +the Original Authors of them; the ancient _ordinary Gloss_ (upon +_Genesis_) which some make eight hundred Years old, mentions both these +Opinions; so does _Historia Scholastica_, _Alcuinus_, _Rabanus Maurus_, +_Lyranus_, and such Collectors of Antiquity. _Bede_ also relates that of +the _Plainness_ or Smoothness of the _Antediluvian_ Earth. Yet these are +reported Traditionally, as it were, naming no Authors or Books from +whence they were taken: Nor can it be imagin’d that they feign’d them +themselves; to what End or Purpose? It serv’d no Interest; or upon what +Ground? Seeing they had no Theory that could lead them to such Notions +as these, or that could be strengthen’d and confirm’d by them. Those +Opinions also of the Fathers, which we recited in the seventh Chapter, +placing _Paradise_ beyond the Torrid Zone, and making it therefore +inaccessible, suit very well to the Form, Qualities, and Bipartition of +the Primæval Earth, and seem to be grounded upon them. + +THUS much may serve for a short Survey of the ancient Learning, to give +us a reasonable Account, why the Memory and Knowledge of the Primitive +Earth should be so much lost out of the World; and what we retain of it +still; which would be far more, I do not doubt, if all Manuscripts were +brought to light, that are yet extant in publick or private Libraries. +The Truth is, one cannot judge with Certainty, neither what things have +been recorded and preserv’d in the Monuments of Learning, nor what are +still; nor what have been, because so many of those Monuments are lost: +The _Alexandrian_ Library, which we spoke of before, seems to have been +the greatest Collection that ever was made before Christianity, and the +_Constantinopolitan_ (begun by _Constantine_, and destroy’d in the fifth +Century, when it was rais’d to the Number, as is said, of one hundred +twenty thousand Volumes) the most valuable that was ever since, and both +these have been permitted by Providence to perish in the merciless +Flames. Beside those Devastations of Books and Libraries that have been +made in Christendom, by the _Northern_ barbarous Nations overflowing +_Europe_, and the _Saracens_ and _Turks_, great Parts of _Asia_ and +_Africk_. It is hard therefore to pronounce what Knowledge hath been in +the World, or what Accounts of Antiquity; neither can we well judge what +remain, or of what things the Memory may be still latently conserv’d: +For beside those Manuscripts that are yet unexamin’d in these Parts of +Christendom, there are many, doubtless, of good Value in other Parts; +beside those that be hid in the unchristianiz’d Dominions. The Library +of _Fez_ is said to contain thirty two thousand Volumes in _Arabick_; +and though the _Arabick_ Learning was most what _Western_, and therefore +of less Account, yet they did deal in _Eastern_ Learning too; for +_Avicenna_ writ a Book with that Title, _Philosophia Orientalis_. There +may be also in the _East_, Thousands of Manuscripts unknown to us, of +greater Value than most Books we have: And as to those Subjects we are +treating of, I should promise my self more Light and Confirmation from +the _Syriack_ Authors than from any others. These things being +consider’d, we can make but a very imperfect Estimate, what Evidences +are left us, and what Accounts of the primitive Earth; and if these +Deductions and Defalcations be made, both for what Books are wholly +lost, and for what lie asleep or dead, in Libraries, we have Reason to +be satisfied in a Theory of this Nature, to find so good Attestations as +we have produc’d for the several Parts of it; which we purpose to +enlarge upon considerably at another time and occasion. + +BUT to carry this Objection as far as may be, let us suppose it to be +urg’d still in the last Place, that though these Humane Writings have +perish’d or be imperfect, yet in the Divine Writings at least, we might +expect that the Memory of the old World, and of the primitive Earth +should have been preserv’d. To this I answer in short, that we could not +expect in the Scriptures any natural Theory of that Earth, nor any +Account of it, but what was general; and this we have, both by the +_Tehom Rabba_ of _Moses_, and the Description of the same Abyss in other +Places of Scripture, as we have shewn at large in the first Book. _Chap. +vii._ And also by the Description which St. _Peter_ hath given of the +antediluvian Heavens and Earth, and their different Constitution from +the present; which is also prov’d by the Rainbow, not seen in the first +World. You will say, it may be, that that Place of St. _Peter_, _2 Pet. +iii. 5, 6_, _&c._ is capable of another Interpretation; so are most +Places of Scripture, if you speak of a bare Capacity, they are capable +of more than one Interpretation: But that which is most natural, proper, +and congruous, and suitable to the Words, suitable to the Argument, and +suitable to the Context, wherein is nothing superfluous or impertinent, +that we prefer and accept of as the most reasonable Interpretation. +Besides, in such Texts as relate to the natural World, if of two +Interpretations propos’d, one agrees better with the Theory of Nature +than the others, _cæteris paribus_, that ought to be prefer’d. And by +these two Rules we are willing to be try’d, in the Exposition of that +remarkable Discourse of St. _Peter_’s, and to stand to that Sense which +is found most agreeable to them. + +GIVE me leave to conclude the whole Discourse with this general +Consideration: ’Tis reasonable to suppose, that there is a Providence in +the Conduct of _Knowledge_, as well as of other Affairs on the Earth; +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 World; but that there is an Order establish’d for this, as +for other Things, and certain Periods and Seasons; and what was made +known to the Ancients only by broken Conclusions and Traditions will be +known (in the latter Ages of the World) in a more perfect way, by +Principles and Theories. The Increase of Knowledge being that which +changeth so much the Face of the World, and the State of humane Affairs, +I do not doubt but there is a particular Care and Superintendency for +the Conduct of it; by what Steps and Degrees it should come to light, at +what Seasons and in what Ages; what Evidence should be left, either in +Scripture, Reason, or Tradition, for the Grounds of it; how clear or +obscure, how dispers’d or united: All these things were weigh’d and +consider’d, and such Measures taken as best suit the Designs of +Providence, and the general Project and Method propos’d in the +Government of the World. And I make no Question but the State both of +the Old World, and of that which is to come, is exhibited to us in +Scripture in such a Measure and Proportion, as is fit for this +formentioned Purpose; not as the Articles of our Faith, or the Precepts +of a good Life, which he that runs may read; but to the attentive and +reflective, to those that are unprejudic’d, and to those who are +inquisitive, and have their Minds open and prepar’d for the Discernment +of Mysteries of such a Nature. + +THUS much in Answer to that general Objection which might be made +against this Theory, _That_ it is not founded in Antiquity. I do not +doubt but there may be many particular Objections against Parts and +Sections of it, and the exposing it thus in our own Tongue may excite +some one or other, it may be, to make them; but if any be so minded, I +desire (if they be Scholars) that it may rather be in _Latin_, as being +more proper for a Subject of this Nature; and also that they would keep +themselves close to the Substance of the Theory, and wound that as much +as they can: But to make Excursions upon Things accidental or +collateral, that do not destroy the _Hypothesis_, is but to trouble the +World with Impertinencies. Now the Substance of the Theory is this, THAT +there was a _Primitive Earth_ of another Form from the present, and +inhabited by Mankind till the Deluge: That it had those Properties and +Conditions that we have ascrib’d to it, namely, a perpetual Equinox or +Spring, by reason of its _right_ Situation to the Sun; was of an oval +Figure, and the exterior Face of it smooth and uniform, without +Mountains or a Sea. That in this Earth stood _Paradise_; the Doctrine +whereof cannot be understood but upon Supposition of this primitive +Earth, and its Properties. Then that the Disruption and Fall of this +Earth into the Abyss, which lay under it, was that which made the +universal Deluge, and the Destruction of the old World; and that neither +_Noah_’s Flood, nor the present Form of the Earth, can be explain’d in +any other Method that is rational, nor by any other Causes that are +intelligible, at least, that have been hitherto propos’d to the World. +These are the Vitals of the Theory, and the primary Assertions, whereof +I do freely profess my full Belief; and whosoever by solid Reasons will +shew me in an Error, and undeceive me, I shall be very much oblig’d to +him. There are other lesser Conclusions which flow from these, and may +be call’d Secondary, as that the Longevity of the Ante-diluvians +depended upon their perpetual Equinox, and the perpetual Equality and +Serenity of the Air: That the Torrid Zone in the primitive Earth was +uninhabitable, and that all their Rivers flow’d from the extream Parts +of the Earth towards the Equinoctial; there being neither Rain nor +Rainbow in the temperate and habitable Regions of it: And lastly, That +the Place of _Paradise_, according to the Opinion of Antiquity, (for I +determine no Place by the Theory) was in the southern Hemisphere. These, +I think, are all truly deduc’d and prov’d in their several Ways, tho’ +they be not such essential Parts of the Theory, as the former. There are +also besides, many particular Explications that are to be consider’d +with more Liberty and Latitude, and may be perhaps upon better Thoughts, +or better Observations, corrected without any Prejudice to the general +Theory. Those Places of Scripture, which we have cited, I think, are all +truly apply’d; and I have not mention’d _Moses_’s _Cosmopœia_, because I +thought it deliver’d by him as a Lawgiver, not as a Philosopher; which I +intend to shew at large in another Treatise, not thinking that +Discussion proper for the vulgar Tongue. Upon the whole, we are to +remember, that some Allowances are to be made for every _Hypothesis_ +that is new propos’d and untry’d; and that we ought not, out of Levity +of Wit, or any private Design, discountenance free and fair Essays; nor +from any other Motive but the only Love and Concern of Truth. + +Footnote 2: + + Page 41. _Franciscus Patricius, Vir eruditione sat clarus, in quodam + libello suo de Antiquorum Rhetoricâ, Italico idiomate conscripto, ac + Venetiis impresso per Franciscum Senensem, Dialogo primo satis lepidam + narrationem habet, quam referi Julium Strozzam à Comite Balthasare + Castilioneo audivisse, Illum verò à Philosopho quodam Abyssino in + Hispaniâ accepisse. Narrabat ergo sapiens ille Abyssinus in + antiquissimus Æthiopiæ Annalibus descriptam esse historiam perditionis + humani generis & disruptionis totius Terræ. In Mundi scilicet + primordiis fuisse Terram multo ampliorem quam nunc est, ac Cœlo + proximiorem, perfectè rotundam, sine Montibus ac Vallibus, totam tamen + intras cavernosam ad instar spongiæ, hominesque in illâ habitantes, ac + æthere purissimo gaudentes, jucundum ævum duxisse, Terrâ inaratâ + optimas fruges, & fructus ferente. Cum autem post diuturnum sæculorum + fluxum homines superbiâ elati à priscâ illâ bonitate descivissent, + Deos irates Terram adeo validè concussisse, ut major illius pars intra + proprias externas deciderit, atque hoc pacto Aquam in latebræsis + recessibus ante conclusam, expressam violenter fuisse, atque ita + Fontes, Fiumina, Lacus & Mare ipsium ortum duxisse. Eam vero Terra + portionem que intra has non deculisset, sed reliquâ elatior fluisset. + Montium formam. Insulas porrò & scopulos in medio mari ad aliud esse + nisi segmenta Terra cavernosa ab illo istius terrenæ milos præcipere + casu superstitis._ + + + + + CHAP. X. + Concerning the Author of Nature. + + +SEEING the Theory which we have propos’d in this Work is of that Extent +and Comprehension, that it begins with the first Foundation of this +World, and is to reach to the last Period of it, in one continued Series +or Chain of Nature; it will not be improper, before we conclude, to make +some Reflections and Remarks what _Nature_ is, and upon what superior +Causes she depends in all her Motions and Operations: And this will lead +us to the Discovery of the _Author_ of Nature, and to the true Notion +and State of _Natural Providence_, which seems to have been hitherto +very much neglected, or little understood in the World. And ’tis the +more reasonable and fitting that we should explain these Notions before +we shut up this Treatise, lest those natural Explications which we have +given of the Deluge, and other Things, should be mistaken or misapply’d; +seeing some are apt to run away with Pieces of a Discourse, which they +think applicable to their Purpose, or which they can maliciously +represent, without attending to the Scope or just Limitations of what is +spoken. + +BY _Nature_ in general is understood all the Powers of finite Beings, +with the Laws establish’d for their Action and Conduct according to the +ordinary Course of Things. And this extends both to intellectual Beings +and corporeal; but seeing ’tis only the material World that hath been +the Subject of our Discourse, Nature, as to that, may be defin’d, the +Powers of _Matter_, with the Laws establish’d for their Action and +Conduct. Seeing also Matter hath no Action, whether from it self, or +imprest upon it, but Motion, as to the corporeal World, Nature is no +more than the Powers and Capacities of Matter, with the Laws that govern +the Motions of it. And this Definition is so plain and easy, that, I +believe, all Parties will agree in it; there will also be no great +Controversy what these Laws are. As that one Part of Matter cannot +penetrate another, nor be in several Places at once; That the greater +Body overcomes the less, and the swifter the slower; That all Motion is +in a right Line, till something obstruct it or divert it; which are +Points little disputed as to the Matter of Fact; but the Points +concerning which the Controversy ariseth, and which are to lead us to +the Author of Nature, are these; _Who_ or _what_ is the Author of these +_Laws_ of this _Motion_, and even of _Matter_ it self; and of all those +Modes and Forms of it which we see in Nature? + +THE Question useth chiefly to be put concerning _Motion_, how it came +into the World; what the first Source of it is, or how Matter came at +first to be mov’d? For the simple Notion of Matter, not divided into +Parts, nor diversified, doth not imply Motion, but Extension only: ’Tis +true, from Extension there necessarily follows _Mobility_, or a Capacity +of being mov’d by an external Power, but not actual or necessary Motion, +springing from it self. For Dimensions, or Length, Breadth, and Depth, +which is the _Idea_ of Matter, or of a Body, do no Way include local +Motion, or Translation of Parts; on the contrary, we do more easily and +naturally conceive simple Extension as a Thing steady and fix’d; and if +we conceive Motion in it, or in its Parts, we must superadd something to +our first Thought, and something that does not flow from Extension. As +when we conceive a Figure, a Triangle, Square, or any other, we +naturally conceive it fix’d or quiescent; and if afterwards we imagine +it in Motion, that is purely accidental to the Figure; in like Manner it +is accidental to Matter, that there should be Motion in it, it hath no +inward Principle from whence that can flow, and its Nature is compleat +without it; wherefore, if we find Motion and Action in Matter, which is +of it self a dead inactive Mass; this should lead us immediately to the +Author of Nature, or to some external Power distinct from Matter, which +is the Cause of all Motion in the World. + +IN single Bodies, and single Parts of Matter, we readily believe and +conclude, that they do not move, unless something move them, and why +should we not conclude the same Thing of the whole Mass? If a Rock or +Mountain cannot move it self, nor divide it self, either into great +Gobbets, or into small Powder, why should it not be as impossible for +the whole Mass of Matter to do so? ’Tis true, Matter is capable both of +Motion and Rest; yet to conceive it undivided, undiversified and +unmoved, is certainly a more simple Notion, than to conceive it divided +and mov’d; and this being first in Order of Nature, and an adequate +Conception too, we ought to enquire and give our selves an Account how +it came out of this State, and by what Causes, or, as we said before, +how _Motion came first into the World_. + +IN the second Place, That Diversity which we see in Nature, both as to +the Qualities of Matter, and the Compositions of it, being one Step +further than bare Motion, ought also to be a further Indication of the +Author of Nature, and to put us upon Enquiry into the Causes of this +Diversity. There is nothing more uniform than simple Extension, nothing +more the same throughout, all of a Piece, and all of a Sort, similar, +and like to itself every where; yet we find the Matter of the Universe +diversified a thousand Ways, into Heavens and Earth, Air and Water, +Stars, Meteors, Light, Darkness, Stones, Wood, Animals, and all +terrestrial Bodies; These Diversifications are still further Removes +from the natural Unity and Identity of Matter, and a further Argument of +some external and superior Power that hath given these different Forms +to the several Portions of Matter, by the Intervention of Motion. For if +you exclude the Author of Nature, and suppose nothing but Matter in the +World, take whether _Hypothesis_ you will, either that Matter is without +Motion of it self, or that it is of it self in Motion, there could not +arise this Diversity, and these Compositions in it. If it was without +Motion, then the Case is plain, for it would be nothing but an hard +inflexible Lump of impenetrable Extension, without any Diversity at all. +And if you suppose it mov’d of it self, or to have an innate Motion, +that would certainly hinder all Sort of natural Concretions and +Compositions, and in Effect destroy all Continuity. For Motion, if it be +essential to Matter, it is essential to every Atom of it, and equally +diffus’d throughout all its Parts; and all those Parts or Atoms would be +equal to one another, and as little as possible; for if Matter was +divided into Parts by its own innate Motion, that would melt it down +into Parts as little as possible, and consequently all equal to one +another, there being no reason why you should stop those Divisions, or +the Effect of this innate _Impetus_ in any one Part sooner than in +another, or in any Part indeed, till it was divided as much as was +possible: wherefore upon this Principle, or in this Method, all the +Matter of the Universe would be one liquid or volatile Mass, smaller +than Pin-dust, nay, than Air or Æther; and there would be no Diversity +of Forms, only another sort of Identity from the former, when we +suppos’d it wholly without Motion. And so, upon the whole, you see, that +Matter, whether we allow it Motion, or no Motion, could not come into +that Variety of Tempers and Compositions in which we find it in the +World, without the Influence and Direction of a superior external Cause, +which we call the Author of Nature. + +BUT there is still a further and stronger Argument from this Head, if we +consider not only the Diversity of Bodies that the Mass of Matter is cut +into, but also that that Diversity is _regular_, and in some Parts of it +admirably artful and ingenious. This will not only lead us to an Author +of Nature, but to such an Author as hath Wisdom as well as Power. Matter +is a brute Being, stupid and senseless; and tho’ we should suppose it to +have a Force to move it self, yet that it should be able to meditate and +consult, and take its Measures how to frame a World, a regular and +beautiful Structure, consisting of such and such Parts and Regions, and +adapted to such and such Purposes, this would be too extravagant to +imagine; to allow it not only Motion from it self, but Wit and Judgment +too; and that before it came into any organical or animate Composition. + +YOU’ll say, it may be, the Frame of the World was not the Result of +Counsel and Consultation, but of _Necessity_; Matter being once in +Motion under the Conduct of those Laws that are essential to it, it +wrought it self by Degrees from one State into another, till at length +it came into the present Form which we call the World. These are Words +thrown out at Random, without any Pretence of Ground, only to see if +they can be confuted; and so they may easily be; for we have shewn +already, that if Matter had innate Motion, it would be so far from +running into the orderly and well dispos’d Frame of the World, that it +would run into no Frame at all, into no Forms or Compositions, or +Diversity of Bodies; but would either be all fluid, or all solid; either +every single Particle in a separate Motion, or all in one continued +Mass, with an universal Tremor, or Inclination to move without actual +Separation; and either of these two States is far from the Form of a +World. Secondly, As to the Laws of Motion, as some of them are essential +to Matter, so others are not demonstrable, but upon Supposition of an +Author of Nature. And thirdly, Tho’ all the Laws of Motion be admitted, +they cannot bring Matter into the Form of a World, unless some Measures +be taken at first by an intelligent Being; I say, some Measures be taken +to determine the primary Motions upon which the rest depend, and to put +them in a Way that leads to the Formation of a World. The Mass must be +divided into Regions, and Centers fixt, and Motions appropriated to +them; and it must be consider’d of what Magnitude the first Bodies, or +the first Divisions of Matter should be, and how mov’d: Besides, there +must be a determinate Proportion, and certain Degree of Motion imprest +upon the universal Matter, to qualify it for the Production of a World; +if the Dose was either too strong or too weak, the Work would miscarry; +and nothing but infinite Wisdom could see thro’ the Effects of every +Proportion, or every new degree of Motion, and discern which was best +for the Beginning, Progress, and Perfection of a World. So you see the +Author of Nature is no Way excluded, or made useless by the Laws of +Motion; nor if Matter was promiscuously mov’d, would these be sufficient +Causes of themselves to produce a World, or that regular Diversity of +Bodies that compose it. + +BUT ’tis hard to satisfy Men against their Inclinations, or their +Interest: And as their Regularity of the Universe was always a great +Stumbling-stone to the _Epicureans_; so they have endeavour’d to make +Shifts of all Sorts to give an Account and Answer to it, without +Recourse to an intelligent Principle; and for their last Refuge, they +say, that Chance might bring that to pass, which Nature and Necessity +could not do; the Atoms might hit upon a lucky Set of Motions, which, +tho’ it were casual and fortuitous, might happily lead them to the +forming of a World. A lucky hit indeed, for Chance to frame a World: But +this is a mere Shuffle and Collusion; for if there was nothing in Nature +but Matter, there could be no such Thing as _Chance_, all would be pure +_Mechanical Necessity_; and so this Answer, tho’ it seem very different, +is the same in effect with the former, and _Epicurus_ with his +anatomists are oblig’d to give a just mechanical Account, how all the +Parts of Nature, the most compound and elaborate Parts not excepted, +rise from their Atoms by pure Necessity: There could be no accidental +Concourse or Coalition of them, every step, every motion, every +composition was fatal and necessary, and therefore ’tis Nonsense for an +_Epicurean_ to talk of Chance, as Chance is oppos’d to Necessity; and if +they oppose it to _Counsel_ and _Wisdom_, ’tis little better than +Nonsense, to say the World and all its Furniture rose by Chance, in that +Notion of it. But it will deserve our Patience a little, to give a more +full and distinct Answer to this, seeing it reacheth all their Pleas and +Evasions at once. + +WHAT Proof or Demonstration of Wisdom and Counsel can be given, or can +be desir’d, that is not found in some Part of the World, animate or +inanimate? We know but a little Portion of the Universe, a mere Point in +Comparison, and a broken Point too; and yet in this broken Point, or +some small Parcels of it, there is more of Art, Counsel and Wisdom +shewn, than in all the Works of Men taken together, or than in all our +_Artificial_ World. In the Construction of the Body of an Animal, there +is more of Thought and Contrivance, more of exquisite Invention, and fit +Disposition of Parts, than is in all the Temples, Palaces, Ships, +Theatres, or any other Pieces of Architecture the World ever yet saw: +And not Architecture only, but all other Mechanism whatsoever, Engines, +Clock-work, or any other, is not comparable to the Body of a living +Creature. Seeing then we acknowledge these artificial Works, wheresoever +we meet with them, to be the Effects of Wit, Understanding and Reason, +is it not manifest Partiality, or Stupidity rather, to deny the Works of +Nature, which excel these in all Degrees, to proceed from an intelligent +Principle? Let them take any Piece of humane Art, or any Machine fram’d +by the Wit of Man, and compare it with the Body of an Animal, either for +Diversity and Multiplicity of Workmanship, or Curiosity in the minute +Parts, or just Connexion and Dependance of one Thing upon another, or +fit Subserviency to the Ends propos’d, of Life, Motion, Use and Ornament +to the Creature; and if in all these Respects they find it superior to +any Work of humane Production, (as they certainly must do) why should it +be thought to proceed from inferior and senseless Causes? Ought we not +in this, as well as in other Things, to proportion the Causes to the +Effect, and to speak Truth, and bring in an honest Verdict for Nature as +well as Art? + +IN the Composition of a perfect Animal, there are four several Frames or +Compages join’d together, the natural, vital, animal and genital: Let +them examine anyone of these apart, and try if they can find any Thing +defective or superfluous, or any Way inept for Matter or Form. Let them +view the whole Compages of the Bones, and especially the admirable +Constitution, Texture, and Disposition of the Muscles, which are join’d +with them for moving the Body, or its Parts. Let them take an Account of +the little Pipes and Conduits for the Juices and the Liquors, of their +Form and Distribution; or let them take any single Organ to examine, as +the Eye, or the Ear, the Hand, or the Heart: In each of these they may +discover such Arguments of Wisdom, and of Art, as will either convince +them, or confound them; tho’ still they must leave greater undiscover’d. +We know little the insensible Form and Contexture of the Parts of the +Body, nor the just Method of their Action: We know not yet the Manner, +Order and Causes of the Motion of the Heart, which is the chief Spring +of the whole Machine; and with how little Exactness do we understand the +Brain, and the Parts belonging to it? Why of that Temper and of that +Form: How Motions are propagated there, and how conserv’d: How they +answer the several Operations of the Mind: Why such little Discomposures +of it disturb our Senses, and upon what little Differences in this the +great Differences of Wits and Genius’s depend. Yet seeing in all these +Organs, whose Make and Manner of Action we cannot discover, we see +however by the Effects, that they are truly fitted for those Offices to +which Nature hath design’d them, we ought in Reason to admire that Art +which we cannot penetrate. At least we cannot but judge it a Thing +absurd, that what we have not Wit enough to find out or comprehend, we +should not allow to be an Argument of Wit and Understanding in the +Author, or Inventor of it. This would be against all Logick, common +Sense, and common _Decorum_. Neither do I think it possible to the Mind +of Man, while we attend to Evidence, to believe that these, and such +like Works of Nature came by _Chance_, as they call it, or without +Providence, Forecast and Wisdom, either in the first Causes, or in the +proximate; in the Design, or in the Execution; in the Preparation to +them, or in the finishing of them. + +WHEREFORE, in my Judgment, if any be of this Persuasion, it cannot be so +much the Effect of their Understanding, as of their Disposion and +Inclination; and in moral Things, Mens Opinions do as often spring from +the one, as from the other. For my Part, I do generally distinguish of +two Sorts of Opinions in all Men, _Inclination-opinions_, and +_Reason’d-opinions_; Opinions that grow upon Mens Complexions, and +Opinions that are the Results of their Reason; and I meet with very few +that are of a Temperament so equal, or a Constitution so even pois’d, +but that they incline to one Set of Opinions rather than another, +antecedently to all Proofs of Reason: And when they have espous’d their +Opinions from that secret Sympathy, then they find out as good Reasons +as they can, to maintain them, and say, nay think sometimes, that ’twas +for the sake of those Reasons that they first embrac’d them. We may +commonly distinguish these Inclination-opinions from the rational, +because we find them accompanied with more Heat than Light, a great deal +of Eagerness and Impatience in defending of them, and but slender +Arguments. One might give Instances of this, both in Sects of Religion +and Philosophy, in _Platonists_, _Stoicks,_ and _Epicureans_, that are +so by their Temper more than their Reason; but to our Purpose it will be +sufficient to instance in one hearty _Epicurean_, _Lucretius_, who is +manifestly such, more from his Inclination, and the Bent of his Spirit, +than from the Force of Argument. For tho’ his Suppositions be very +precarious, and his Reasonings all along very slight, he will many times +strut and triumph, as if he had rested the Thunder out of _Jove_’s right +Hand; and a Mathematician is not more confident of his Demonstration, +than he seems to be of the Truth of his shallow Philosophy. From such a +Principle of natural Complexion as this, I allow a Man may be +Athestical, but never from the calm Dictate of his Reason; yet he may be +as confident and as tenacious of his Conclusion, as if he had a clear +and distinct Evidence for it. For I take it to be a true Maxim in humane +Nature, that _a strong Inclination, with a little Evidence, is +equivalent to a strong Evidence_. 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 Evidence, seeing there are other Things, +besides Evidence, that incline the Will to one Conclusion rather than +another. And as I have instanc’d in natural Complexion, so _Interest_ +hath the same Effect upon humane Nature, because it always begets an +Inclination to those Opinions that favour our Interest, and a +Disinclination to the contrary: And this Principle may be another +Ingredient, and secret Persuasive to Atheism; for when Men have run +themselves so deep into Vice and Immorality, that they expect no Benefit +from a God, ’tis in a Manner necessary to their Quiet, and the Ease of +their Mind, that they should fancy there is none; for they are afraid, +if there be a God, that he will not stand neuter, and let them alone in +another World. This, I say, is necessary to the Quiet of their Mind, +unless they can attain that great Art, which many labour after, of +_Non-reflection_, or an _unthinking Faculty_, as to God and a World to +come. But to return to our Argument, after this short Digression—— + +AND as that regular Diversity which we see in the Forms of Nature, and +especially in the Bodies of Animals, could not be from any blind +Principle, either of Necessity or of Chance; so in the last Place, that +_Subordination_ which we see in the Parts of Nature, and Subserviency to +one another, the less Noble to the more Noble, the Inanimate to the +Animate, and all Things upon Earth unto Man, must needs have been the +Effect of some Being higher than Matter; that did wisely dispose all +Things so at first, and doth still conserve them in the same order. If +Man had been born into the World, and a numerous Host of Creatures, +without any Provision or Accommodation made for their Subsistence and +Conveniences, we might have suspected that they had come by Chance, and +therefore were so ill provided for: But which of them can complain? +Thro’ their various kinds and orders, what is there awanting? They are +all fitted to their several Elements, and their ways of living, Birds, +Beasts, and Fishes, both by the Form and Shape of their Bodies, the +manner of their Covering, and the Quality of their Food. Besides, they +are instructed in little Arts and Instincts for their Conservation; and +not only for their proper Conservation, but also to find a way to make +and bring up young ones, and leave behind them a Posterity: And all this +in so fit a Method, and by such a pretty Train of Actions, as is really +admirable. + +MAN is the Master of all, and of him a double Care is taken; that he +should neither want what Nature can afford, nor what Art can supply. He +could not be provided of all Conveniences by Nature only, especially to +secure him against the Injuries of the Air; but in Recompence, Nature +hath provided Materials for all those Arts which she saw would be +needful in humane Life, as Building, Cloathing, Navigation, Agriculture, +_&c._ that so Mankind might have both wherewithal to answer their +Occasions, and also to employ their Time, and exercise their Ingenuity. +This Oeconomy of Nature, as I may call it, or well ordering of the great +Family of living Creatures, is an Argument both of Goodness and of +Wisdom, and is every way far above the Powers of Brute Matter. All +regular Administration we ascribe to Conduct and Judgment: If an Army of +Men be well provided for, in things necessary both for Food, Cloaths, +Arms, Lodging, Security and Defence, so as nothing is awanting in so +great a Multitude, we suppose it the Effect of Care and Forecast in +those Persons that had the Charge of it: They took their Measures at +first, computed and proportion’d one thing to another, made good +Regulations, and gave Orders for convenient Supplies. And can we suppose +the great Army of Creatures upon Earth, managed and provided for with +less Fore-thought and Providence, nay, with none at all, by mere Chance? +This is to recede from all Rules and Analogy of Reason, only to serve a +Turn, and gratify an unreasonable Humour. + +TO conclude this Argument; there are two general Heads of things, if I +recollect aright, which we make the Marks and Characters of Wisdom and +Reason, Works of Art, and the Conduct of Affairs or Direction of Means +to an End; and wheresoever we meet, either with regular material Works, +or a regular Ordination of Affairs, we think we have a good Title and +Warrant to derive them from an intelligent Author: Now these two being +found in the natural World, and that in an eminent Degree, the one in +the Frame of it, and the other in the Oeconomy of it, we have all the +Evidence and Ground that can be, in arguing from Things visible to +Things invisible, that there is an Author of Nature, superior both to +humane Power and humane Wisdom. + +BEFORE we proceed to give any further Proofs or Discoveries of the +Author of Nature, let us reflect a little upon those we have already +insisted upon; which have been taken wholly from the material World, and +from the common Course of Nature. The very Existence of Matter is a +Proof of a Deity, for the _Idea_ of it hath no Connexion with Existence, +as we shall shew hereafter; however we will take leave now to set it +down with the rest in Order as they follow one another. + + 1. _The Existence of Matter._ + + 2. _The Motion of Matter._ + + 3. _The just Quantity and Degree of that Motion._ + + 4. _The first Form of the Universe upon Motion imprest; both as to + the Divisions of Matter, and the Leading Motions._ + + 5. _The Laws for Communication and Regulation of that Motion._ + + 6. _The regular Effects of it, especially in the Animate World._ + + 7. _The Oeconomy of Nature, and fit Subordination of one part of the + World to another._ + +_The_ five first of these Heads are Prerequisites and Preparatives to +the Formation of a World, and the two last are as the Image and +Character of its Maker, of his Power, Goodness and Wisdom, imprest upon +it. Every one of them might well deserve a Chapter to it self, if the +Subject was to be treated on at large; but this is only an occasional +Dissertation, to state the Powers of Matter, lest they should be thought +boundless, and the Author of Nature unnecessary, as the _Epicureans_ +pretend; but notwithstanding their vain Confidence and Credulity, I defy +them, or any Man else, to make Sense of the material World, without +placing a God at the Center of it. + +TO these Considerations, taken wholly from the corporeal World, give me +leave to add one of a mix’d Nature, concerning the _Union of our Soul +and Body_. This strange Effect, if rightly understood, doth as truly +discover the Author of Nature, as many Effects that are accounted more +supernatural. The Incarnation, as I may so say, of a spiritual Substance +is to me a kind of standing Miracle; that there should be such an Union +and Connexion reciprocally betwixt the Motions of the Body, and the +Actions and Passions of the Soul; betwixt a Substance intellectual, and +a Parcel of organiz’d Matter, can be no Effect of either of those +Substances; being wholly distinct in themselves, and remote in their +Natures from one another. For Instance, when my finger is cut, or when +’tis burnt, that my Soul thereupon should feel such a smart and violent +Pain, is no Consequence of Nature, or does not follow from any Connexion +there is betwixt the Motion or Division of that Piece of Matter, I call +my Finger, and the Passion of that Spirit I call my Soul; for these are +two distinct Essences, and in themselves independent upon one another, +as much as the Sun and my Body are independent; and there is no more +Reason in strict Nature, or in the essential Chain of Causes and +Effects, that my Soul should suffer, or be affected with this Motion in +the Finger, than that the Sun should be affected with it; nay, there is +less Reason, if less can be, for the Sun being corporeal, as the Finger +is, there is some remote Possibility that there might be Communication +of Motion betwixt them; but Motion cannot beget a Thought, or a Passion, +by its own Force; Motion can beget nothing but Motion, and if it should +produce a Thought, the Effect would be more noble than the Cause. +Wherefore this Union is not by any Necessity of Nature, but only from a +positive institution or Decree, establish’d by the Author of Nature, +that there should be such a Communication betwixt these two Substances +for a time, _viz._ during the Vitality of the Body. + +’TIS true indeed, if Thought, Apprehension, and Reason, was nothing but +corporeal Motion, this Argument would be of no Force; but to suppose +this, is to admit an Absurdity to cure a Difficulty; to make a Thought +out of a local Motion is like making a God out of a Stock, or a Stone; +for these two are as remote in their Nature, and have as different +_Idea’s_ in the Mind, as any two desperate Things we can propose or +conceive; Number and Colour, a Triangle and Virtue, Free-will and a +Pyramid, are not more unlike, more distant, or of more different Forms, +than Thought and local Motion. Motion is nothing but a Body’s changing +its Place and Situation amongst other Bodies, and what Affinity or +Resemblance hath that to a _Thought_? How is that like to Pain, or to a +Doubt of the Mind? To Hope or to Desire? To the _Idea_ of God? To any +Act of the Will or Understanding, as judging, consenting, reasoning, +remembring, or any other? These are Things of several Orders that have +no Similitude, nor any Mixture of one another. And as this is the Nature +of Motion, so, on the other Hand, in a _Thought_ there are two Things, +_Consciousness_ and a _Representation_; Consciousness is in all Thoughts +indifferently, whether distinct or confus’d, for no Man thinks but he is +conscious that he thinks, nor perceives any Thing but he is conscious +that he perceives it; there is also in a Thought, especially if it be +distinct, a Representation; ’tis the Image of that we think upon, and +makes its Objects present to the Mind. Now what hath local Motion to do +with either of these two, Consciousness or Representativeness? How doth +it include either of them, or hold them any way affix’d to its Nature? I +think one may with as good Sense and Reason ask of what Colour a Thought +is, Green or Scarlet, as what Sort of Motion it is; for Motion of what +Sort soever can never be conscious, nor represent Things as our Thoughts +do. I have noted thus much in general, only to shew the different Nature +of Motion and Cogitation, that we may be the more sensible that they +have no mutual Connexion in us, nor in any other Creature, from their +Essence or essential Properties, but by a supervenient Power from the +Author of Nature, who hath thus united the Soul and the Body in their +Operations. + +WE have hitherto only consider’d the ordinary Course of Nature, and what +Indications and Proofs of its Author, that affords us: There is another +remarkable Head of Arguments from Effects, extraordinary and +supernatural, such as Miracles, Prophecies, Inspirations, Prodigies, +Apparitions, Witchcraft, Sorceries, _&c._ These, at one Step, lead us to +something above Nature, and this is the shortest way and the most +Popular; several Arguments are suited to several Tempers, and God hath +not left himself without a proper Witness to every Temper that is not +willfully blind. Of these Witnesses we now speak of, the most +considerable are Miracles, and the most considerable Records of them are +the Books of Scripture; which if we consider only as an History, and as +having nothing sacred in them more than other good Histories, that is, +Truth in Matter of Fact, we cannot doubt but there have been Miracles in +the World: That _Moses_ and the Prophets, our Saviour and his Apostles, +wrought Miracles, I can no more question, than that _Cæsar_ and +_Alexander_ fought Battles, and took Cities. So also that there were +true Prophecies and Inspirations, we know from Scripture, only +consider’d as a true History. But as for other supernatural Effects that +are not recorded there, we have Reason to examine them more strictly +before we receive them, at least as to particular Instances; for I am +apt to think they are like Lotteries, where there are ten or twenty +Blanks for one Prize; but yet if there were no Prizes at all, the +Lottery would not have Credit to subsist, and would be cry’d down as a +perfect Cheat: So if amongst those many Stories of Prodigies, +Apparitions, and Witchcrafts, there were not some true, the very Fame +and Thought of them would die from amongst Men, and the first Broachers +of them would be hooted at as Cheats. As a false Religion, that hath +nothing true and solid mix’d with it, can scarce be fix’d upon Mankind; +but where there is a Mixture of true and false, the Strength of the one +supports the Weakness of the other. As for Sorcery, the Instances and +Examples of it are undeniable; not so much those few scatter’d Instances +that happen now and then among us, but such as are more constant, and in +a manner National, in some Countries, and amongst barbarous People. +Besides, the Oracles, and the Magick that was so frequent amongst the +Ancients, shew us that there have been always some Powers more than +Humane, tampering with the Affairs of Mankind. But this Topick from +Effects, extraordinary and supernatural, being in a great measure +Historical, and respecting evil Spirits as well as the Author of Nature, +is not so proper for this Place. + +THERE is a third Set or Head of Arguments, that to some Tempers are more +cogent and convictive than any of these, namely, Arguments _Abstract_ +and _Metaphysical_; And these do not only lead us to an Author of Nature +in general, but shew us more of his Properties and Perfections; +represent him to us as a supreme Deity, infinitely perfect, the Fountain +of all Being, and the steady Center of all Things. But Reasons of this +Order being of a finer Thread, require more Attention, and some +Preparation of Mind to make us discern them well and be duly sensible of +them. When a Man hath withdrawn himself from the Noise of this busy +World, lock’d up his Senses and his Passions, and every thing that would +unite him with it; commanded a general Silence in the Soul, and suffers +not a Thought to stir, but what looks inwards; let him then reflect +seriously, and ask himself, _What am I_, and _How came I into Being_? If +I was Author and Original to my self, surely I ought to feel that mighty +Power, and enjoy the Pleasure of it; but, alas, I am conscious of no +such Force or Virtue, nor of any thing in my Nature, that should give me +necessary Existence; it hath no Connexion with any part of me, nor any +Faculty in me, that I can discern. And now that I do exist, from what +Causes soever, _Can I secure my self in Being_? Now that I am in +Possession, am I sure to keep it? Am I certain that three Minutes hence +I shall still exist? I may or I may not, for ought I see; either seems +possible in it self; and either is contingent as to me; I find nothing +in my Nature that can warrant my Substance for one Day, for one Hour, +for one Moment longer. I am nothing but Thoughts, fleeting Thoughts, +that chase and extinguish one another; and my Being, for ought I know, +is successive, and as dying as they are, and renew’d to me every Moment. +This I am sure of, that so far as I know my self, and am conscious what +I am, there is no Principle of Immutability, or of necessary and +indefectible Existence in my Nature; and therefore I ought in Reason to +believe, that I stand or fall at the Mercy of other Causes, and not by +my own Will, or my own Sufficiency. + +BESIDES, I am very sensible, and in this I cannot be mistaken, that my +Nature is in several Respects weak and imperfect, both as to Will and +Understanding. I _Will_ many Things in vain and without effect, and I +Wish often what I have no Ability to execute or obtain. And as to my +Understanding, how defective is it? How little or nothing do I know in +Comparison of what I am ignorant of? Almost all the intellectual World +is shut up to me, and the far greatest Part of the corporeal; and in +those Things that fall under my Cognizance, how often am I mistaken? I +am confin’d to a narrow Sphere, and yet within that Sphere I often err; +my Conceptions of Things are obscure and confus’d, my reason +short-sighted; I am forc’d often to correct my self, or to acknowledge +that I have judg’d false, and consented to an Error. In sum, all my +Powers I find are limited, and I can easily conceive the same kind of +Perfections in higher Degrees than I possess them, and consequently +there are Beings, or may be, greater and more excellent than my self, +and more able to subsist by their own Power, (Τὸ τέλειον πρότερον τῇ +Φύσει τοῦς ἀτελοῦς Arist.) Why should I not therefore believe that my +Original is from those Beings rather than from my self? For every +Nature, the more great and perfect it is, the nearer it approaches to +Necessity of Existence, and to a Power of producing other Things. Yet, +the Truth is, it must be acknowledg’d, that so long as the Perfection of +those other Beings are limited and finite, tho’ they be far superior to +us, there is no Necessity ariseth from their Nature that they should +exist; and the same Arguments that we have us’d against our selves, they +may, in Proportion, use against themselves; and therefore we must still +advance higher to find a self-originated Being, whose Existence must +flow immediately from his Essence, or have a necessary Connexion with +it. + +AND indeed all these different Degrees of higher and higher Perfections, +lead us directly to an highest, or supreme Degree, which is infinite and +unlimited Perfection. As subordinate Causes lead to the first, so +Natures more perfect one than another lead us to a Nature infinitely +perfect, which is the Fountain of them all. Thither we must go, if we +will follow the Course of Reason, which cannot stop at one more than +another, till it arrive there; and being arriv’d there at that sovereign +and original Perfection, it finds a firm and immovable Ground to stand +upon; the steady Centre of all Being, wherein the Mind rests and is +satisfied. All the Scruples or Objections that we mov’d against our +selves, or other Creatures, take no Place here: This Being is conscious +of an Allsufficiency in it self, and of Immutability as to any Thing +else; including in it all the Causes of Existence, or, to speak more +properly, all Necessity of Existence. Besides, that _we exist our +selves_, notwithstanding the Imperfection and Insufficiency of our +Nature, is a just, collateral Proof of the Existence, of this supreme +Being; for such an Effect as this cannot be without its Cause, and it +can have no other competent Cause but what we mention. And as this Being +is its own Origin, so it must needs be capable of producing all +Creatures; for whatsoever is possible, must be possible to it; and that +Creatures or finite Beings are possible, we both see by Experience, and +may also discern by Reason; for those several Degrees of Perfection or +Limitations of it, which we mention’d before, are all consistent +Notions, and consequently make consistent Natures, and such as may +exist; but contingently indeed, and in Dependance upon the first Cause. + +THUS we are come at length to a fair Resolution of that great Question, +_Whence we are_, and _how_ we continue in Being? And this hath led us by +an easy Ascent to the supreme Author of Nature, and the first Cause of +all things; and presents us also with such a Scheme and Draught of the +Universe, as is clear and rational; every thing in its Order, and in its +Place, according to the Dignity of its Nature, and the Strength of its +Principles. When the Mind hath rais’d it self into this View of a Being +infinitely perfect, ’tis in a Region of Light, hath a free Prospect +every Way, and sees all Things from Top to Bottom, as pervious and +transparent. Whereas without God and a first Cause, there is nothing but +Darkness and Confusion in the Mind, and in Nature; broken Views of +Things, short interrupted Glimpses of Light, nothing certain or +demonstrative, no Basis of Truth, no Extent of Thought, no Science, no +Contemplation. + +YOU will say, it may be, ’tis true, something must be _eternal_, and of +_necessary Existence_, but why may not _Matter_ be this eternal +necessary Being? Then our Souls and all other Intellectual Things must +be Parts and Parcels of Matter; and what Pretensions can Matter have to +those Properties and Perfections that we find in our Souls, how limited +soever? Much less to _necessary Existence_, and those Perfections that +are the Foundation of it? What _exists_ eternally, and from it self, its +Existence must flow immediately from its Essence, as its Cause, Reason, +or Ground; for as Existence hath always something antecedent to it in +Order of Nature, so that which is antecedent to it, must infer it by a +necessary Connexion, and so may be call’d the Cause, Ground, or Reason +of it. And nothing can be such a Ground, but what is a Perfection; nor +every Perfection neither, it must be sovereign and infinite Perfection; +for from what else can necessary Existence flow, or be infer’d? Besides, +if that Being was not infinitely perfect, there might be another Being +more powerful than it, and consequently able to oppose and hinder its +Existence; and what may be hinder’d is contingent and arbitrary. Now +_Matter_ is so far from being a Nature infinitely perfect, that it hath +no Perfection at all, but that of bare _Substance_; neither Life, Sense, +Will or Understanding; nor so much as Motion from it self; as we have +shew’d before. And therefore this brute inactive Mass, which is but, as +it were, the Drudge of Nature, can have no Right or Title to that +sovereign Prerogative of Self-existence. + +WE noted before, as a Thing agreed upon, _that something or other must +needs be Eternal_. For if ever there was a Time or State when there was +no being, there never could be any. Seeing _Nothing_ could not produce +_Something_. Therefore ’tis undeniably true on all Hands, that there was +some Being from Eternity. Now, according to our Understanding, _Truth_ +is _Eternal_: Therefore, say we, some intellect or intelligent Being. So +also the Reasons of _Goodness_ and _Justice_ appear to us Eternal; and +therefore some good and just Being is Eternal. Thus much is plain, that +these Perfections which bear the Signatures of Eternity upon them, are +Things that have no Relation to _Matter_, but relate immediately to an +intellectual Being: Therefore some such Being, to whom they originally +belong, must be that _Eternal_. Besides, We cannot possibly but judge +such a Being more perfect than Matter. Now every Nature, the more +perfect it is, the more remote it is from _Nothing_; and the more remote +it is from Nothing, the more it approaches to Necessity of Existence, +and consequently to eternal Existence. + +THUS we have made a short Survey, so far as the Bounds of a Chapter +would permit, of those Evidences and Assurances which we have from +abstract Reason and the external World, that there is an Author of +Nature; and that a Being infinitely perfect, which we call _God_. We may +add to these, in the last Place, that universal Consent of Mankind, or +natural Instinct of Religion which we see, more or less, throughout all +Nations, barbarous or civil. For tho’ this Argument, ’tis true, be more +disputable than the rest, yet having set down just Grounds already from +whence this natural Judgment or Persuasion might spring, we have more +Reason to impute it to some of those, and their insensible Influence +upon the Mind, than to the Artifices of Men, or to make it a Weakness, +Prejudice, or Error of our Nature. That there is such a Propension in +humane Nature, seems to be very plain; at least so far as to move us to +implore, and have recourse to invisible Powers in our Extremities. +Prayer is natural in certain Cases, and we do at the mere Motion of our +natural Spirit, and indeliberately, invoke God and Heaven, either in +case of extream Danger, to help and assist us; or in case of Injustice +and Oppression, to relieve or avenge us; or in case of false +Accusations, to vindicate our Innocency; and generally in all cases +desperate and remediless as to humane Power, we seem to appeal and +address our selves to something higher. And this we do by a sudden +Impulse of Nature, without Reflexion or Deliberation. Besides, as +Witnesses of our Faith and Veracity, we use to invoke the Gods, or +superior Powers, by Way of Imprecation upon our selves, if we be false +and perjur’d; and this hath been us’d in most Nations and Ages, if not +in all. These Things also argue, that there is a natural Conscience in +Man, and a Distinction of moral _Good_ and _Evil_; and that we look upon +those invisible Powers as the Guardians of Virtue and Honesty. There are +also few or no People upon the Earth but have something of external +Religion, true or false; and either of them is an Argument of this +natural Anticipation, or that they have an Opinion that there is +something above them, and above visible Nature; tho’ what that +_something_ was, they seldom were able to make a good Judgment. But to +pursue this Argument particularly, would require an historical Deduction +of Times and Places, which is not suitable to our present Design. + +TO conclude this Chapter and this Subject; if we set Religion apart, and +consider the Deist and Atheist only as two Sects in Philosophy, or their +Doctrine as two different _Hypotheses_ propos’d for the Explication of +Nature, and in Competition with one another, whether should give the +more rational Account of the Universe, of its Origin and _Phænomena_? I +say if we consider them only thus, and make an impartial Estimate +whether System is more reasonable, more clear, and more satisfactory; to +me there seems to be no more Comparison than betwixt Light and Darkness. +The _Hypothesis_ of the Deist reacheth from Top to Bottom, both through +the intellectual and material World, with a clear and distinct Light +every where; is genuine, comprehensive, and satisfactory; hath nothing +forc’d, nothing confus’d, nothing precarious; whereas the _Hypothesis_ +of the Atheist is strain’d and broken, dark and uneasy to the Mind, +commonly precarious; often incongruous and irrational, and sometimes +plainly ridiculous. And this Judgment I should make of them abstractly +from the Interest of Religion, considering them only as Matter of Reason +and Philosophy. _And_ I dare affirm with Assurance, if the Faculties of +our Souls be true, that no Man can have a System of Thoughts reaching +thorough Nature, coherent and confident in every Part, without a Deity +for the Basis of it. + + + + + CHAP. XI. + + + _Several Incroachments upon natural Providence, or + Misrepresentations of it, and false Methods of Contemplation. A true + Method propos’d, and a true Representation of the Universe. The + Mundane Idea, and the universal System of Providence. Several + subordinate Systems. That of our Earth and sublunary World. The + Course and Periods of it. How much of this is already treated of, + and what remains. The Conclusion._ + + +WE have set Bounds to Nature in the foregoing Chapter, and plac’d her +Author and Governor upon his Throne, to give Laws to her Motions, and to +direct and limit her Power in such Ways and Methods as are most for his +Honour. Let us now consider Nature under the Conduct of Providence, or +consider _Natural Providence_, and the Extent of it; and as we were +cautious before not to give too much Power or Greatness to Nature, +consider’d apart from Providence; so we must be careful now, under this +second Consideration, not to contract her Bounds too much; lest we +should, by too mean and narrow Thoughts of the Creation, eclipse the +Glory of its Author, whom we have so lately own’d as a Being infinitely +Perfect. + +AND to use no further Introduction, in the _first Place_, we must not by +any Means admit or imagine, that all Nature, and this great Universe, +was made only for the sake of Man, the meanest of all intelligent +Creatures that we know of; nor that this little Planet, where we sojourn +for a few Days, is the only habitable Part of the Universe: These are +Thoughts so groundless and unreasonable in themselves, and also so +derogatory to the infinite Power, Wisdom and Goodness of the first +Cause, that as they are absurd in Reason, so they deserve far better to +be mark’d and censur’d for Heresies in Religion, than many Opinions that +have been censur’d for such in former Ages. How is it possible that it +should enter into the Thoughts of vain Man to believe himself the +principal Part of God’s Creation, or that all the rest was ordain’d for +him, for his Service or Pleasure? Man, whose Follies we laugh at every +Day, or else complain of them; whose Pleasures are Vanity, and his +Passions stronger than his Reason? who sees himself every Way weak and +impotent, hath no power over external Nature, little over himself; +cannot execute so much as his own good Resolutions, mutable, irregular, +prone to Evil. Surely, if we made the least Reflection upon our selves +with Impartiality, we should be asham’d of such an arrogant Thought. How +few of these Sons of Men, for whom, they say, all Things were made, are +the Sons of Wisdom? How few find the Paths of Life? They spend a few +Days in Folly and Sin, and then go down to the Regions of Death and +Misery. And is it possible to believe that all Nature, and all +Providence, are only or principally for their sake? Is it not a more +reasonable Character or Conclusion which the Prophet hath made, _Surely +every Man is Vanity_? Man that comes into the World at the Pleasure of +another, and goes out by an hundred Accidents; his Birth and Education +generally determine his Fate here, and neither of those are in his own +Power; his Wit also is as uncertain as his Fortune; he hath not the +moulding of his own Brain, however a Knock on the Head makes him a Fool, +stupid as the Beasts of the Field; and a little Excess of Passion or +Melancholy makes him worse, Mad and Frantick. In his best Senses he is +shallow, and of little Understanding; and in nothing more blind and +ignorant than in Things sacred and divine; he falls down before a Stock +or a Stone, and says, Thou art my God; he can believe Nonsense and +Contradictions, and make it his Religion to do so. And is this the great +Creature which God hath made _by the Might of his Power, and for the +Honour of his Majesty_? Upon whom all Things must wait, to whom all +Things must be subservient? Methinks we have noted Weaknesses and +Follies enough in the Nature of Man; this need not be added as the Top +and Accomplishment, _That with all these he is so vain as to think that +all the rest of the World was made for his sake._ + +AND as due Humility and the Consideration of our own Meanness ought to +secure us from any such vain Opinion of our selves, so the Perfection of +other Beings ought to give us more Respect and Honour for them. With +what Face can we pretend that Creatures far superior to us, and more +excellent both in Nature and Condition, should be made for our Sake and +Service? How preposterous would it be to ascribe such a thing to our +Maker, and how intolerable a Vanity in us to affect it? We that are next +to the Brutes that perish, by a sacrilegious Attempt would make our +selves more considerable than the highest Dignities. It is thought to +have been the Crime of _Lucifer_, who was thrown down from Heaven to +Hell, that he affected an Equality with the Almighty; and to affect to +be next to the Almighty is a Crime next to that. We have no Reason to +believe but that there are, at least, as many Orders of Beings above us, +as there are Ranks of Creatures below us; there is a greater Distance +sure betwixt us and God Almighty, than there is betwixt us and the +meanest Worm; and yet we should take it very ill, if the Worms of the +Earth should pretend that we were made for them. But to pass from the +invisible World to the visible and corporeal—— + +WAS that made only for our sake? King _David_ was more wise, and more +just both to God and Man, in his viiith _Psalm_, where he says, _He +wonders, when he considers the Heavens, that the Maker of them could +think on Man_. He truly supposes the celestial Bodies, and the +Inhabitants of them, much more considerable than we are, and reckons up +only terrestrial Things as put in subjection to Man. Can we then be so +fond as to imagine all the corporeal Universe made for our Use? ’Tis not +the millioneth Part of it that is known to us, much less useful; we can +neither reach with our Eye, nor our Imagination, those Armies of Stars +that lie far and deep in the boundless Heavens. If we take a good Glass, +we discover innumerable more Stars in the Firmament than we can with our +single Eye; and yet if you take a second Glass, better than the first, +that carries the Sight to a greater Distance, you see more still lying +beyond the other; and a third Glass that pierceth further, still makes +new Discoveries of Stars; and so forwards, indefinitely and +inexhaustedly for any Thing we know, according to the Immensity of the +divine Nature and Power. Who can reckon up the Stars of the Galaxy, or +direct us in the Use of them? And can we believe that those and all the +rest were made for us? Of those few Stars that we enjoy, or that are +visible to the Eye, there is not a tenth Part that is really useful to +Man; and no doubt if the principal End of them had been our Pleasure or +Conveniency, they would have been put in some better Order in respect of +the Earth. They lie carelessly scatter’d, as if they had been sown in +the Heaven, like seed, by handfuls; and not by a skilful Hand neither. +What a beautiful Hemisphere they would have made, if they had been +plac’d in Rank and Order; if they had been all dispos’d into regular +Figures, and the little ones set with due Regard to the greater, then +all finish’d and made up into one fair Piece or great Composition, +according to the Rules of Art and Symmetry; what a surprizing Beauty +this would have been to the Inhabitants of the Earth? What a lovely Roof +to our little World? This indeed might have given one some Temptation to +have thought that they had been all made for us; but lest any such vain +Imagination should now enter into our Thoughts, Providence (besides more +important Reasons) seems on Purpose to have left them under that +Negligence or Disorder, which they appear in to us. + +THE second Part of this Opinion supposeth this Planet, where we live, to +be the only habitable Part of the Universe; and this is a natural +Consequence of the former: If all Things were made to serve us, why +should any more be made than what is useful to us? But ’tis only our +Ignorance of the System of the World, and of the Grandeur of the Works +of God, that betrays us to such narrow Thoughts. (_See the Lat. Treat. +lib. 1. c. 10. p. 108, 109_, _&c._) If we do but consider what this +Earth is, both for Littleness and Deformity, and what its Inhabitants +are, we shall not be apt to think that this miserable Atom hath +engross’d and exhausted all the divine Favours, and all the Riches of +his Goodness, and of his Providence. But we will not enlarge upon this +Part of the Opinion, lest it should carry us too far from the Subject, +and it will fall of its own Accord, with the former. Upon the whole we +may conclude, that it was only the sublunary World that was made for the +sake of Man, and not the great Creation, either material or +intellectual; and we cannot admit or affirm any more without manifest +Injury, Depression, and Misrepresentation of Providence, as we may be +easily convinc’d from these four Heads; _The_ Meanness of Man and of +this Earth; _The_ Excellency of other Beings; _The_ Immensity of the +Universe, and the infinite Perfection of the first Cause. Which I leave +to your further Meditation, and pass on to the second Rule concerning +natural Providence. + +_In the second Place_, then, If we would have a fair View and right +Apprehensions of natural Providence, we must not cut the Chains of it +too short, by having recourse without Necessity, either to the first +Cause, in explaining the Origins of Things; or to Miracles, in +explaining particular Effects. This, I say, breaks the Chains of natural +Providence, when it is done without Necessity; that is, when Things are +otherwise intelligible from second Causes. Neither is any Thing gain’d +by it to God Almighty; for ’tis but as the Proverb says, _To rob Peter +to pay Paul_; to take so much from his ordinary Providence, and place it +to his extraordinary. When a new Religion is brought into the World, +’tis very reasonable and decorous that it should be usher’d in with +Miracles, as both the _Jewish_ and _Christian_ were, but afterwards +Things return into their Channel and do not change or overflow again but +upon extraordinary Occasions or Revolutions. The Power _Extraordinary_ +of God is to be accounted very sacred, not to be touch’d or expos’d for +our Pleasure or Conveniency; but I am afraid we often make use of it +only to conceal our own Ignorance, or to save us the Trouble of +inquiring into natural Causes. Men are generally unwilling to appear +ignorant, especially those that make Profession of Knowledge; and when +they have not Skill enough to explain some particular Effect in a Way of +Reason, they throw it upon the first Cause, as able to bear all; and so +placing it to that Account, they excuse themselves, and save their +Credit; for all Men are equally wise, if you take away second Causes; as +we are all of the same Colour, if you take away the Light. + +BUT to state this Matter, and see the Ground of this Rule more +distinctly, we must observe and consider, That _the Course of Nature is +truly the Will of God_; (_See Book 1. c. 8. at the End._) and, as I may +so say, his first Will; from which we are not to recede, but upon clear +Evidence and Necessity. And as in Matter of Religion, we are to follow +the known reveal’d Will of God, and not to trust to every Impulse or +Motion of Enthusiasm, as coming from the Divine Spirit, unless there be +evident Marks that it is supernatural, and cannot come from our own; so +neither are we, without Necessity, to quit the known and ordinary Will +and Power of God, establish’d in the Course of Nature, and fly to +supernatural Causes, or his extraordinary Will; for this is a kind of +Enthusiasm or Fanaticism, as well as the other: And no doubt that great +Prodigality and Waste of Miracles which some make, is no way to the +Honour of God or Religion. ’Tis true, the other Extream is worse than +this, for to deny all Miracles, is in effect to deny all Reveal’d +Religion; therefore due Measures are to be taken betwixt these two, so +as neither to make the Divine Power too mean and cheap, nor the Power of +Nature illimited and all-sufficient. + +_In the third Place_, to make the Scenes of natural Providence +considerable, and the Knowledge of them satisfactory to the Mind, we +must take a true Philosophy, or the true Principles that govern Nature, +which are Geometrical and Mechanical. By these you discover the +Footsteps of the Divine Art and Wisdom, and trace the Progress of Nature +Step by Step, as distinctly as in artificial things, where we see how +the Motions depend upon one another, in what Order, and by what +Necessity. God made all Things in _Number_, _Weight_ and _Measure_, +which are Geometrical and Mechanical Principles; He is not said to have +made Things by _Forms_ and _Qualities_, or any Combination of Qualities, +but by these three Principles, which may be conceiv’d to express the +Subject of three Mathematical Sciences, Number, of _Arithmetick_; +Weight, of _Staticks_; and _Measure_ and Proportion, of _Geometry_: If +then all things were made according to these Principles, to understand +the Manner of their Construction and Composition, we must proceed in the +Search of them by the same Principles, and resolve them into these +again. Besides, the Nature of the Subject does direct us sufficiently; +for when we contemplate or treat of Bodies, and the material World, we +must proceed by the Modes of Bodies, and their real Properties, such as +can be represented either to Sense or Imagination, for these Faculties +are made for corporeal Things; but Logical Notions, when applied to +particular Bodies, are meer Shadows of them, without Light or Substance. +No Man can raise a Theory upon such Grounds, nor calculate any +Revolutions of Nature, nor render any Service, or invent any thing +useful in human Life. And accordingly we see, that for these many Ages, +that this dry Philosophy hath govern’d Christendom, it hath brought +forth no Fruit, produc’d nothing good to God or Man, to Religion or +human Society. + +TO these true Principles of Philosophy, we must join also the true +System of the World. That gives Scope to our Thoughts, and rational +Grounds to work upon; but the vulgar System, or that which _Aristotle_ +and others have propos’d, affords no Matter of Contemplation. All above +the Moon, according to him, is firm as Adamant, and as immutable; no +Change or Variation in the Universe, but in those little Removes that +happen here below, one Quality or Form shifting into another: There +would therefore be no great Exercise of Reason or Meditation in such a +World; no long Series of Providence: The Regions above being made of a +kind of immutable Matter, they would always remain in the same Form, +Structure, and Qualities: So as we might lock up that part of the +Universe as to any further Inquiries, and we should find it ten thousand +Years hence in the same Form and State wherein we left it. Then in this +sublunary World there would be but small Doings neither; Things would +lie in a narrow Compass, no great Revolution of Nature, no new Form of +the Earth, but a few Anniversary _Corruptions_ and _Generations_, and +that would be the short and the long of Nature, and of Providence, +according to _Aristotle_. But if we consider the Earth, as one of those +many Planets that move about the Sun, and the Sun as one of those +innumerable fix’d Stars that adorn the Universe, and are the Centers of +its greatest Motions; and all this subject to Fate and Change, to +Corruptions and Renovations: This opens a large Field for our Thoughts, +and gives a large Subject for the Exercise and Expansion of the Divine +Wisdom and Power, and for the Glory of his Providence. + +_In the last Place_; Having thus prepar’d your Mind, and the Subject, +for the Contemplation of _Natural Providence_, do not content your self +to consider only the present Face of Nature, but look back into the +first _Sources_ of Things, into their more simple and original States; +and observe the Progress of Nature from one Form to another, through +various Modes and Compositions. For there is no single Effect, nor any +single State of Nature, how perfect soever, that can be such an Argument +and Demonstration of Providence, as a Period of Nature, or a Revolution +of several States consequential to one another; and in such an Order and +Dependance, that as they flow and succeed, they shall still be adjusted +to the Periods of the moral World; so as to be ready always to be +Ministers of the Divine Justice or Beneficence to Mankind. This shews +the manifold Riches of the Wisdom and Power of God in Nature. And this +may give us just Occasion to reflect again upon _Aristotle_’s System and +Method, which destroys natural Providence in this respect also; for he +takes the World as it is now, both for Matter and Form, and supposeth it +to have been in this Posture from all Eternity, and that it will +continue to Eternity in the same; so as all the great Turns of Nature, +and the principal Scenes of Providence in the natural World are quite +struck out; and we have but this one Scene for all, and a pitiful one +too, if compar’d with the infinite Wisdom of God, and the Depths of +Providence. We must take Things in their full Extent, and from their +Origins, to comprehend them well, and to discover the Mysteries of +Providence, both in the Causes and in the Conduct of them. That Method +which _David_ followed in the Contemplation of the Little World, or in +the Body of Man, we should also follow in the Great; take it in its +first Mass, in its tender Principles and Rudiments, and observe the +Progress of it to a compleat Form; in these first Stroaks of Nature are +the Secrets of her Art; the Eye must be plac’d in this Point to have a +right Prospect, and see her Works in a true Light. _David_ admires the +Wisdom of God in the Origin and Formation of his Body; _My Body_, says +he, _was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, curiously wrought +in the lower Parts of the Earth; thine Eyes did see my Substance being +yet imperfect, and in thy Book all my Members were written; which in +Continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them, or being +at first in no Form. How precious are thy Thoughts to me, O God! &c._ +_Psal. cxxxix. 15, 16, 17._ This was the Subject of _David_’s, +Meditations, how his Body was wrought from a shapeless Mass into that +marvellous Composition which it had when fully fram’d; and this, he +says, was under the Eye of God all along, and the Model of it, as it +were, was design’d and delineated in the Book of Providence, according +to which, it was by Degrees fashion’d and wrought to Perfection. _Thine +Eyes did see my Substance yet being imperfect, in thy Book all my +Members were drawn, &c._ _Job_ also hath aptly express’d those first +Rudiments of the Body, or that little Chaos out of which it riseth; +_Hast thou not poured me out as Milk, and cruddled me like Cheese? Thou +hast cloathed me with Skin and Flesh, and fenced me with Bones and +Sinews, Job x. 10, 11._ Where he notes the first Matter and the last +Form of his Body, its compleat and most incompleat State. According to +these Examples we must likewise consider the greater Bodies of Nature, +the Earth and the sublunary World; we must go to the Origin of them, the +Seminal Mass, the Chaos out of which they rise; look upon the World +first as an Embryo World, without Form or Shape, and then consider how +its Members were fashion’d, how by degrees it was brought into that +Diversity of Parts and Regions which it consists of, with all their +Furniture, and with all their Ornaments. The _Idea_ of all which was +before-hand, according to _David_’s Expression, written in the Divine +Mind; and we partake of that Wisdom, according to our Capacity, in +seeing and admiring the Methods of it. + +THESE seem to be necessary Preparatives or Directions to those that +would contemplate, with Profit, natural Providence, and the great Works +of God in the visible Creation. We consider’d Nature in the precedent +Chapter abstractly, and in her self; and now we consider her under the +Conduct of Providence, which we therefore call Natural Providence: And +as we have endeavour’d to remove those false Notions and Suppositions +that lay as Clouds upon her Face, so we must now endeavour to represent +her in a better Light, and in a fuller Beauty. By _Natural Providence_ +therefore we understand, _the Form or Course of Universal Nature, as +actuated by the divine Power; with all the Changes, Periods, and +Vicissitudes that attend it, according to the Method and Establishment +made at first by the Author of it_. I said of _Universal Nature_, +through all the Orders of Beings in the intellectual World, and all the +Regions and Systems of Matter in the corporeal. For, having prov’d in +the foregoing Chapter, that there is an Author of Nature, a Being +infinitely perfect, by whose Power and Influence alone all finite +Natures exist and act, we have an assured Ground to conclude, that +nothing can come to pass, throughout the whole Creation, without the +Prescience and Permission of its Author; 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 created, according to the several Ranks and +Orders wherein they stand; so there is also an _Idea_ there, according +to which this great Frame moves, and all the Parts of it in Beauty and +Harmony. + +AND these two Things, The _Essences_ of all Beings, and the Series of +their _Motions_, compose the MUNDANE IDEA, as I may so call it; or that +great all comprehensive Thought in the divine Understanding, which +contains the System of universal Providence, and the State of all Things +past, present, or to come. This glorious _Idea_ is the express Image of +the whole Creation, of all the Works of God, and the Disposition of +them: Here lie the Mysteries of Providence, as in their Original; the +successive Forms of all Nature; and herein, as in a Glass, may be view’d +all the Scenes of Time or Eternity. This is an Abyss of sacred Wisdom, +the exhausted Treasure of all Science, the Root of Truth, and Fountain +of intellectual Light; and in the clear and full Contemplation of this +is perfect Happiness, and a truly beatifick Vision. + +BUT what concerns the intellectual World in this _Idea_, and the Orders +or Natures that compose it, is not our present Business to pursue; we +are to speak of the corporeal Universe, whereof we will make now a short +and general Survey, as it lies under Providence. The corporeal Universe, +how immense soever it be, and divided into innumerable Regions, may be +consider’d all as one System, made up of several subordinate Systems. +And there is also one immense Design of Providence co-extended with it, +that contains all the Fate, and all the Revolutions of this great Mass. +This, I say, is made up of several subordinate Systems, involving one +another, and comprehending one another, in greater and greater Orbs and +Compositions; and the Aggregate of all these is that which we call the +_Universe_. But what the Form of these Compositions is, and what the +Design of Providence that runs thro’ them all, and comprehends them all, +this is unsearchable, not only to humane Understanding, but even to +Angels and Archangels. + +WHEREFORE leaving those greater Systems and Compositions of the +Universe, as Matter of our Admiration, rather than of our Knowledge; +there are two or three kinds of lesser Systems that are visible to us, +and bring us nearer to our Subject, and nearer home. _That_ of a fix’d +Star single; _That_ of a fix’d Star with its Planets, and _that_ of a +single Planet, primary or secondary. These three Systems we see and +enjoy more or less. No doubt there are fix’d Stars single, or that have +no Planets about them, as our Sun hath; nay ’tis probable, that at first +the whole Universe consisted only of such Globes of liquid Fire, with +Spheres about them, of pure Light and Æther: Earths are but the Dirt and +Skum of the Creation, and all Things were pure as they came at first out +of the Hands of God. But because we have nothing particular taught us, +either by the Light of Nature or Revelation, concerning the Providence +that governs these single Stars, of what Use they are to intellectual +Beings, how animated by them, what Diversity there is amongst those +æthereal Worlds, what Periods they have, what Changes or Vicissitudes +they are capable to undergo, because such Inquiries would seem too +remote, and carry us too far from our Subject, we leave these heavenly +Systems to the Enjoyment and Contemplation of higher and more noble +Creatures. + +THE Sun, with all the Planets that move about him, and depend upon him, +make a good Sort of System; not considerable indeed, if compar’d with +the whole Universe, or some of the greater Compositions in it; but in +respect of us, the System of the Sun is of vast Extent: We cannot +measure the Greatness of his Kingdom, and his Dominion is without End. +The Distance from the highest Planet to the nearest fixt Star in the +Firmament is unmeasurable, and all this belongs to the Empire of the +Sun; besides the several Planets and their Orbs, which cast themselves +closer about his Body, that they may receive a warmer and stronger +Influence from him; for by him they may be said to _live_ and _move_. +But those vast Spaces that lie beyond these opaque Bodies, are Regions +of perpetual Light; one Planet may Eclipse the Sun to another, and one +Hemisphere of a Planet to the other Hemisphere makes Night and Darkness; +but nothing can eclipse the Sun, or intercept the Course of his Light to +these remote æthereal Regions; they are always luminous, and always pure +and serene. And if the worst and planetary Parts of his Dominions be +replenished with Inhabitants, we cannot suppose the better to lie as +Desarts unenjoy’d and uninhabited; his Subjects then must be numerous, +as well as his Dominions large; and in both respects this System of a +fixt Star, with its Planets, (of which kind we may imagin innumerable in +the Universe, besides this of the Sun, which is near and visible to us) +is of a noble Character and Order, being the Habitation of Angels and +glorified Spirits, as well as of mortal Men. + +A planetary System is the last and lowest; and of these, no doubt, there +is great Variety, and great Differences; not only of primary and +secondary, or of the principal Planet, and its Moons or Attendants, but +also amongst Planets of the same Rank; for they may differ both in their +original Constitution, and according to the Form and State they are +under at present; of which sort of Differences we have noted some +amongst our Planets, (_Book. 1. chap. last, p. 113_, _&c._) tho’ they +seem to be all of much-what the same original Constitution. Besides, +according to external Circumstances, their Distance, Manner of Motion, +and Posture to the Sun, which is the Heart of the whole System, they +become different in many Things. And we may observe, that those leading +Differences, tho’ they seem little, draw after them innumerable others, +and so make a distinct Face of Nature, and a distinct World; which still +shews the Riches and Fecundity of divine Providence, and gives new +Matter of Contemplation to those that take Pleasure in studying the +Works and Ways of God. But leaving all other Planets, or planetary +Systems to our Meditations only, we must particularly consider our own. + +HAVING therefore made this general Survey of the great Universe, run +through the boundless Regions of it, and with much ado found our Way +home to that little Planet where our Concerns lie, this Earth or +sublunary World, we must rest here at the End of our Course. And having +undertaken to give the general Theory of this Earth, to conclude the +present Treatise, we’ll reflect upon the whole Work, and observe what +Progress we have hitherto made in this Theory, and what remains to be +treated of hereafter. This Earth, tho’ it be a small Part or Particle of +the Universe, hath a distinct System of Providence belonging to it, or +an Order establisht by the Author of Nature for all its _Phænomena_ +(natural or moral) throughout the whole Period of its Duration, and +every Interval of it; for, as there is nothing so great as to be above +the divine Care, so neither is there any thing so little as to be below +it. All the Changes of out World are fixt; How, or how often to be +destroy’d, and how renew’d; What different Faces of Nature, and what of +Mankind, in every Part of its Course; What new Scenes to adorn the +Stage, and what new Parts to be acted; What the Entrance, and what the +Consummation of all. Neither is there any sort of Knowledge more proper, +or of more importance to us that are the Inhabitants of this Earth, than +to understand this its natural and sacred History, as I may so call it, +both as to what is past, and what is to come. And as those greater +Volumes and Compositions of the Universe are proportion’d to the +Understanding of Angels and superior Beings, so these little Systems are +_Compendiums_ of the divine Wisdom more fitted to our Capacity and +Comprehension. + +THE Providence of the Earth, as of all other Systems, consists of two +Parts, natural, and sacred or theological. I call that sacred or +theological that respects Religion, and the Dispensations of it; the +Government of the rational World, or of Mankind, whether under the Light +of Nature only, or of a Revelation? the Method and Terms of their +Happiness and Unhappiness in a future Life: The State, Oeconomy, and +Conduct of this, with all the Mysteries contain’d in it, we call +theological Providence; in the Head whereof stands the Soul of the +blessed _Messiah_, who is Lord of both Worlds, intellectual and +material. When we call the other Part of Providence _Natural_, we use +that Word in a restrain’d Sense, as respecting only the material World; +and accordingly this Part of Providence orders and superintends the +State of the Earth, the great Vicissitudes and Mutations of it; for we +must not imagin but that these are under the Eye of Providence, as well +as humane Affairs, or any Revolutions of States and Empires. Now seeing +both in the intellectual and corporeal World there are certain Periods, +Fulness of Time, and fixt Seasons, either for some great Catastrophe, or +some great Instauration; ’tis Providence that makes a due Harmony or +Synchronism betwixt these two, and measures out the concurrent Fates of +both Worlds, so as Nature may be always a faithful Minister of the +divine Pleasure, whether for Rewards or Punishments, according as the +State of Mankind may require. But theological Providence not being the +Subject of this Work, we shall only observe, as we said before, what +Account we have hitherto given of the natural State of the Earth, and +what remains to be handled in another Treatise, and so conclude. + +I did not think it necessary to carry the Story and Original of the +Earth, higher than the Chaos, as _Zoroaster_ and _Orpheus_ seem to have +done; but taking that for our Foundation, which Antiquity sacred and +prophane doth suppose, and natural Reason approve and confirm, we have +form’d the Earth from it. But when we say the Earth rose from a fluid +Mass, it is not to be so crudely understood, as if a Rock of Marble, +suppose, was fluid immediately before it became Marble; no, Things had a +gradual Progression from one Form to another, and came at length to +those more permanent Forms they are now settled in: Stone was once +Earth, and Earth was once Mud, and Mud was once fluid. And so other +Things may have another kind of Progression from Fluidity; but all was +once Fluid, at least all the exterior Regions of this Earth. And even +those Stones and Rocks of Marble which we speak of, seem to confess they +were once soft or liquid, by those Mixtures we find in them of +heterogeneous Bodies, and those Spots and Veins disperst thorough their +Substance; for these Things could not happen to them after they were +hard and impenetrable, in the Form of Stone or Marble. And if we can +soften Rocks and Stones, and run them down into their first Liquors, as +these Observations seem to do, we may easily believe that other Bodies +also that compose the Earth were once in a fluid Mass, which is that we +call a Chaos. + +WE therefore watch’d the Motions of that Chaos, and the several +Transformations of it, while it continued Fluid; and we found at length +what its first Concretion would be, and how it settled into the Form of +an habitable Earth. But that Form was very different from the present +Form of the Earth, which is not immediately deducible from a Chaos by +any known Laws of Nature, or by any Wit of Man; as every one, that will +have Patience to examine it, may easily be satisfied. That first Earth +was of a smooth, regular Surface, as the Concretions of Liquors are, +before they are disturb’d or broken; under that Surface lay the great +Abyss, which was ready to swallow up the World that hung over it, and +about it, whensoever God should give the Command, and the Vault should +break and this Constitution of the primæval Earth gave Occasion to the +first Catastrophe of this World, when it perish’d in a Deluge of Water. +For that Vault did break, as we have shewn at large, and by the +Dissolution and Fall of it, the great Deep was thrown out of its Bed, +forc’d upwards into the Air, and overflowed, in that impetuous +Commotion, the highest Tops of the Fragments of the ruin’d Earth, which +now we call its Mountains. And as this was the first great and fatal +Period of Nature; so upon the Issue of this, and the Return of the +Waters into their Channels, the second Face of Nature appear’d, or the +present broken Form of the Earth, as it is _Terraqueous_, _Mountainous_, +and _Cavernous_. These Things we have explain’d fully in the first Book, +and I have thereby settled two great Points, given a rational Account of +the _Universal Deluge_, and shewn the Causes of the irregular Form of +the present or _Postdiluvian Earth_. This being done, we have apply’d +our selves in the second Book, to the Description of the _Primæval +Earth_, and the Examination of its Properties; and this hath led us by +an easy Tract to the Discovery of _Paradise_, and of the true Notion and +Mystery of it; which is not so much a Spot of Ground where a fine Garden +stood, as a Course of Nature, or a peculiar State of the Earth; +_Paradisiacal_ in many Parts, but especially in one Region of it; which +Place or Region we have also endeavour’d to determine, though not so +much from the Theory, as from the Suffrages of Antiquity, if you will +take their Judgment. + +THUS much is finish’d, and this contains the natural Theory of the Earth +till this present Time; for since the Deluge all Things have continued +in the same State, or without any remarkable Change. We are next to +enter upon new Matter and new Thoughts, and not only so, but upon a +Series of _Things and Times to come_, which is to make the second Part +of this Theory. Dividing the Duration of the World into two Parts, past +and future, we have dispatch’d the first and far greater Part, and come +better half of our Way; And if we make a Stand here, and look both Ways, +backwards to the Chaos and the Beginning of the World, and forwards to +the End and Consummation of all Things, though the first be a longer +Prospect, yet there are as many general Changes and Revolutions of +Nature in the remaining Part, as have already happen’d; and in the +Evening of this long Day the Scenes will change faster, and be more +bright and illustrious. From the Creation to this Age the Earth hath +undergone but one Catastrophe, and Nature hath had two different Faces. +The next Catastrophe is the CONFLAGRATION, to which a new Face of Nature +will accordingly succeed, _New Heavens_ and a _New Earth_, _Paradise_ +renew’d, and so it is call’d the Restitution of Things, or +_Regeneration_ of the World, Ἀποκατάσασις Γαλιγ ἐνεσία. And that Period +of Nature and Providence being expir’d, then follows the _Consummation +of all Things_, or the general _Apothesis_; _when Death and Hell shall +be swallowed up in Victory_. When the great Circle of Time and Fate is +run; or according to the Language of Scripture, _When the Heavens and +the Earth shall pass away, and Time shall be no more._ + + * * * * * + +_MAY we, in the mean time, by a true Love of God above all Things, and a +Contempt of this vain World which passeth away; by a careful Use of the +Gifts of God and Nature, the Light of Reason and Revelation, prepare our +selves, and the State of Things, for the great Coming of our Saviour._ +To whom be Praise and Honour for evermore. + +_FINIS._ + + + + + ● Transcriber’s Notes: + ○ Text that was in italics is enclosed by underscores (_italics_). + ○ Footnotes have been moved to follow the sections in which they are + referenced. + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75644 *** diff --git a/75644-h/75644-h.htm b/75644-h/75644-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b791516 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/75644-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,16612 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> + <head> + <meta charset="UTF-8"> + <title>The sacred theory of the Earth | Project Gutenberg</title> + <link rel="icon" href="images/cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + <style> + body { margin-left: 8%; 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} + </style> + </head> + <body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75644 ***</div> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_on'>on</span> +<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' class='ig001'> +</div> +<div class='pbb'> + <hr class='pb c000'> +</div> +<div> + <h1 class='c001'>The Sacred Theory of the Earth</h1> +</div> +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/img1.jpg' alt=''’' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>The Sacred Theory of the Earth</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter id003'> +<img src='images/img2.jpg' alt=''The' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Effigies Authoris.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c1'> +<div class='nf-center c002'> + <div><span class='xxlarge'><b>The Sacred Theory of the Earth</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>Containing an Account of the</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'><span class='xlarge'><b>Original of the Earth,</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'><b>And of all the</b></div> + <div><b>General Changes which it hath already</b></div> + <div><b>undergone, or is to undergo, till the Consummation</b></div> + <div><b>of all Things.</b></div> + <div class='c000'><span class='xlarge'><b>In Two Volumes.</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>The Two First Books</b></span></div> + <div><span class='large'><b>Concerning the DELUGE</b></span></div> + <div><b>AND</b></div> + <div><span class='large'><b>Concerning PARADISE</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>The Two Last Books</b></span></div> + <div><span class='large'><b>Concerning the Burning of the WORLD,</b></span></div> + <div>AND</div> + <div><span class='large'><b>Concerning the New Heavens and New Earth</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>With a <span class='sc'>Review</span> of the THEORY, and of its</b></span></div> + <div><span class='large'><b>Proofs; especially in reference to Scripture.</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>The Sixth Edition.</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'>To which is added,</div> + <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>The Author’s Defence of the WORK, from</b></span></div> + <div><span class='large'><b>the Exceptions of Mr. Warren, and the Examination</b></span></div> + <div><span class='large'><b>of Mr. Keil.</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'>AND</div> + <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>An ODE to the Author by Mr. <i>Addison</i>.</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'>LONDON: Printed for <span class='sc'>J. Hooke</span>, at the <i>Flower-de-Luce</i></div> + <div>against <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Dunstan’s-Church</i> in <i>Fleet-street</i>. <span class='fss'>MDCCXXVI.</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c003'><span class='pageno' id='Page_iii'>iii</span>Ad Insignissimum Virum</p> + +<p class='c004'>D. THO. BURNETTUM,</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Sacræ Theoriæ Telluris Autorem</i>.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Non usitatum carminis alitem,</div> + <div class='line'><span class='sc'>Burnette</span>, poscis, non humiles modos:</div> + <div class='line in2'>Vulgare plectrum, languidæque</div> + <div class='line in4'>Respuis officium camœnæ.</div> + <div class='line'>Tu mixta rerum semina conscius,</div> + <div class='line'>Molémque cernis dissociabilem,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Terrámque concretam, & latentem</div> + <div class='line in4'>Oceanum gremio capaci:</div> + <div class='line'>Dum veritatem quærere pertinax</div> + <div class='line'>Ignota pandis, sollicitus parùm</div> + <div class='line in2'>Utcunque stet commune vulgi</div> + <div class='line in4'>Arbitrium & popularis error.</div> + <div class='line'>Auditur ingens continuò fragor,</div> + <div class='line'>Illapsa tellus lubrica deserit</div> + <div class='line in2'>Fundamina, & compage fractà</div> + <div class='line in4'>Suppositas gravis urget undas.</div> + <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_iv'>iv</span>Impulsus erumpit medius liquor,</div> + <div class='line'>Terras aquarum effusa licentia</div> + <div class='line in2'>Claudit vicissim: has inter orbis</div> + <div class='line in4'>Reliquiæ fluitant prioris.</div> + <div class='line'>Nunc & recluso carcere lucidam</div> + <div class='line'>Balæna spectat solis imaginem,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Stellasque miratur natantes,</div> + <div class='line in4'>Et tremulæ simulacra lunæ.</div> + <div class='line'>Quæ pompa vocum non imitablis!</div> + <div class='line'>Qualis calescit spiritus ingenî!</div> + <div class='line in2'>Ut tollis undas! ut frementem</div> + <div class='line in4'>Diluvii reprimis tumultum!</div> + <div class='line'>Quis tam valenti pectore ferreus</div> + <div class='line'>Ut non tremiscens & timido pede</div> + <div class='line in2'>Incedat, orbis dum dolosi</div> + <div class='line in4'>Detegis instabiles ruinas?</div> + <div class='line'>Quin hæc cadentûm fragmina montium</div> + <div class='line'>Natura vultum sumere simplicem</div> + <div class='line in2'>Coget resingens, in priorem</div> + <div class='line in4'>Mox iterum reditura formam.</div> + <div class='line'>Nimbis rubentem sulphureis Jovem</div> + <div class='line'>Cernas; ut udis sævit atrox Hyems</div> + <div class='line in2'>Incendiis, commune mundo</div> + <div class='line in4'>Et populis meditata Bustum!</div> + <div class='line'>Nudus liquentes plorat Athos nives,</div> + <div class='line'>Et mox liquescens ipse adamantinum</div> + <div class='line in2'>Fundit cacumen, dum per imas</div> + <div class='line in4'>Saxa fluunt resoluta valles.</div> + <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_v'>v</span>Jamque alta cœli mœnia corruunt,</div> + <div class='line'>Et vestra tandem pagina (proh nefas!)</div> + <div class='line in2'><span class='sc'>Burnette</span>, vestra augebit ignes,</div> + <div class='line in4'>Heu socio peritura mundo.</div> + <div class='line'>Mox æqua tellus, mox subitus viror</div> + <div class='line'>Ubique rident: En teretem Globum!</div> + <div class='line in2'>En læta vernantis Favonî</div> + <div class='line in4'>Flamina, perpetuósque flores!</div> + <div class='line'>O pectus ingens! O animum gravem,</div> + <div class='line'>Mundi capacem! si bonus auguror,</div> + <div class='line in2'>Te, nostra quo tellus superbit,</div> + <div class='line in4'>Accipiet renovata civem.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'><i>Jo. Addison, è Coll. Magd. Oxon. 1699.</i></p> + +<div class='nf-center-c1'> +<div class='nf-center c002'> + <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_vi'>vi</span><span class='xlarge'><b>AN ODE</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>To the <span class='sc'>Learned</span></b></span></div> + <div class='c000'><span class='xlarge'><b>Dr. <i>Thomas Burnet</i>,</b></span></div> + <div class='c000'><span class='large'><b>AUTHOR of <i>The Sacred Theory of</i></b></span></div> + <div><span class='large'><b><i>the <span class='sc'>Earth</span></i>.</b></span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'>I.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>No common Height the Muse must soar,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>That wou’d thy Fame in Numbers try;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Nor dare in humble Verse adore,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>But rise with Thee above the Sky:</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>You ask a bold and lofty Strain,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>And what we meanly sing, disdain.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_vii'>vii</span>II.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>You Nature’s early Birth explore,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Her disunited Frame disclose,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>From what mix’d Cause, and jarring Power,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>The Infant Earth to Being rose:</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>How, in her circling Bosom sleep</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Th’ imprisoned Seas, and bounded Deep.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>III.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Resolv’d great hidden Truths to trace,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Each learned Fable you despise;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And, pleas’d, enjoy the fam’d Disgrace,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>To think, and reason singly wise:</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Each Tale reject by Time allow’d,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>And nobly leave the erring Crowd.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>IV.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Hark! from her weak Foundations tore,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>The bursting Earth asunder flies,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And, prop’d by yielding Seas no more,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>The dreadful Crack alarms the Skies:</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Whose Arches rent, their Weight forego,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>And plunge in opening Gulphs below.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>V.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Now rushing from their watry Bed,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>The driving Waves disdain a Shore;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And with resistless Force o’erspread</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>That Orb, which check’d their Rage before:</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>While scatter’d o’re the foamy Tide,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>All Nature’s floating Ruins ride.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_viii'>viii</span>VI.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>New Heavens disclos’d, the silver Train</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>The <span class='sc'>Sun</span> beneath their Waves admire;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And gliding thro’ the enlight’ned Main,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Gaze at each Star’s diminish’d Fire,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Well pleas’d, the <span class='sc'>Moon</span>’s bright Orb survey,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Trembling along their azure Play.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>VII.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>How strong each Line, each Thought how great,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>With what an Energy you rise!</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>How shines each Fancy? with what Heat</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Does every glowing Page surprize?</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>While spouting Oceans upward flow,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Or sink again to Caves below.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>VIII.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>As Nature’s Doom you thus impart,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>The moving Scene we scarce endure;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>But, shrinking, ask our anxious Heart,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>If on our Earth we tread secure?</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Whose Fate, unmov’d, as you persue,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>We start and tremble but to view</i>.</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>IX.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Yet these Remains we now behold,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Which tow’ring once in Hills arose;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Shall from a new and fairer Mould</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>A new and fairer Earth compose:</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Which to her Fate shall owe her Bloom,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>And rise more lovely from her Tomb.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_ix'>ix</span>X.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Yet see This beauteous Fabrick end,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>This second Pride of Fate expire;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>While gushing from the Clouds descend</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>The burning Storm, the liquid Fire;</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Where Worlds and Men consuming lie,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>And in one bright Confusion die.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>XI.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Their naked Tops the Hills admire,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>No longer white with fleecy Dew;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And as they moan the spreading Fire,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Add to the Flames dissolving too;</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>While Rocks from melting Mountains flow,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>And roll in Streams thro’ Vales below.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>XII.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>And now the kindling Orbs on high</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>All Nature’s mournful End proclaim;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>When thy great <span class='sc'>Work</span>, (Alas!) must die,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>And feed the rich victorious Flame:</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Give Vigour to the wasting fire,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>And with the World <span class='fss'>TOO SOON</span> expire.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>XIII.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Once more her Bloom the Earth renews,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Smooth’d into Green, eternal Vales;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Her Glebe still moist with fragrant Dews,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Her Air still rich with balmy Gales:</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>No Change her flow’ry Seasons breed,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>But Springs retire, and Springs succeed.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'><span class='pageno' id='Page_x'>x</span>XIV.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Oh say, Thou Great, Thou sacred Name,</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>What Scenes Thy thoughtful Breast employ,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Capacious as that mighty Frame</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>You raise with Ease, with Ease destroy?</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Each World shall boast thy Fame; and <span class='sc'>You</span>,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Who charm’d the <span class='sc'>Old</span>, should grace the <span class='sc'>New</span>.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='nf-center-c1'> +<div class='nf-center c002'> + <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_xi'>xi</span><span class='large'><b>TO THE</b></span></div> + <div><span class='xlarge'><b>KING’s</b></span></div> + <div><span class='large'><b>MOST</b></span></div> + <div><span class='large'><b>Excellent Majesty.</b></span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><i>SIR</i>,</p> + +<p class='c004'>New-found Lands and +Countries accrue to +the Prince whose Subject +makes the first Discovery; +and having retriev’d a +World that had been lost for +some thousands of Years, out of +the Memory of Man, and the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xii'>xii</span>Records of Time, I thought it +my Duty to lay it at your Majesty’s +Feet. ’Twill not enlarge +your Dominions, ’tis past and +gone; nor dare I say it will enlarge +your Thoughts; but I hope +it may gratify your Princely Curiosity +to read the Description +of it, and see the Fate that attended +it.</p> + +<p class='c004'>We have still the broken +Materials of that first World, +and walk upon its Ruins; while +it stood, there was the Seat of +<i>Paradise</i>, and the Scenes of the +<i>Golden Age</i>; when it fell, it made +the Deluge; and this unshapen +Earth we now inhabit, is the +Form it was found in when the +Waters had retir’d, and the +dry Land appear’d. These +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xiii'>xiii</span>things, Sir, I propose and presume +to prove in the following +Treatise, which I willingly submit +to your Majesty’s Judgment +and Censure; being very well +satisfied, that if I had sought a +Patron in all the List of Kings, +your Contemporaries, or in the +Roll of your Nobles of either +Order, I could not have found +a more competent Judge in a +Speculation of this Nature. Your +Majesty’s Sagacity, and happy +Genius for natural History, for +Observations and Remarks upon +the Earth, the Heavens, and the +Sea, is a better Preparation for +Inquiries of this kind, than all +the dead Learning of the Schools.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Sir</span>, This Theory, in the full +Extent of it, is to reach to the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xiv'>xiv</span>last Period of the Earth, and +the End of all Things; but this +first Volume takes in only so +much as is already past, from +the Origin of the Earth, to this +present Time and State of Nature. +To describe in like manner +the Changes and Revolutions +of Nature that are to +come, and see thorough all succeeding +Ages, will require a +steady and attentive Eye, and +a Retreat from the Noise of +the World; especially so to +connect the Parts, and present +them all under one View, that +we may see, as in a Mirror, the +several Faces of Nature, from +first to last, throughout all the +Circle of Successions.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xv'>xv</span><span class='sc'>Your</span> Majesty having been +pleas’d to give Encouragement +to this Translation, I humbly +present it to your gracious Acceptance. +And ’tis our Interest, +as well as Duty, in Disquisitions +of this Nature, to address +our selves to your Majesty, as +the Defender of <i>Philosophick +Liberties</i>, against those that +would usurp upon the fundamental +Privilege and Birthright +of Mankind, <i>The free +Use of Reason</i>. Your Majesty +hath always appear’d the Royal +Patron of Learning and the +Sciences; and ’tis suitable to the +Greatness of a Princely Spirit +to favour and promote whatsoever +tends to the Enlargement +of human Knowledge, and the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xvi'>xvi</span>Improvement of human Nature. +To be Good and Gracious, and +a Lover of Knowledge, are, methinks, +two of the most amiable +Things in this World: And that +your Majesty may always bear +that Character in present and +future Ages; and after a long +and prosperous Reign enjoy a +blessed Immortality, is the constant +Prayer of</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Your <span class='sc'>Majesty</span>’s</i></div> + <div class='line in2'><i>Most Humble and</i></div> + <div class='line in4'><i>Most Obedient Subject</i>,</div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Thomas Burnet</span>.</p> +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_xvii'>xvii</span> + <h2 class='c007'>PREFACE TO THE READER.</h2> +</div> +<p class='c008'>Having given an Account of this +whole Work in the first Chapter, +and of the Method of either Book, +whereof this Volume consists, in +their proper Places, there remains not much +to be said here to the Reader. This Theory +of the Earth may be called <i>Sacred</i>, because +it is not the common Physiology of the Earth, +or of the Bodies that compose it, but respects +only the great Turns of Fate, and the Revolutions +of our natural World; such as are +taken notice of in the Sacred Writings, and +are truly the Hinges upon which the Providence +of this Earth moves; or whereby it opens +and shuts the several successive Scenes whereof +it is made up. This <i>English</i> Edition is the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xviii'>xviii</span>same in Substance with the <i>Latin</i>, though, I +confess, ’tis not so properly a Translation, as a +new Composition upon the same Ground, there +being several additional Chapters in it, and several +new-moulded.</p> + +<p class='c004'>As every Science requires a peculiar Genius, +so likewise there is a Genius peculiarly improper +for every one: And as to Philosophy, which +is the Contemplation of the Works of Nature, +and the Providence that governs them, there +is no Temper or Genius, in my Mind, so improper +for it, as that which we call a <i>mean</i> +and <i>narrow Spirit</i>; and which the <i>Greeks</i> call +<i>Littleness of Soul</i>. This is a Defect in the first +Make of some Mens Minds, which can scarce +ever be corrected afterwards, either by Learning +or Age. And as Souls that are made +little and incapacious cannot enlarge their +Thoughts to take in any great Compass of +Times or Things; so what is beyond their +Compass, or above their Reach, they are apt +to look upon as fantastical, or at least would +willingly have it pass for such in the World. +Now as there is nothing so great, so large, so +immense, as the Works of Nature, and the +Methods of Providence, Men of this Complexion +must needs be very unfit for the Contemplation +of them. Who would set a purblind +Man at the Top of the Mast to discover +Land? Or upon an high Tower to draw a +Landskip of the Country round about? For +the same Reason, short-sighted Minds are unfit +to make Philosophers, whose proper Business +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xix'>xix</span>it is to discover and describe in comprehensive +Theories the <i>Phænomena</i> of the +World, and the Causes of them.</p> + +<p class='c004'>This Original Disease of the Mind is seldom +cur’d by Learning, which cures many others; +like a Fault in the first <i>Stamina</i> of the Body, +it cannot easily be rectified afterwards. ’Tis +a great Mistake to think that every sort of +Learning makes a Man a competent Judge of +Natural Speculations: We see unhappy Examples +to the contrary amongst the Christian +Fathers, and particularly in <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i>, who +was unquestionably a Man of Parts and Learning; +but interposing in a Controversy where +his Talent did not lie, shew’d his Zeal against +the <i>Antipodes</i> to very ill purpose, though he +drew his Reasons partly from Scripture. And +if within a few Years, or in the next Generation, +it should prove as certain and demonstrable +that the <i>Earth is mov’d</i>, as it is now, +that there are <i>Antipodes</i>; those that have been +zealous against it, and engag’d the Scripture +in the Controversy, would have the same Reason +to repent of their Forwardness, that <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i> +would have now, if he was alive. ’Tis +a dangerous thing to engage the Authority of +Scripture in Disputes about the Natural World, +in Opposition to Reason; lest Time, which +brings all Things to Light, should discover that +to be evidently false which we had made Scripture +to assert: And I remember <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i>, in +his Exposition upon <i>Genesis</i>, hath laid down a +Rule to this very purpose, though he had the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xx'>xx</span>Unhappiness, it seems, not to follow it always +himself. The Reason also, which he gives +there for his Rule, is very good and substantial: +For, saith he<a id='r1'></a><a href='#f1' class='c009'><sup>[1]</sup></a>, <i>if the Unbelievers or Philosophers +shall certainly know us to be mistaken, +and to err in those things that concern the Natural +World, and see that we alledge our (Sacred) +Books for such vain Opinions, how shall they +believe those same Books when they tell them +of the <span class='sc'>Resurrection</span> of the Dead, +and the World to come, if they find them to be +fallaciously writ in such things as lie within +their certain Knowledge?</i></p> + +<p class='c004'>We are not to suppose that any Truth concerning +the Natural World can be an Enemy +to Religion; for Truth cannot be an Enemy +to Truth, God is not divided against himself; +and therefore we ought not upon that +Account to condemn or censure what we have +not examin’d or cannot disprove; as those, +that are of this narrow Spirit we are speaking +of, are very apt to do. Let every thing be +try’d and examin’d in the first Place, whether +it be <i>True</i> or <i>False</i>; and if it be found false, +’tis then to be consider’d whether it be such a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xxi'>xxi</span>Falsity as is prejudicial to Religion or no. But +for every new Theory that is propos’d, to be +alarm’d, as if all Religion was falling about our +Ears, is to make the World suspect that we are +very ill assur’d of the Foundation it stands upon. +Besides, do not all Men complain, even these as +well as others, of the great ignorance of Mankind? +how little we know, and how much is +still unknown? and can we ever know more, +unless something new be discover’d? It cannot +be old when it comes first to light, when first +invented, and first propos’d. If a Prince should +complain of the Poorness of his Exchequer, and +the Scarcity of Money in his Kingdom, would +he be angry with his Merchants, if they brought +him home a <i>Cargo</i> of good Bullion, or a Mass +of Gold out of a foreign Country? and give +this Reason only for it, He would have no <i>new +Silver</i>; neither should any be current in his +Dominions but what had his own Stamp and +Image upon it: How should this Prince or his +People grow rich? To complain of Want, and +yet refuse all offers of a Supply, looks very +sullen, or very fantastical.</p> + +<hr class='c010'> + +<p class='c004'>I might mention also upon this occasion +another Genius and Disposition in Men, which +often makes them improper for Philosophical +Contemplations; not so much, it may be, from +the Narrowness of their Spirit and Understanding, +as because they will not take Time to extend +them. I mean Men of Wit and Parts, +but of short Thoughts and little Meditation, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xxii'>xxii</span>and that are apt to distrust every Thing for a +Fancy or Fiction that is not the Dictate of +Sense, or made out immediately to their Senses. +Men of this Humour and Character call +such Theories as these philosophick Romances, +and think themselves witty in the Expression; +they allow them to be pretty Amusements of +the Mind, but without Truth or Reality. I +am afraid if an Angel should write the Theory +of the Earth, they would pass the same Judgment +upon it; where there is Variety of Parts +in a due Contexture, with something of surprizing +Aptness in the Harmony and Correspondency +of them, this they call a Romance; +but such Romances must all Theories of Nature +and of Providence be, and must have every +Part of that Character with Advantage, if they +be well represented. There is in them, as I +may so say, a <i>Plot</i> or <i>Mystery</i> pursued thro’ +the whole Work, and certain grand Issues or +Events upon which the rest depend, or to which +they are subordinate; but these Things we do +not make or contrive our selves, but find and +discover them, being made already by the great +Author and Governor of the Universe: And +when they are clearly discover’d, well digested, +and well reason’d in every Part, there is, +methinks, more of Beauty in such a Theory, +at least a more masculine Beauty, than in any +Poem or Romance; and that solid Truth that +is at the Bottom gives a Satisfaction to the +Mind, that it can never have from any Fiction +how artificial soever it be.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxiii'>xxiii</span>To enter no further upon this Matter, ’tis +enough to observe, that when we make Judgments +and Censures upon general Presumptions +and Prejudices, they are made rather from the +Temper and Model of our own Spirits, than +from Reason; and therefore, if we would neither +impose upon our selves, nor others, we +must lay aside that lazy and fallacious Method +of censuring by the Lump, and must bring +things close to the Test of <i>True</i> or <i>False</i>, to explicit +Proof and Evidence; and whosoever +makes such Objections against an <i>Hypothesis</i>, +hath a Right to be heard, let his Temper and +Genius be what it will. Neither do we intend +that any thing we have said here should be understood +in another Sense.</p> + +<p class='c004'>To conclude, This Theory being writ with +a sincere Intention to justify the Doctrines of +the <i>Universal Deluge</i>, and of a <i>Paradisiacal</i> +State, and protect them from the Cavils of +those that are no Well-wishers to sacred History, +upon that Account it may reasonably expect +fair Usage and Acceptance with all that +are well-dispos’d; and it will also be, I think, +a great Satisfaction to them to see those Pieces +of most ancient History, which have been +chiefly preserv’d in Scripture, confirm’d anew, +and by another Light, that of Nature and Philosophy; +and also freed from those Misconceptions or +Misrepresentations, which made them +sit uneasie upon the Spirits even of the best +Men that took Time to think. <i>Lastly</i>, In +things purely speculative, as these are, and no +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xxiv'>xxiv</span>Ingredients of our Faith, it is free to differ from +one another in our Opinions and Sentiments; +and so I remember <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i> hath observ’d upon +this very Subject of <i>Paradise</i>; wherefore +as we desire to give no Offence our selves, so +neither shall we take any at the Difference of +Judgment in others; provided this Liberty be +mutual, and that we all agree to study <i>Peace</i>, +<i>Truth</i>, and a <i>good Life</i>.</p> + +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_xxv'>xxv</span> + <h2 class='c007'>CONTENTS OF THE CHAPTERS.</h2> +</div> + +<p class='c008'>The FIRST BOOK.</p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. I.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>The Introduction: An Account of the +whole Work, of the Extent and general +Order of it.</i> ... Page <a href='#Page_1'>1</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. II.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>A general Account of Noah’s Flood. A Computation +what Quantity of Water would be +necessary for the making of it; That the common +Opinion and Explication of that Flood +is not intelligible.</i> ... <a href='#Page_10'>10</a></p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxvi'>xxvi</span>CHAP. III.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>All Evasions concerning the Flood answer’d; +That there was no Creation of Waters at the +Deluge, and that it was not particular or national, +but extended throughout the whole +Earth. A Prelude and Preparation to the +true Account and Explication of it. The +Method of the first Book.</i> ... <a href='#Page_25'>25</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. IV.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>That the Earth and Mankind had an Original, +and were not from Eternity; prov’d against +Aristotle. The first Proposition of our Theory +laid down, viz. That the Antediluvian Earth +was of a different Form and Construction +from the present. This is prov’d from divine +Authority, and from the Nature and Form +of the Chaos, out of which the Earth was +made.</i> ... <a href='#Page_47'>47</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. V.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>The second Proposition is laid down, viz. That +The Face of the Earth before the Deluge +was smooth, regular and uniform; without +Mountains, and without a Sea. The Chaos +out of which the World rose is fully examin’d, +and all its Motions observ’d, and by what +Steps it wrought it self into an habitable +World. Some things in Antiquity relating to +the first State of the Earth are interpreted, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xxvii'>xxvii</span>and some things in the sacred Writings. The +divine Art and Geometry in the Construction +of the first Earth is observ’d and celebrated.</i> ... <a href='#Page_71'>71</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. VI.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>The Dissolution of the first Earth: The Deluge +ensuing thereupon. And the Form of the present +Earth rising from the Ruins of the first.</i> ... <a href='#Page_89'>89</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. VII.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>That the Explication we have given of an universal +Deluge is not an IDEA only, but an +Account of what really came to pass in the +Earth, and the true Explication of Noah’s +Flood. An Examination of Tehom-Rabba, +or the great Abyss, and that by it the Sea cannot +be understood, nor the subterraneous Waters +as they are at present. What the true Notion +and Form of it was, collected from Moses +and other sacred Writers. Observations on +Deucalion’s Deluge.</i> ... <a href='#Page_103'>103</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. VIII.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>The particular History of Noah’s Flood is explain’d +in all the material Parts and Circumstances +of it, according to the preceding Theory. +Any seeming Difficulties remov’d, and the +whole Section concluded with a Discourse how +far the Deluge may be lookt upon as the Effect +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xxviii'>xxviii</span>fect of an ordinary Providence, and how far +of an extraordinary.</i> ... <a href='#Page_129'>129</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. IX.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>The second Part of this Discourse, proving the +same Theory from the Effects and the present +Form of the Earth. First, by a general Scheme +of what is most remarkable in this Globe, and +then by a more particular Induction; beginning +with an Account of Subterraneous Cavities +and Subterraneous Waters.</i> ... <a href='#Page_146'>146</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. X.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Concerning the Channel of the Sea and the Original +of it; The Causes of its irregular Form +and unequal Depths: As also of the Original +of Islands, their Situation and other Properties.</i> ... <a href='#Page_172'>172</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. XI.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Concerning the Mountains of the Earth, their +Greatness and irregular Form, their Situation, +Causes and Origin.</i> ... <a href='#Page_188'>188</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. XII.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>A short Review of what hath been already treated +of, and in what manner. All Methods, whether +philosophical or theological, that have +been offer’d by others for the Explication of the +Form of the Earth, are examin’d and refuted. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xxix'>xxix</span>A Conjecture concerning the other Planets, +their Natural Form and State compar’d with +ours; especially concerning Jupiter and Saturn.</i> ... <a href='#Page_206'>206</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>The <span class='sc'>Second Book</span>.</p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. I.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>The Introduction and Contents of the +Second Book. The general State of the +Primæval Earth, and of Paradise.</i> ... <a href='#Page_235'>235</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. II.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>The great Change of the World since the Flood, +from what it was in the first Ages. The +Earth under its present Form could not be +Paradisiacal, nor any Part of it.</i> ... <a href='#Page_251'>251</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. III.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>The Original Differences of the Primitive +Earth from the Present or Postdiluvian. The +three Characters of Paradise, and the Golden +Age, found in the Primitive Earth. A particular +Explication of each Character.</i> ... <a href='#Page_264'>264</a></p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxx'>xxx</span>CHAP. IV.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>A Digression concerning the Natural Causes of +Longævity. That the Machine of an Animal +consists of Springs, and which are the two +principal. The Age of the Antediluvians to be +computed by Solar, not Lunar Years.</i> ... <a href='#Page_277'>277</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. V.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Concerning the Waters of the Primitive Earth: +What the State of the Regions of the Air +was then, and how all Waters proceeded from +them. How the Rivers arose, what was their +Course, and how they ended. Several things +in sacred Writ that confirm this Hydrography +of the first Earth, especially the Postdiluvian +Origin of the Rainbow.</i> ... <a href='#Page_307'>307</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. VI.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>A Recollection and Review of what hath been +said concerning the Primitive Earth, with a +more full Survey of the State of the First +World, Natural and Civil, and the Comparison +of it with the present World.</i> ... <a href='#Page_329'>329</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. VII.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Concerning the Place of Paradise; It cannot be +determin’d from the Theory only, nor from +Scripture only; What the Sense of Antiquity +<span class='pageno' id='Page_xxxi'>xxxi</span>was concerning it, as to the Jews and Heathens, +and especially as to the Christian Fathers. +That they generally plac’d it out of this Continent, +in the Southern Hemisphere.</i> ... <a href='#Page_345'>345</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. VIII.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>The Uses of this Theory for the Illustration of +Antiquity; The Chaos of the Ancients explain’d; +The Inhabitability of the Torrid +Zone; The Change of the Poles of the World; +The Doctrine of the Mundane Egg; How +America was first peopled; How Paradise +within the Circle of the Moon.</i> ... <a href='#Page_363'>363</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. IX.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>A general Objection against this Theory, viz. +That if there had been such a Primitive +Earth, as we pretend, the Fame of it would +have sounded throughout all Antiquity. The +Eastern and Western Learning consider’d, the +most considerable Records of both are lost; +what Footsteps remain relating to this Subject. +The Jewish and Christian Learning +consider’d, how far lost as to this Argument, +and what Notes or Traditions remain. Lastly, +How far the Sacred Writings bear witness +to it. The Providential Conduct of Knowledge +in the World. A Recapitulation and +State of the Theory.</i> ... <a href='#Page_379'>379</a></p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxxii'>xxxii</span>CHAP. X.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Concerning the <span class='sc'>Author</span> of <span class='sc'>Nature</span>.</i> ... <a href='#Page_401'>401</a></p> + +<p class='c004'>CHAP. XI.</p> + +<p class='c004'>Concerning <span class='sc'>Natural Providence</span>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Several Incroachments upon natural Providence, +or Misrepresentations of it, and false Methods +of Contemplation. A true Method propos’d, +and a true Representation of the Universe. +The Mundane Idea, and the universal System +of Providence. Several subordinate Systems. +That of our Earth and sublunary World. +The Course and Periods of it. How much +of this is already treated of, and what remains. +Conclusion.</i> ... <a href='#Page_432'>432</a></p> +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_1'>1</span> + <h2 class='c007'>THE THEORY OF THE EARTH. <br> BOOK <abbr title='one'>I.</abbr> <br> Concerning the Deluge, and the Dissolution of the <span class='sc'>Earth</span>.</h2> +</div> +<h3 class='c011'>CHAP. <abbr title='one'>I.</abbr> <br> The <span class='sc'>Introduction</span>.</h3> +<p class='c012'><i>An Account of the whole Work; of the Extent +and general Order of it.</i></p> +<p class='c008'>Since I was first inclin’d to the +Contemplation of Nature, and took +Pleasure to trace out the Causes of +Effects, and the Dependance of one +thing upon another in the visible Creation, I +<span class='pageno' id='Page_2'>2</span>had always, methought, a particular Curiosity +to look back into the Sources and <span class='sc'>Original</span> +of Things; and to view in my Mind, so +far as I was able, the Beginning and Progress +of a <span class='sc'>Rising World</span>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> after some Essays of this Nature, and +as I thought, not unsuccessful, I carried on my +Enquiries further, to try whether this <i>Rising +World</i>, when form’d and finish’d, would continue +always the same; in the same Form, Structure, +and Consistency; or what Changes it +would successively undergo, by the continued +Action of the same Causes that first produc’d +it; and, lastly, what would be its final Period +and Consummation. This whole Series and +Compass of Things taken together, I call’d a +<span class='sc'>Course of Nature</span>, or, a <span class='sc'>System +of Natural Providence</span>; and +thought there was nothing belonging to the +external World more fit, or more worthy our +Study and Meditation, nor any thing that +would conduce more to discover the Ways of +Divine Providence, and to shew us the Grounds +of all true Knowledge concerning Nature. +And therefore, to clear up the several Parts of +this Theory, I was willing to lay aside a great +many other Speculations, and all those dry +Subtilties with which the Schools and the +Books of Philosophers are usually fill’d.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> when we speak of a <i>Rising World</i>, and +the Contemplation of it, we do not mean this, +of the <i>Great Universe</i>; for who can describe +the Original of that vast Frame? But we speak +<span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span>of the <i>Sublunary World</i>, this Earth, and its +Dependencies, which rose out of a Chaos about +Six Thousand Years ago. And seeing it hath fallen +to our Lot to act upon this Stage, to have +our present Home and Residence here, it seems +most reasonable, and the Place design’d by Providence, +where we should first employ our +Thoughts, to understand the Works of God and +Nature. We have accordingly therefore design’d +in this Work to give an Account of the +Original of the Earth, and of all the great and +general Changes that it hath already undergone, +or is hence forwards to undergo, till the Consummation +of all things. For if from those +Principles we have here taken, and that Theory +we have begun in these two first Books, we can +deduce with Success and Clearness the Origin +of the Earth, and those States of it that are already +past; following the same Thread, and by +the Conduct of the same Theory, we will pursue +its Fate and History thro’ future Ages, and +mark all the great Changes and Conversions +that attend it <i>while Day and Night shall last</i>; +that is, so long as it continues an Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'>By the States of the Earth that are already +past, we understand chiefly <i>Paradise</i> and the <i>Deluge</i>; +Names well known, and as little known +in their Nature. By the future States we understand +the <i>Conflagration</i>, and what new Order +of Nature may follow upon that, ’till the +whole Circle of Time and Providence be compleated. +As to the first and past States of the +Earth, we shall have little help from the Ancients, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>or from any of the Philosophers, for the +Discovery or Description of them: We must +often tread unbeaten Paths, and make a Way +where we do not find one; but it shall be always +with a Light in our Hand, that we may see our +Steps, and that those that follow us may not +follow us blindly. There is no Sect of Philosophers +that I know of, that ever gave an Account +of the Universal Deluge, or discover’d, from +the Contemplation of the Earth, that there had +been such a Thing already in Nature. ’Tis true, +they often talk of an Alternation of <i>Deluges</i> and +<i>Conflagrations</i> in this Earth, but they speak of +them as Things to come; at least, they give no +Proof or Argument of any that hath already destroyed +the World. As to <i>Paradise</i>, it seems +to be represented to us by the <i>Golden Age</i>; +whereof the Ancients tell many Stories, sometimes +very luxuriant, and sometimes very defective: +For they did not so well understand the +Difference betwixt the new-made Earth and the +present, as to see what were the just Grounds of +the <i>Golden Age</i>, or of <i>Paradise</i>; though they +had many broken Notions concerning those +Things, as to the <i>Conflagration</i> in particular. +This hath always been reckon’d one amongst +the Opinions, or Dogmata of the Stoicks, <i>That +the World was to be destroyed by Fire</i>, and their +Books are full of this Notion; but yet they +do not tell us the Causes of the Conflagration, +nor what Preparations there are in Nature, or +will be, towards that great Change. And we +may generally observe this of the <i>Ancients</i>, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span>that their Learning or Philosophy consisted +more in Conclusions, than in Demonstrations; +they had many Truths among them, whereof +they did not know themselves the Premises or +the Proofs: Which is an Argument to me, that +the Knowledge they had, was not a Thing of +their own Invention, or which they came to by +fair Reasoning and Observations upon Nature, +but was delivered to them from others by Tradition +and ancient Fame, sometimes more publick, +sometimes more secret: These Conclusions +they kept in Mind, and communicated +to those of their School, or Sect, or Posterity, +without knowing, for the most part, the just +Grounds and Reasons of them.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> the Sacred Writings of Scripture that +are the best Monuments of Antiquity, and to +those we are chiefly beholden for the History of +the first Ages, whether Natural History or Civil. +’Tis true, the Poets, who were the most ancient +Writers among the <i>Greeks</i>, and serv’d them both +for Historians, Divines, and Philosophers, have +delivered some Things concerning the first Ages +of the World, that have a fair resemblance +of Truth, and some Affinity with those Accounts +that are given of the same Things by Sacred Authors, +and these may be of Use in due Time and +Place; but yet, lest any thing fabulous should +be mix’d with them, as commonly there is, +we will never depend wholly upon their Credit, +nor assert any Thing upon the Authority +of the Ancients which is not first prov’d by +natural Reason, or warranted by Scripture.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span><span class='sc'>It</span> seems to me very reasonable to believe that +besides the Precepts of Religion, which are the +principal Subject and Design of the Books of Holy +Scripture, there may be providentially conserved +in them the Memory of Things and Times +so remote, as could not be retrieved, either by +History, or by the Light of Nature; and yet +were of great Importance to be known, both for +their own Excellency, and also to rectify the +Knowledge of Men in other Things consequential +to them: Such Points may be, <i>Our great +Epocha</i>, or the Age of the Earth, The Origination +of Mankind, The First and Paradisiacal State, +The Destruction of the old World by an Universal +Deluge, The Longevity of its Inhabitants, +The manner of their Preservation, and of their +Peopling the second Earth; and lastly, The +Fate and Changes it is to undergo. These I always +look’d upon as the Seeds of great Knowledge, +or Heads of Theories fix’d on Purpose +to give us Aim and Direction how to pursue +the rest that depend upon them. But these +Heads, you see, are of a mix’d Order, and we +propose to our selves in this Work only such as +belong to the natural World, upon which I +believe the Trains of Providence are generally +laid; and we must first consider, how God hath +order’d Nature, and then, how the Occonomy +of the Intellectual World is adapted to it; +for of these two Parts consist the full System +of Providence. In the mean Time, what Subject +can be more worthy the Thoughts of any +serious Person, than to view and consider the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>Rise and Fall, and all the Revolutions, not +of a Monarchy or an Empire, of the <i>Grecian</i> +or <i>Roman</i> State, but of an entire World?</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Obscurity of these Things, and their +Remoteness from common Knowledge, will be +made an Argument by some, why we should not +undertake them; and by others, it may be, the +very same Thing will be made an Argument +why we should. For my Part I think <i>There is +nothing so secret that shall not be brought to +Light</i>, within the Compass of <i>our World</i>; for +we are not to understand that of the whole +Universe, nor of all Eternity, our Capacities +do not extend so far; but whatsoever concerns +this Sublunary World in the whole Extent of its +Duration, from the Chaos to the last Period, +this I believe Providence hath made us capable +to understand, and will in its due Time make it +known. All I say, betwixt the first Chaos and +the last Completion of Time and all Things +temporary, this was given to the Disquisitions +of Men: On either Hand is Eternity, before the +World and after, which is without our reach: +But that little spot of Ground that lies betwixt +those two great Oceans, this we are to cultivate, +this we are Masters of, herein we are to exercise +our Thoughts, to understand and lay open +the Treasures of the Divine Wisdom and Goodness +hid in this part of Nature and of Providence.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>As</span> for the Difficulty or Obscurity of an +Argument, that does but add to the Pleasure +of contesting with it, when there are Hopes +of Victory; and Success does more than recompense +<span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span>all the Pains. For there is no sort +of Joy more grateful to the Mind of Man, +than that which ariseth from the Invention of +Truth; especially when ’tis hard to come by. +Every Man hath a Delight suited to his Genius, +and as there is Pleasure in the right Exercise +of any Faculty, so especially in that of +Right-Reasoning; which is still the greater, by +how much the Consequences are more clear, +and the Chains of them more long: There is +no Chace so pleasant, methinks, as to drive +a Thought, by good Conduct, from one end +of the World to the other; and never to +lose Sight of it till it fall into Eternity, where +all things are lost, as to our Knowledge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> Theory being chiefly Philosophical, +Reason is to be our first Guide; and where +that falls short, or any other just Occasion offers +it self, we may receive further Light and +Confirmation from the Sacred Writings. Both +these are to be look’d upon as of Divine Original, +God is the Author of both; he that +made the Scripture made also our Faculties, and +’twere a Reflection upon the Divine Veracity +for the one or the other to be false when rightly +used. We must therefore be careful and tender +of opposing these to one another, because that +is, in effect, to oppose God to himself. As for +Antiquity and the Testimonies of the Ancients, +we only make general Reflections upon them, +for Illustration rather than Proof of what we +propose; not thinking it proper for an <i>English</i> +Treatise to multiply Citations out of <i>Greek</i> +or <i>Latin</i> Authors.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>I am very sensible it will be much our Interest, +that the Reader of this Theory should +be of an ingenuous and unprejudiced Temper, +neither does it so much require Book-learning +and Scholarship, as good natural Sense to distinguish +<i>True</i> and <i>False</i>, and to discern what +is well prov’d, and what is not. It often happens +that Scholastick Education, like a Trade, +does so fix a Man in a particular Way, that he +is not fit to judge of any thing that lies out of +that Way; and so his Learning becomes a Clog +to his natural Parts, and makes him more indocile, +and more incapable of new Thoughts +and new Improvements, than those that have +only the Talents of Nature. As Matters of +Exercise had rather take a Scholar that never +learn’d before, than one that hath had a bad +Master; so generally one would rather chuse +a Reader without Art, than one ill instructed +with Learning, but opinionative, and without +Judgment; yet it is not necessary they should +want either, and Learning well plac’d strengthens +all the Powers of the Mind. To conclude, +just Reasoning and a generous Love of Truth, +whether with or without Erudition, is that +which makes us most competent Judges what +is true. And further than this, in the Perusal +and Examination of this Work, as to the Author, +as much Candor as you please; but as +to the Theory, we require nothing but Attention +and Impartiality.</p> +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span> + <h3 id='chap-1-2' class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='two'>II.</abbr></span></h3> +</div> +<p class='c012'><i>A general Account of <span class='sc'>Noah</span>’s Flood; a Computation +what Quantity of Water would be +necessary for the making of it; that the common +Opinion and Explication of that Flood +is not intelligible.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> now more than five Thousand Years +since our World was made, and tho’ +it would be a great Pleasure to the Mind, to +recollect and view at this Distance those first +Scenes of Nature; what the Face of the Earth +was, when fresh and new, and how Things +differ’d from the State we now find them in, +the Speculation is so remote, that it seems +to be hopeless, and beyond the reach of +human Wit. We are almost the last Posterity +of the first Men, and fallen into the +dying Age of the Worlds; by what Footsteps, +or by what Guide can we trace back our Way +to those first Ages, and the first Order of +Things? And yet, methinks, it is reasonable +to believe, that Divine Providence, which +sees at once throughout all the Ages and Orders +of the World, should not be willing to +keep Mankind finally and fatally ignorant +of that part of Nature, and of the Universe, +which is properly their Task and Province +to manage and understand. We are the Inhabitants +of the Earth, the Lords and Masters of +it; and we are endow’d with Reason and Understanding; +doth it not then properly belong +<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>to us to examine and unfold the Works of God +in this part of the Universe, which is fallen +to our Lot, which is our Heritage and Habitation? +And it will be found, it may be, upon +a stricter Enquiry, that in the present Form and +Constitution of the Earth, there are certain +Marks and Indications of its first State; with +which if we compare those Things that are +recorded in Sacred History, concerning the first +Chaos, Paradise, and an Universal Deluge, we +may discover, by the help of those Lights, what +the Earth was in its first Original, and what +Changes have since succeeded in it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> tho’ we shall give a full Account of +the Origin of the Earth in this Treatise, yet +that which we have propos’d particularly for the +Title and Subject of it, is to give an Account +of the primæval <i>Paradise</i>, and of the Universal +<i>Deluge</i>, those being the two most important +things that are explained by the Theory we +propose. And I must beg leave in treating +of these two, to change the Order, and treat +first of the <i>Deluge</i>, and then of <i>Paradise:</i> For +though the State of Paradise doth precede that +of the Flood in Sacred History, and in the Nature +of the Thing, yet the Explication of both +will be more sensible and more effectual, if we +begin with the Deluge; there being more Observations +and Effects, and those better known +to us that may be referr’d to this, than to the +other; and the Deluge being once truly explain’d, +we shall from thence know the Form +and Quality of the Ante-diluvian Earth. Let +<span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span>us then proceed to the Explication of that great +and fatal Inundation, whose History is well +known; and according to <i>Moses</i>, the best of +Historians, in a few Words is this——</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Sixteen</span> Hundred and odd Years after +the Earth was made, and inhabited, it was +over-flowed and destroyed in a Deluge of Water. +Not a Deluge that was National only, +or over-run some particular Country or Region, +as <i>Judea</i> or <i>Greece</i>, or any other, but it +over-spread the Face of the Whole Earth, from +Pole to Pole, and from <i>East</i> to <i>West</i>, and that +in such Excess, that the Floods over-reacht +the tops of the highest Mountains; the Rains +descending after an unusual Manner, and the +Fountains of the <i>Great Deep</i> being broke +open; so as a general Destruction and Devastation +was brought upon the Earth, and all Things +in it, Mankind and other living Creatures; excepting +only <i>Noah</i> and his Family, who by a +special Providence of God was preserved in a +certain Ark, or Vessel made like a Ship, and +such kinds of living Creatures as he took in +to him. After these Waters had rag’d for some +time on the Earth, they began to lessen and +shrink, and the great Waves and Fluctuations +of this <i>Deep</i> or <i>Abyss</i> being quieted by degrees, +the Waters retir’d into their Channels and Caverns +within the Earth; and the Mountains and +Fields began to appear, and the whole habitable +Earth in that Form and Shape wherein we +now see it. Then the World began again, and +from that little Remnant preserv’d in the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>Ark, the present Race of Mankind, and of Animals, +in the known Parts of the Earth, were propagated. +Thus perish’d the Old World, and the +present arose from the Ruins and Remains of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> is a short Story of the greatest Thing +that ever yet hap’ned in the World, the greatest +Revolution and the greatest Change in Nature; +and if we come to reflect seriously upon it, we +shall find it extreamly difficult, if not impossible, +to give an Account of the Waters that compos’d +this Deluge, whence they came, or whither they +went. If it had been only the Inundation of a +Country, or of a Province, or of the greatest part +of a Continent, some proportionable Causes perhaps +might have been found out; but a Deluge +overflowing the whole Earth, the whole Circuit +and whole Extent of it, burying all in Water, even +the greatest Mountains in any known Parts +of the Universe, to find Water sufficient for +this Effect, as it is generally explained and understood, +I think is impossible. And that we may +the better judge of the whole matter, let us first +compute, how much Water would be requisite +for such a Deluge; or to lay the Earth, consider’d +in its present Form, and the highest Mountains, +under Water. Then let us consider whether +such a Quantity of Water can be had out of +all the Stores that we know in Nature: And from +these two, we will take our Ground and Rise, +and begin to reflect, whether the World hath +not been hitherto mistaken in the common Opinion +and Explication of the general Deluge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> discover how much Water would be requisite +<span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>to make this Deluge, we must first suppose +enough to cover the plain Surface of the +Earth, the Fields and lower Grounds; then we +must heap up so much more upon this, as will +reach above the tops of the highest Mountains; +so as drawing a Circle over the tops of the highest +Mountains quite round the Earth, suppose from +Pole to Pole, and another to meet it round the +middle of the Earth, all that Space, or Capacity, +contain’d within these Circles, is to be fill’d up +with Water. This I confess will make a prodigious +Mass of Water, and it looks frightfully to +the Imagination; ’tis huge and great, but ’tis extravagantly +so, as a great Monster: It doth not +look like the Work of God or Nature: However +let’s compute a little more particularly +how much this will amount to, or how many +Oceans of Water would be necessary to compose +this great Ocean rowling in the Air, without +Bounds or Banks.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>If</span> all the Mountains were pared off the Earth, +and so the Surface of it lay even, or in an equal +Convexity every where, with the Surface of the +Sea, from this Surface of the Sea, let us suppose +that the height of the Mountains may be a Mile +and a half; or that we may not seem at all to favour +our own Opinion or Calculation, let us +take a Mile only for the perpendicular height of +the Mountains. Let us on the other side suppose +the Sea to cover half the Earth, as ’tis generally +believ’d to do; and the common Depth of it, taking +one Place with another, to be about a quarter +of a Mile, or 250 Paces. I say, taking one +<span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>Place with another, for though the middle +Channel of the great Ocean be far deeper, we +may observe, that there is commonly a Descent +or Declivity from the Shore to the middle Part +of the Channel, so that one comes by Degrees +into the Depth of it; and those shory Parts +are generally but some Fathoms deep. Besides, +in Arms of the Sea, in Straits and among Islands, +there is commonly no great Depth, and some +Places are plain Shallows. So as upon a moderate +Computation, one Place compar’d with +another, we may take a quarter of a Mile, or +about an hundred Fathoms, for the common +Measure of the Depth of the Sea, if we were +cast into a Channel of an equal Depth every +where. This being suppos’d, there would need +four Oceans to lie upon this Ocean, to raise it +up to the top of the Mountains, or so high as +the Waters of the Deluge rise; then four Oceans +more to lie upon the Land, that the Water +there might swell to the same height; which +together make eight Oceans for the Proportion +of the Water requir’d in the Deluge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> true, there would not be altogether so +much Water required for the Land as for the +Sea, to raise them to an equal height; because +Mountains and Hills would fill up part of that +Space upon the Land, and so make less Water +requisite. But to compensate this, and confirm +our Computation, we must consider in +the first Place, that we have taken a much less +height of the Mountains than is requisite, if +we respect the Mediterraneous Mountains, or +<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>those that are at a great distance from the Sea; +for their Height above the Surface of the Sea, +computing the Declivity of the Land all along +from the Mountains to the Sea-side (and that +there is such a Declivity is manifest from the +Course and Descent of the Rivers) is far greater +than the Proportion we have taken: The +height of Mountains is usually taken from the +Foot of them, or from the next Plain, which +if it be far from the Sea, we may reasonably +allow as much for the Declension of the Land +from that place to the Sea, as for the immediate +Height of the Mountain: So, for Instance, +the Mountains of the Moon in <i>Africa</i>, whence +the <i>Nile</i> flows, and after a long Course falls +into the Mediterranean Sea by <i>Egypt</i>, are so +much higher than the Surface of that Sea, first, +as the Ascent of the Land is from the Sea to +the Foot of the Mountains, and then as the +Height of the Mountains is from the bottom to +the top: For both these are to be computed +when you measure the Height of a Mountain, +or of a mountainous Land, in respect of the +Sea: And the Height of Mountains to the Sea +being thus computed, there would be need of +six or eight Oceans to raise the Sea alone as +high as the highest Inland Mountains: And +this is more than enough to compensate the less +Quantity of Water that would be requisite upon +the Land. Besides, we must consider the Regions +of the Air upwards to be more capacious +than a Region of the same Thickness in or +near the Earth, so as if an Ocean pour’d upon +<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>the Surface of the dry Land, supposing it were +all smooth, would rise to the Height of half a +quarter of a Mile every where; the like Quantity +of Water pour’d again at the Height of the +Mountains would not have altogether the same +effect, or would not there raise the Mass half +a quarter of a Mile higher; for the Surfaces of +a Globe, the farther they are from their Center, +are the greater; and so accordingly the Regions +that belong to them. And, lastly, we must +consider, that there are some Countries or Valleys +very low, and also many Caverns or Cavities +within the Earth, all which in this Case +were to be first fill’d with Water. These Things +being compar’d and estimated, we shall find, that +notwithstanding the Room that Hills and Mountains +take up on the dry Land, there would be +at least eight Oceans required, or a Quantity of +Water eight times as great as the Ocean, to bring +an Universal Deluge upon the Earth, as that +Deluge is ordinarily understood and explained.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Proportion of Water for the Deluge +being thus stated, the next thing to be done, +is to enquire where this Water is to be found; +if any part of the Sublunary World will afford +us so much: Eight Oceans floating in the +Air make a great Bulk of Water, I do not +know what possible Sources to draw it from. +There are the Clouds above and the Deeps below, +and in the Bowels of the Earth; and these +are all the Stores we have for Water; and +<i>Moses</i> directs us to no other for the Causes of +the Deluge. <i>The Fountains (he saith) of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>great Abyss were broken up, or burst asunder</i>, +and the Rain descended for Forty Days, the <i>Cataracts</i>, +or <i>Floodgates</i> of Heaven being opened. +And in these two, no doubt, are contain’d +the Causes of the great Deluge, as according +to <i>Moses</i>, so also according to Reason +and Necessity; for our World affords no other +Treasures of Water. Let us therefore consider, +how much this Rain of Forty Days might +amount to, and how much might flow out of +the Abyss, that so we may judge whether +these two in conjunction would make up the +eight Oceans which we want.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>As</span> for the Rains, they would not afford us +one Ocean, nor half an Ocean, nor the tenth +part of an Ocean, if we may trust to the Observations +made by others concerning the Quantity +of Water that falls in Rain. <i>Mersennus</i> gives +us this Account of it, <i>Cog. Phys. Mech.</i> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 221. +“It appears by our Observations, that a Cubical +Vessel of Brass, whereof we made use, +is fill’d an Inch and an half in half an Hour’s +Time; but because that sucks up nothing of +the Moisture as the Earth doth, let us take an +Inch for half an Hour’s Rain; whence it follows, +that in the Space of Forty Days and +Nights Rain, the Waters in the Deluge wou’d +rise, at four Feet in 24 Hours, 160 Feet, if the +Rains were constant and equal to ours, and +that it rain’d at once throughout the Face +of the whole Earth.” But the Rain of the Deluge, +saith he, should have been 90 times greater +than this, to cover, for Instance, the Mountains +<span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span>of <i>Armenia</i>, or to reach 15 Cubits above +them. So that according to his Computation, +the Forty Days Rain would supply little more +than the hundredth Part of the Water requisite +to make the Deluge. ’Tis true, he makes the +Height of the Mountains higher than we do; +but, however, if you temper the Calculation +on all Sides as much as you please, the Water +that came by this Rain would be a very inconsiderable +part of what was necessary for a Deluge. +If it rain’d Forty Days and Forty Nights +throughout the Face of the whole Earth, in +the Northern and Southern Hemisphere all at +once, it might be sufficient to lay all the lower +Grounds under Water, but it would signify very +little as to the overflowing of the Mountains. +Whence another Author upon the same Occasion +hath this Passage, <i>Auct. cat. in</i> <abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> 7. +4. “If the Deluge had been made by Rains only, +there would not have needed Forty Days, +but Forty Years Rain to have brought it to +pass.” And if we should suppose the whole +middle Region condens’d into Water, it would +not at all have been sufficient for this Effect, +according to that Proportion some make betwixt +Air and Water; for they say, Air turn’d +into Water takes up a hundred times less Room +than it did before. The Truth is, we may reasonably +suppose, that all the Vapours of the middle +Region were turn’d into Water in this Forty +Days and Forty Nights Rain, if we admit, that +this Rain was throughout the whole Earth at +once, in either Hemisphere, in every Zone, in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>every Climate, in every Country, in every Province, +in every Field; and yet we see what a +small Proportion all this would amount to.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Having</span> done then with these superior +Regions, we are next to examine the inferior, +and the Treasures of Water that may be had +there. <i>Moses</i> tells us, that the Fountains of +the great Abyss were broke open, or <i>clove asunder</i>, +as the Word there us’d doth imply; and +no doubt in this lay the great Mystery of the +Deluge, as will appear when it comes to be +rightly understood and explained; but we are +here to consider what is generally understood +by the great <i>Abyss</i>, in the common Explication +of the Deluge; and ’tis commonly interpreted +either to be the Sea, or subterraneous +Waters hid in the Bowels of the Earth: These, +they say, broke forth and rais’d the Waters, +caus’d by the Rain, to such an Height, that together +they over-flowed the highest Mountains. +But whether, or how this could be deserves +to be a little examined.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> in the first Place, the Sea is not higher +than the Land, as some have formerly imagin’d, +fancying the Sea stood, as it were, upon a heap, +higher than the Shore; and at the Deluge a Relaxation +being made, it overflow’d the Land. +But this Conceit is so gross, and so much against +Reason and Experience, that none I think of +late have ventured to make use of it. And yet on +the other Hand, if the Sea lie in an equal Convexity +with the Land, or lower generally than +the Shore, and much more than the Midland, as +<span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>it is certainly known to do, what could the Sea +contribute to the Deluge? It would keep its +Channel, as it doth now, and take up the same +Place: And so also the subterraneous Waters +would lie quiet in their Cells. Whatsoever Fountains +or Passages you suppose, these would not +issue out upon the Earth, for Water doth not ascend, +unless by Force. But let’s imagine then that +Force us’d and apply’d, and the Waters both of +the Sea and Caverns under Ground drawn out +upon the Surface of the Earth, we shall not be +any whit the nearer for this; for if you take these +Waters out of their Places, those Places must be +fill’d again with other Waters in the Deluge; so +as this turns to no Account upon the whole. If +you have two Vessels to fill, and you empty one +to fill the other, you gain nothing by that, there +still remains one Vessel empty, you cannot have +these Waters both in the Sea and on the Land, +both above Ground and under; nor can you +suppose the Channel of the Sea would stand gaping +without Water, when all the Earth was overflow’d, +and the tops of the Mountains cover’d. +And so for subterraneous Cavities, if you suppose +the Water pumpt out, they would suck it in +again when the Earth came to be laid under Water; +so that upon the whole, if you thus understand +the <i>Abyss</i>, or <i>great Deep</i>, and the breaking +open its <i>Fountains</i> in this manner, it doth +us no Service as to the Deluge, and where we +expected greatest Supply, there we find none +at all.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>What</span> shall we do then? Whither shall we +<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>go to find more than seven Oceans of Water +that we still want? We have been above and +below; we have drained the whole middle +Region, and we have examined the Deeps of +the Earth; they must want for themselves, +they say, if they give us any; and, besides, if +the Earth should disgorge all the Water that it +hath in its Bowels, it would not amount to +above half an Ocean, which would not at all +answer our Occasions. Must we not then conclude, +that the common Explication of the Deluge +makes it impossible? There being no such +Quantity of Water in Nature as they make +requisite for an universal Deluge. Yet to give +them all fair Play, having examined the Waters +above the Earth or in the Air, the Waters +upon the Earth, and the Waters under the Earth; +let us also consider if there be not Waters above +the Heavens, and if those might not be drawn +down for the Deluge. <i>Moses</i> speaks of Waters +<i>above the Firmament</i>, which though it be generally +understood of the middle Region of the +Air, yet some have thought those to be Waters +plac’d above the highest Heavens, or <i>Super-celestial</i> +Waters; and have been willing to make +use of them for a Supply, when they could +not find Materials enough under the Heavens to +make up the great Mass of the Deluge. But the +Heavens, above, where these Waters lay, are +either solid or fluid; if solid, as Glass or Crystal, +how could the Waters get through them to +descend upon the Earth? If fluid, as the Air or +Æther, how could the Waters rest upon them, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>for Water is heavier than Air or Æther? So +that I am afraid, those pure Regions will prove +no fit Place for that Element, upon any Account. +But supposing these Waters there, how imaginary +soever, and that they were brought down +to drown the World in that vast Quantity that +would be necessary, what became of them, when +the Deluge ceased? Seven or eight Oceans of +Water, with the Earth wrapt up in the middle +of them, how did it ever get quit of them? +How could they be dispos’d of when the Earth +was to be dry’d, and the World renew’d? It +would be a hard Task to lift them up again +among the Spheres, and we have no Room for +them here below. The Truth is, I mention this +Opinion of the Heavenly Waters, because I +would omit none that had ever been made use +of, to make good the common Explication of +the Deluge; but otherwise, I think, since the +System of the World hath been better known, +and the Nature of the Heavens, there are none +that would seriously assert these <i>Super-celestial</i> +Waters, or, at least, make use of them so extravagantly, +as to bring them down hither for +Causes of the Deluge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> have now employ’d our last and utmost +Endeavours to find out Waters for the vulgar +Deluge, or for the Deluge as commonly understood; +and you see with how little Success; +we have left no Corner unsought, where there +was any Appearance or Report of Water to +be found, and yet we have not been able to +collect the eighth part of what was necessary +<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>upon a moderate Account. May we not then +with Assurance conclude, that the World hath +taken wrong Measures hitherto, in their Notion +and Explication of the general Deluge? +They make it impossible and unintelligible upon +a double Account, both in requiring more +Water than can be found, and more than can +be dispos’d of if it was found; or could any way +be withdrawn from the Earth when the Deluge +should cease. For if the Earth was encompass’d +with eight Oceans of Water heapt one upon +another, how these should retire into any Channels, +or be drain’d off, or the Earth any way disengag’d +from them, is not intelligible; and that +in so short a time as some Months: For the +Violence of the Deluge lasted but four or five +Months, and in as many Months after the Earth +was dry and habitable. So as upon the whole +Enquiry, we can neither find Source nor Issue, +Beginning nor Ending, for such an excessive Mass +of Waters as the vulgar Deluge required; neither +where to have them, nor if we had them, how +to get quit of them. And I think Men cannot +do a greater Injury or Injustice to Sacred +History, than to give such Representations of +things recorded there, as make them unintelligible +and incredible; and on the other Hand, +we cannot deserve better of Religion and Providence, +than by giving such fair Accounts of all +things proposed by them, or belonging to them, +as may silence the Cavils of Atheists, satisfy the +Inquisitive, and recommend them to the Belief +and Acceptance of all reasonable Persons.</p> +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span> + <h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='three'>III.</abbr></span></h3> +</div> +<p class='c012'><i>All Evasions answered; That there was no new +Creation of Waters at the Deluge: And that +it was not Particular or National, but extended +throughout the whole Earth. A Prelude +and Preparation to the true Account and Explication +of it: The Method of the first Book.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Though</span> in the preceding Chapter we +may seem to have given a fair Trial to +the common Opinion concerning the State of +the Deluge, and might now proceed to Sentence +of Condemnation: Yet having heard of +another Plea, which some have us’d in its Behalf, +and another way found out by recourse +to the Supream Power, to supply all Defects, +and to make the whole matter intelligible, we +will proceed no farther ’till that be consider’d; +being very willing to examine whatsoever may +be offer’d, in that or any other way, for resolving +that great Difficulty which we have proposed, +concerning <i>the Quantity of Water requisite for +such a Deluge</i>. And to this they say in short, that +<i>God Almighty created Waters on purpose to make +the Deluge, and then annihilated them again +when the Deluge was to cease</i>; and this, in a few +Words, is the whole account of the Business. This +is to cut the Knot when we cannot loose it; they +shew us the naked Arm of Omnipotency; such +Arguments as these come like Lightning, one +doth not know what Armour to put on against +them, for they pierce the more, the more they are +<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>resisted: We will not therefore oppose any thing +to them that is hard and stubborn, but by a soft +Answer deaden their Force by degrees.</p> + +<p class='c004'>And I desire to mind those Persons, in the +first Place, of what <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i> hath said upon a +like Occasion, speaking concerning those that +disproved the Opinion of Waters above the +Heavens (which we mention’d before) by natural +Reasons. “We are not, saith he, to refute +those Persons, by saying, that according +to the Omnipotence of God, to whom +all things, are possible, we ought to believe +there are Waters there, as heavy as we know +and feel them here below; for our Business +is now to enquire according to his Scripture, +how God hath constituted the Nature of +Things, and not what he could do or work +in these Things by a Miracle of Omnipotency.” +I desire them to apply this to the +present Argument for the first Answer.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Secondly</i>, <span class='sc'>Let</span> them consider, that <i>Moses</i> +hath assign’d Causes of the Deluge; <i>Forty Days +Rain, and the Disruption of the Abyss</i>; and +speaks nothing of a new Creation of Water +upon that Occasion. Those were Causes in +Nature which Providence had then dispos’d +for this extraordinary Effect, and those the Divine +Historian refers us to, and not to any +Productions out of nothing. Besides, <i>Moses</i> +makes the Deluge increase by degrees with +the Rain, and accordingly makes it cease by +degrees, and that the Waters <i>going and returning</i> +as the Waves and great Commotions of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>Sea use to do, retir’d leisurely from the Face of +the Earth, and settled at length in their Channels. +Now this manner of the Beginning or +Ceasing of the Deluge doth not at all agree +with the instantaneous Actions of Creation +and Annihilation.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Thirdly</i>, <span class='sc'>Let</span> them consider, that Saint <i>Peter</i> +hath also assign’d <i>Causes</i> of the Deluge, <i>2 Pet. 3. +6.</i> namely the particular Constitution of the +Earth and Heavens before the Flood; by <i>reason +whereof</i>, he saith, <i>the World that was then perish’d +in a Deluge of Water</i>; and not by reason +of a new Creation of Water. His Words are +these: “The Heavens and the Earth were of old, +consisting of Water, and by Water; whereby, +or by reason whereof, the World that then +was, being overflowed with Water, perished.”</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Fourthly</i>, They are to consider, that as we are +not rashly to have recourse to the Divine Omnipotence +upon any Account, so especially not +for new Creations; and least of all for the Creation +of new Matter. The Matter of the Universe +was created many Ages before the Flood, +and the Universe being full, if any more was +created, then there must be as much annihilated +at the same time to make Room for it; for +Bodies cannot penetrate one another’s Dimensions, +nor be two or more within one and the same +Space. Then, on the other Hand, when the Deluge +ceas’d, and these Waters were annihilated, +so much other Matter must be created again to +take up their Places. And methinks they make +very bold with the Deity, when they make him +<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>do and undo, go forward and backwards by such +countermarches and retractions, as we do not willingly +impute to the Wisdom of God Almighty.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Lastly</span>, I shall not think my Labour lost, +if it be but acknowledg’d, that we have so far +clear’d the Way in this Controversy, as to have +brought it to this Issue; that either there must be +new Waters created on purpose to make a Deluge, +or there could be no Deluge as it is vulgarly +explained; there not being Water sufficient +in Nature to make a Deluge of that kind. This, +I say, is a great step, and, I think, will satisfy all +Parties, at least, all that are considerable; for +those that have recourse to a new Creation of +Waters, are of two sorts, either such as do it out +of Laziness, and Ignorance, or such as do it out +of Necessity, seeing they cannot be had otherwise; +as for the first, they are not to be valued +or gratified; and as for the second, I shall do a +thing very acceptable to them, if I free them and +the Argument from that Necessity; and shew a +way of making the Deluge fairly intelligible, and +accountable without the Creation of new Waters; +which is the Design of this Treatise. For +we do not tie this Knot with an Intention to +puzzle and perplex the Argument finally with it; +but the harder it is ty’d, we shall feel the Pleasure +more sensibly when we come to loose it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>It</span> may be, when they are beaten from this +new Creation of Water, they will say, the Element +of Air was chang’d into Water, and that +was the great Store-house for the Deluge. +Forty Days Rain we allow, as <i>Moses</i> does, but +<span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>if they suppose any other Transelementation, +it neither agrees with <i>Moses</i>’s Philosophy, nor +<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s; for then the <i>Opening of the Abyss</i> +was needless, and the Form and Constitution of +the Antediluvian <i>Heavens</i> and <i>Earth</i>, which +<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i> refers the Deluge to, bore no part in +the Work; it might have been made, in that +way, indifferently under any Heavens, or Earth. +Besides, they offend against <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i>’s Rule in +this Method too; for I look upon it as no less +a Miracle to turn Air into Water, than to turn +Water into Wine. <i>Air</i>, I say: For Vapours +indeed are but Water made volatile; but pure +Air is a Body of another Species, and cannot +by any Compression or Condensation, so far as +is yet known, be chang’d into Water. And lastly, +if the whole Atmosphere was turn’d into +Water, ’tis very probable it would make no +more than 34 Foot or thereabouts; for so much +Air or Vapours as is of the same weight with +any certain Quantity of Water, ’tis likely, if it +was chang’d into Water, would also be of the +same Bulk with it, or not much more: Now +according to the Doctrine of the Gravitation of +the Atmosphere, ’tis found, that 34 Foot of +Water does counterballance a proportionable +Cylinder of Air reaching to the top of the Atmosphere; +and consequently, if the whole Atmosphere +was converted into Water, it would +make no more than eleven or twelve Yards +Water about the Earth; which the Cavities +of the Earth would be able in a good measure +to suck up, at least this is very inconsiderable as +<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>to our eight Oceans. And if you would change +the higher Regions into Water too, what must +supply the Place of that Air which you transform +into Water, and bring down upon the Earth? +There would be little left but Fire and Æther +betwixt us and the Moon, and I am afraid it +would endanger to suck down the Moon too +after it. In a Word, such an Explication as this +is both purely imaginary, and also very operose, +and would affect a great part of the Universe; +and after all, they would be as hard put to it to +get rid of this Water, when the Deluge was to +cease, as they were at first to procure it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Having</span> now examin’d and answered all the +Pleas, from first to last, for the vulgar Deluge, or +the old way of explaining it, we should proceed +immediately to propose another Method, and +another Ground for an universal Deluge, were +it not that an Opinion hath been started by some +of late, that would in effect supplant both these +Methods, old and new, and take away in a great +measure the Subject of the Question. Some Modern +Authors observing what straits they have +been put to in all Ages, to find out Water enough +for <i>Noah</i>’s Flood, have ventur’d upon an Expedient +more brisk and bold than any of the Ancients +durst venture upon: They say, <i>Noah</i>’s +Flood was not Universal, but a National Inundation, +confin’d to <i>Judea</i>, and those Countries +thereabouts; and consequently, there would not +be so much Water necessary for the Cause of +it, as we have prov’d to be necessary for an +Universal Deluge of that kind. Their Inference +<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>is very true, they have avoided that Rock, +but they run upon another no less dangerous; +to avoid an Objection from Reason, they deny +matter of Fact, and such matter of Fact as is +well attested by History, both Sacred and Prophane. +I believe the Authors that set up this +Opinion were not themselves satisfy’d with +it; but seeing insuperable Difficulties in the +old Way, they are the more excusable in chusing, +as they thought, of two Evils the less.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> the Choice, methinks, is as bad on this +Hand, if all things be considered; <i>Moses</i> represents +the Flood of <i>Noah</i> as an Overthrow and +Destruction of the whole Earth; and who can +imagine, that in sixteen or seventeen hundred +Years time, (taking the lower Chronology) that +the Earth had then stood, Mankind should be +propagated no farther than <i>Judea</i>, or some +neighbouring Countries thereabouts? After the +Flood, when the World was renew’d again by +eight Persons, they had made a far greater Progress +in <i>Asia</i>, <i>Europe</i>, and <i>Africa</i>, within the +same space of Years, and yet ’tis likely they were +more fruitful in the first Ages of the World, +than after the Flood; and they liv’d six, seven, +eight, nine hundred Years a Piece, getting Sons +and Daughters. Which Longevity of the first +Inhabitants of the Earth seems to have been +providentially design’d for the quicker Multiplication +and Propagation of Mankind; and Mankind +thereby would become so numerous +within sixteen hundred Years, that there seems +to me to be a greater Difficulty from the Multitude +<span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span>of the People that would be before the +Flood, than from the want of People: For if we +allow the first Couple at the End of one hundred +Years, or of the first Century, to have left ten +Pair of Breeders, which is no hard Supposition, +there would arise from these, in fifteen +hundred Years, a greater Number than the Earth +was capable of; allowing every Pair to multiply +in the same decuple Proportion the first Pair +did. But because this would rise far beyond the +Capacities of this Earth, let us suppose them to +increase, in the following Centuries, in a quintuple +Proportion only, or, if you will, only in +a quadruple; and then the Table of the Multiplication +of Mankind, from the Creation to +the Flood, would stand thus;</p> + +<table class='table0'> +<colgroup> +<col class='colwidth45'> +<col class='colwidth54'> +</colgroup> + <tr> + <th class='c014'><i>Century</i></th> + <th class='c015'> </th> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'> </td> + <td class='c015'> </td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>1—</td> + <td class='c015'>10</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>2—</td> + <td class='c015'>40</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>3—</td> + <td class='c015'>160</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>4—</td> + <td class='c015'>640</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>5—</td> + <td class='c015'>2560</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>6—</td> + <td class='c015'>10240</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>7—</td> + <td class='c015'>40960</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>8—</td> + <td class='c015'>163840</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>9—</td> + <td class='c015'>655360</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>10—</td> + <td class='c015'>2621440</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>11—</td> + <td class='c015'>10485760</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>12—</td> + <td class='c015'>41943040</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>13—</td> + <td class='c015'>167772160</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>14—</td> + <td class='c015'>671088640</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>15—</td> + <td class='c015'>2684354560</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'>16—</td> + <td class='c015'>10737418240</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c004'>This Product is too excessive high, if compar’d +with the present number of Men upon the Face +of the Earth, which, I think, is commonly estimated +to be betwixt three and four hundred +Millions; and yet this Proportion of their Increase +seems to be low enough, if we take one +Proportion for all the Centuries; for, in reality, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>the same Measure cannot run equally through +all the Ages, but we have taken this as moderate +and reasonable betwixt the highest and the +lowest; but if we had taken only a tripple Proportion, +it would have been sufficient (all things +consider’d) for the Purpose. There are several +other ways of computing this Number, and +some more particular and exact than this is, but +which way soever you try, you shall find the +Product great enough for the Extent of this +Earth; and if you follow the Septuagint Chronology, +it will still be far higher. I have met +with three or four different Calculations, in several +Authors, of the Number of Mankind before +the Flood, and never met with any yet, but +what exceeded the Number of the People that +are at present upon the Face of the Earth. So as +it seems to me a very groundless and forc’d +Conceit to imagine, that <i>Judea</i> only, and some +Parts about it in <i>Asia</i>, were stor’d with People +when the Deluge was brought upon the old +World. Besides, if the Deluge was confin’d to +those Countries, I do not see but the Borderers +might have escap’d, shifting a little into the adjoining +Places where the Deluge did not reach. +But especially what needed so much ado to build +an Ark to save <i>Noah</i> and his Family, if he might +have sav’d himself and them, only by retiring +into some neighbouring Country; as <i>Lot</i> and his +Family sav’d themselves, by withdrawing from +<i>Sodom</i>, when the City was to be destroyed? Had +not this been a far easier thing, and more compendious, +than the great Preparations he made of a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>large Vessel, with Rooms, for the Reception and +Accommodation of Beasts and Birds? And now +I mention Birds, why could not they at least have +flown into the next dry Country? They might +have pearch’d upon the Trees, and the tops of +the Mountains by the way to have rested themselves +if they were weary, for the Waters did +not all of a sudden rise to the Mountains tops.</p> + +<p class='c004'>I cannot but look upon the Deluge as a much +more considerable thing than these Authors +wou’d represent it, and as a kind of Dissolution +of Nature; <i>Moses</i> calls it a destroying of the <i>Earth</i>, +as well as of Mankind, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> 6. 13.</i> And the +Bow was set in the Cloud to seal the Covenant, +<i>that he would destroy the Earth no more</i>, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> +9. 11.</i> or that there would be no more a Flood +<i>to destroy the Earth</i>. And ’tis said, <i>Verse 13.</i> +That the Covenant was made between God and +the Earth, or this Frame of Nature, that it +should perish no more by Water. And the +Rain-Bow, which was a Token and Pledge of +this Covenant, appears not only in <i>Judea</i>, or +some other <i>Asiatick</i> Provinces, but to all the +Regions of the Earth, who had an equal Share +and Concern in it. <i>Moses</i> saith also, the Fountains +of the great <i>Abyss</i> were burst asunder to +make the Deluge; and what means this <i>Abyss</i>, +and the bursting of it, if restrain’d to <i>Judea</i>, +or some adjacent Countries? What Appearance +is there of this Disruption <i>there</i>, more than in +other Places? Furthermore, <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i> plainly +implies, <i>2 Epist. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 5. 6.</i> That the Antediluvian +Heavens and Earth perished in the Deluge; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>and opposeth the present Earth and Heavens +to them, as different and of another Constitution; +and saith, that these shall perish by Fire, +as the other perished by Water. So he compares +the conflagration with the Deluge, as two +general Dissolutions of Nature, and one may +as well say, that the Conflagration shall be only +National, and but two or three Countries burnt +in that last Fire, as to say, that the Deluge was +so. I confess that Discourse of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>, concerning +the several States of the World, would +sufficiently convince me, if there was nothing +else, That the Deluge was not a particular, or +national Inundation, but a <i>mundane</i> Change, +that extended to the whole Earth, and both to +the (lower) Heavens and Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>All</span> Antiquity, we know, hath spoke of these +mundane Revolutions or Periods, that the World +should be successively destroyed by Water and +Fire; and I do not doubt, but that this Deluge +of <i>Noah</i>’s, which <i>Moses</i> describes, was the first +and leading Instance of this kind; and accordingly +we see that after this Period, and after the +Flood, the Blessing for Multiplication, and for +replenishing the Earth with Inhabitants, was as +solemnly pronounc’d by God Almighty, as at +the first Creation of Man, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> 9. 1.</i> with <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> +1. 28.</i> These Considerations, I think, might be +sufficient to give us Assurance from Divine Writ +of the Universality of the Deluge; and yet <i>Moses</i> +affords us another Argument as demonstrative +as any, when in the History of the Deluge, he +saith, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> 7. 19.</i> <i>The Waters exceedingly prevail’d +<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>upon the Earth, and all the high Hills +that were under the whole Heavens were covered.</i> +All the high Hills, he saith, <i>under the whole +Heavens</i>, then quite round the Earth; and if the +Mountains were covered quite round the Earth, +sure the Plains could not scape. But to argue +with them upon their own Grounds: Let us +suppose only the <i>Asiatick</i> and <i>Armenian</i> Mountains +covered with these Waters, this they cannot +deny; then unless there was a Miracle to +keep these Waters upon Heaps, they would flow +throughout the Earth; for these Mountains are +high enough to make them fall every way, and +make them join with our Seas that environ the +Continent. We cannot imagine Hills and Mountains +of Water to have hung about <i>Judea</i>, +as if they were congeal’d, or a Mass of Water +to have stood upon the middle of the Earth like +one great Drop, or a trembling Jelly, and all the +Places about it dry and untouch’d. All liquid +Bodies are diffusive; for their Parts being in Motion +have no Tie or Connexion one with another, +but glide and fall off any way, as Gravity +and the Air presseth them; so the Surface of +Water doth always conform into a Spherical +Convexity with the rest of the Globe of the +Earth, and every part of it falls as near to the +Center as it can; wherefore when these Waters +began to rise at first, long before they cou’d +swell to the height of the Mountains, they +would diffuse themselves every way, and thereupon +all the Valleys and Plains, and lower Parts +of the Earth would be filled throughout the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>whole Earth, before they cou’d rise to the Tops +of the Mountains in any Part of it: And the +Sea would be all raised to a considerable +height before the Mountains could be covered. +For let us suppose, as they do, that this +Water fell not throughout the whole Earth, +but in some particular Country, and there +made first a great Lake; this Lake when it begun +to swell would every way discharge it self +by any Descents or Declivities of the Ground, +and these Issues and Derivations being once made +and supply’d with new Waters pushing them +forwards, would continue their Course ’till +they arrived at the Sea, just as other Rivers do; +for these would be but so many Rivers rising +out of this Lake, and would not be considerably +deeper and higher at the Fountain than in +their Progress or at the Sea, We may as well +then expect that the <i>Leman</i> Lake, for instance, +out of which the <i>Rhone</i> runs, should swell to +the Tops of the <i>Alps</i> on the one Hand, and +the Mountains of <i>Switzerland</i> and <i>Burgundy</i> +on the other, and then stop, without overflowing +the plainer Countries that lie beyond them; +as to suppose that this Diluvian Lake should +rise to the Mountains Tops in one Place, and +not diffuse it self equally into all Countries +about, and upon the Surface of the Sea; in +Proportion to its Height and Depth in the +Place where it first fell or stood.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much for Sacred History. The Universality +of the Deluge is also attested by Profane History; +for the Fame of it is gone thro’ the Earth, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>and there are Records or Traditions concerning +it, in all Parts of this and the new-found World. +The <i>Americans</i> do acknowledge and speak of +it in their Continent, as <i>Acosta</i> witnesseth, and +<i>Laet</i> in their Histories of them. <i>Mart.</i> The <i>Chineses</i> +have the Tradition of it, which is the farthest +part of our Continent; and the nearer and +Western part of <i>Asia</i> is acknowledg’d the proper +Seat of it. Not to mention <i>Deucalion</i>’s Deluge +in the <i>European</i> Parts, which seems to be +the same under a disguise: So as you may trace +the Deluge quite round the Globe in profane History; +and, which is remarkable, every one of +these People have a Tale to tell, some one way, +some another, concerning the Restauration of +Mankind; which is an Argument that they +thought all Mankind destroy’d by that Deluge. +In the old Dispute between the <i>Scythians</i> and the +<i>Ægyptians</i> for Antiquity, which <i>Justin</i> mentions, +they refer to a former Destruction of the +World by Water or Fire, and argue, whether Nation +first rose again, and was original to the other. +So the <i>Babylonians</i>, <i>Assyrians</i>, <i>Phœnicians</i> and +others, mention the Deluge in their Stories. And +we cannot without offering Violence to all Records +and Authority, Divine and Human, deny, +that there hath been an universal Deluge upon +the Earth; and if there was an universal Deluge, +no question it was that of <i>Noah</i>’s, and that +which <i>Moses</i> describ’d, and that which we treat +of at present.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>These</span> Considerations, I think, are abundantly +sufficient to silence that Opinion, concerning +<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>the Limitation and Restriction of the +Deluge to a particular Country or Countries. +It ought rather to be look’d upon as an Evasion +indeed, than Opinion, seeing the Authors do +not offer any positive Argument for the Proof +of it, but depend only upon that negative Argument, +That an universal Deluge is a Thing +unintelligible. This Stumbling-stone we hope +to take away for the future, and that Men shall +not be put to that unhappy Choice, either to +deny Matter of Fact well attested, or admit an +Effect, whereof they cannot see any possible +Causes. And so having stated and proposed the +whole Difficulty, and try’d all ways offered by +others, and found them ineffectual, let us now +apply our selves by degrees, to untie the Knot.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> excessive Quantity of Water is the great +Difficulty, and the Removal of it afterwards. +Those eight Oceans lay heavy upon my thoughts, +and I cast about every way, to find an Expedient, +or to find some way, whereby the same Effect +might be brought to pass with less Water, and +in such a manner that that Water might afterwards +conveniently be discharg’d. The first +Thought that came into my Mind upon that +Occasion, was concerning the Form of the Earth, +which I imagin’d might possibly at that Time +be different from what it is at present, and +come nearer to Plainness and Equallity in the +Surface of it, and so might the more easily be +overflow’d, and the Deluge perform’d with less +Water. This Opinion concerning the Plainness +of the first Earth, I also found in Antiquity, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span>mention’d and refer’d to by several Interpreters +in their Commentaries upon <i>Genesis</i>, either +upon Occasion of the Deluge, or of that Fountain +which is said, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> 2. 6.</i> to have watered +the Face of the whole Earth: And a late eminent +Person, the Honour of his Profession for +Integrity and Learning, in his Discourse concerning +the <i>Origination of Mankind</i>, hath made +a like Judgment of the State of the Earth before +the Deluge, that the Face of it was more smooth +and regular than it is now. But yet upon second +Thoughts, I easily see that this alone wou’d +not be sufficient to explain the Deluge, nor to +give an Account of the present Form of the +Earth, unequal and mountainous as it is. ’Tis +true this would give a great Advantage to the +Waters, and the Rains that fell for Forty Days +together would have a great Power over the +Earth, being plain and smooth; but how would +these Waters be dispos’d of when the Deluge +ceas’d? Or how could it ever cease? Besides, +what means the Disruption of the great <i>Deep</i>, +or the great <i>Abyss</i>, or what answers to it upon +this Supposition? This was assuredly of no less +Consideration than the Rains; nay, I believe, the +Rains were but preparatory in some measure, +and that the Violence and Consummation of +the Deluge depended upon the Disruption of +the great Abyss. Therefore I saw it necessary, +to my first Thought, concerning the Smoothness +and Plainness of the Antediluvian Earth, +to add a second, concerning the Disruption +and Dissolution of it; for, as it often happens +<span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>in Earthquakes, when the exterior Earth is burst +asunder, and a great Flood of Waters issues out, +according to the Quantity and Force of them, an +Inundation is made in those Parts, more or less; +so I thought, if that <i>Abyss</i> lay under Ground and +round the Earth, and we should suppose the Earth +in this manner to be broken in several Places +at once, and as it were a general Dissolution +made, we might suppose that to make a general +Deluge, as well as a particular Dissolution +often makes a particular. But I will not anticipate +here the Explication we intend to give of +the Universal Deluge in the following Chapters; +only by this previous Intimation we may +gather some Hopes, it may be, that the Matter +is not so desperate as the former Representation +might possibly make us fancy it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Give</span> me leave to add farther in this Place, +that it hath been observ’d by several, from the +Contemplation of Mountains and Rocks and +Precipices, of the Channel of the Sea, and of +Islands, and of Subterraneous Caverns, that the +Surface of the Earth, or the exterior Region +which we inhabit, hath been broke, and the +parts of it dislocated: And one might instance +more particularly in several Parcels of Nature, +that retain still the evident Marks of Fraction and +Ruin, and by their present Form and Posture shew, +that they have been once in another State and Situation +one to another. We shall have occasion +hereafter to give an Account of these <i>Phænomena</i>, +from which several have rightly argu’d, and +concluded some general Rupture or Ruin in the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>superficial Parts of the Earth. But this Ruin, it +is true, they have imagin’d and explain’d several +ways, some thinking that it was made the +<i>third Day</i> after the Foundation of the Earth; +when they suppose the Channel of the Sea to +have been form’d, and Mountains and Caverns +at the same time, by a violent Depression of +some Parts of the Earth, and an Extrusion and +Elevation of others to make them Room. Others +suppose it to have come not all at once, +but by Degrees, at several Times, and in several +Ages, from particular and accidental Causes, +as the Earth falling in upon Fires under Ground, +or Water eating away the lower parts, or Vapours +and Exhalations breaking out and tearing +the Earth. ’Tis true, I am not of their Opinion +in either of these Explications; and we +shall shew at large hereafter, when we have +propos’d and stated our own Theory, how incompetent +such Causes are, to bring the Earth +into that Form and Condition we now find +it in. But in the mean time, we may so +far make use of these Opinions in general, as +not to be startled at this Doctrine, concerning +the Breaking or Dissolution of the Exterior +Earth; for in all Ages the Face of Nature hath +provok’d Men to think of and observe such +a Thing. And who can do otherwise, to see +the Elements displac’d and disorder’d, as they +seem to lie at present; the heaviest and grossest +Bodies in the highest Places, and the liquid and +volatile kept below; an huge Mass of Stone or +Rock rear’d into the Air, and the Water creeping +<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>at its Feet; whereas this is the more light +and active Body, and by the Law of Nature +should take Place of Rocks and Stones? So +we see, by the like Disorder, the Air thrown +down into Dungeons of the Earth, and the +Earth got up among the Clouds; for there are +the tops of the Mountains, and under their +Roots in Holes and Caverns the Air is often detained. +By what regular Action of Nature can +we suppose things first produc’d in this Posture +and Form? Not to mention how broke and +torn the inward Substance of the Earth is, +which of it self is an uniform Mass, close and +compact; but in the Condition we see it, it +lies hollow in many places, with great Vacuities +intercepted betwixt the Portions of it; a Thing +which we see happens in all Ruins more or less, +especially when the Parts of the Ruins are great +and inflexible. Then what can have more the +Figure and Mien of a Ruin, than Crags, and +Rocks, and Cliffs, whether upon the Sea-shore, +or upon the Sides of Mountains? What can be +more apparently broke, than they are? And +those lesser Rocks, or great bulky Stones that +lie often scatter’d near the Feet of the other, +whether in the Sea, or upon the Land, are they +not manifest Fragments and pieces of these greater +Masses? Besides, the Posture of these Rocks, +which is often leaning or recumbent, or prostrate, +shews to the Eye, that they have had a +Fall, or some kind of Dislocation from their +natural Site. And the same thing may be observed +in the Tracks and Regions of the Earth, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>which very seldom for ten Miles together have +any regular Surface or Continuity one with another, +but lie high and low, and are variously inclin’d +sometimes one way, sometimes another, +without any Rule or Order. 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 it; and the Strata or Beds within lie +as even. This I am sure of, that this Disposition +of the Elements, and the Parts of the Earth, +outward and inward, hath something irregular +and unnatural in it, and manifestly shews us the +Marks, or Footsteps of some kind of Ruin and +Dissolution; which we shall shew you, in its +due Place, happen’d in such a way, that at the +same time a general Flood of Waters wou’d +necessarily over-run the Face of the whole Earth. +And by the same fatal Blow, the Earth fell out +of that regular Form, wherein it was produc’d +at first, into all these Irregularities which we +see in its present Form and Composition; so +that we shall give thereby a double Satisfaction +to the Mind, both to shew it a fair and intelligible +Account of the general Deluge, how the +Waters came upon the Earth, and how they return’d +into their Channels again, and left the +Earth habitable; and likewise to shew it how +the Mountains were brought forth, and the +Channel of the Sea discover’d: How all those +Inequalities came in the Body or Face of the +Earth, and those empty Vaults and Caverns in +its Bowels; which things are no less matter of +Admiration than the Flood it self.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span><span class='sc'>But</span> I must beg leave to draw a Curtain before +the Work for a while, and to keep your Patience +a little in suspence, till Materials are prepar’d, +and all things ready to represent and explain +what we have propos’d. Yet I hope, in the +mean time, to entertain the Mind with Scenes no +less pleasing, tho’ of quite another Face and Order; +for we must now return to the Beginning +of the World, and look upon the first Rudiments +of Nature, and that dark but fruitful Womb, +out of which all things sprang, I mean the <i>Chaos</i>: +For this is the Matter which we must next work +upon, and it will be no unpleasing thing to observe, +how that rude Mass will shoot it self into +several Forms one after another, ’till it comes +at length to make an habitable World. The +steady Hand of Providence, which keeps all +things in Weight and Measure, being the invisible +Guide of all its Motions. These Motions +we must examine from first to last, to find out +what was the Form of the Earth, and what was +the Place or Situation of the Ocean, or the +great Abyss, in that first State of Nature: Which +two things being determined, we shall be able +to make a certain Judgment, what kind of Dissolution +that Earth was capable of, and whether +from that Dissolution an Universal Deluge +would follow, with all the Consequences of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> the mean time, for the Ease and Satisfaction +of the Reader, we will here mark the Order +and Distribution of the first Book, which we +divide into three Sections; whereof the first is +these three Chapters past: In the second Section +<span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span>we will shew, that the Earth before the Deluge +was of a different Frame and Form from +the present Earth; and particularly of such a +form as made it subject to a Dissolution and +to such a Dissolution, as did necessarily expose +it to an Universal Deluge. And in this Place +we shall apply our Discourse particularly to the +Explication of <i>Noah</i>’s Flood, and that under +all its Conditions, of the Height of the Waters, +of their Universality, of the Destruction +of the World by them, and of their retiring +afterwards from the Earth; and this Section +will consist of the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth, Seventh +and Eighth Chapters. In the Third Section +we prove the same Dissolution from the Effects +and Consequences of it, or from the Contemplation +of the present Face of the Earth: +And here an Account is given of the Origin +of Mountains, of subterraneous Waters and Caverns, +of the great Channel of the Sea, and of +the first Production of Islands; and those things +are the Contents of the Ninth, Tenth, and +Eleventh Chapters. Then, in the last Chapter, +we make a general Review of the whole +Work, and a general Review of Nature; that +by comparing them together, their full Agreement +and Correspondency may appear. Here +several collateral Arguments are given for +Confirmation of the preceding Theory, and +some Reflections are made upon the State of +the other Planets compar’d with the Earth. +And lastly, what Accounts soever have been +given by others of the present Form and Irregularities +<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>of the Earth, are examin’d and shew’d +insufficient. And this seemeth to be all that +is requisite upon this Subject.</p> +<h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='four'>IV.</abbr></span></h3> +<p class='c012'><i>That the Earth and Mankind had an Original, +and were not from Eternity: Prov’d against +Aristotle. The first Proposition of our Theory +laid down, viz. That the Antediluvian +Earth was of a different Form and Construction +from the present. This is prov’d by Divine +Authority, and from the Nature and +Form of the Chaos, out of which the Earth +was made.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> are now to enquire into the Original +of the Earth, and in what Form it +was built at first, that we may lay our Foundation +for the following Theory deep and sure. +It hath been the general Opinion and Content +of the Learned of all Nations, that the Earth +arose from a Chaos. This is attested by History, +both Sacred and Profane; only <i>Aristotle</i>, +whom so great a Part of the Christian World +have made their Oracle or Idol, hath maintain’d +the Eternity of the Earth, and the Eternity of +Mankind; that the Earth and the World were +from Everlasting, and in that very Form they +are in now, with Men and Women and all +living Creatures, Trees and Fruit, Metals and +Minerals, and whatsoever is of natural Production. +We say all these Things arose and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>had their first Existence or Production not six +thousand Years ago: He saith, they have subsisted +thus for ever, through an infinite Series of +past Generations, and shall continue as long, +without first or last: And if so, there was neither +Chaos, nor any other Beginning to the +Earth. This takes away the Subject of our Discourse, +and therefore we must first remove this +Stone out of the way, and prove that the Earth +had an Original, and that from a Chaos, before +we shew how it arose from a Chaos, and what +was the first habitable Form that it settled into.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> are assur’d by Divine Authority, that the +Earth and Mankind had a beginning: <i>Moses</i> +saith, <i>In the Beginning God made the Heavens +and the Earth</i>. Speaking it as of a certain Period +or Term, from whence he counts the Age +of the World. And the same <i>Moses</i> tells us, that +<i>Adam</i> was the first Man, and <i>Eve</i> the first Woman, +from whom sprung the Race of Mankind; +and this within the Compass of Six Thousand +Years. We are also assur’d from the Prophets, +and our Christian Records, that the World shall +have an End, and that by a general Conflagration, +when all Mankind shall be destroyed, with +the Form, and all the Furniture of the Earth. +And as this proves the second Part of <i>Aristotle</i>’s +Doctrine to be false immediately, so doth it the +first, by a true Consequence; for what hath an +End had a Beginning, what is not Immortal, +was not Eternal: That which exists by the +Strength of its own Nature at first, the same +Nature will enable to exist for ever; and indeed +<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>what exists of it self, exists necessarily; and +what exists necessarily, exists eternally.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Having</span> this infallible Assurance of the +Origin of the Earth and of Mankind from Scripture, +we proceed to refute the same Doctrine of +<i>Aristotle</i>’s by natural Reason. And we will +first consider the Form of the Earth, and then +Mankind; and shew, from plain Evidence and +Observation, neither of them to have been Eternal. +’Tis natural to the Mind of Man to consider +that which is compound, as having been +once more simple; whether that Composition +be a Mixture of many Ingredients, as most Terrestrial +Bodies are, or whether it be Organical; +but especially if it be Organical: For a Thing +that consists of a multitude of Pieces aptly join’d, +we cannot but conceive to have had those Pieces, +at one time or another, put together. ’Twere +hard to conceive an eternal Watch, whose Pieces +were never separate one from another, nor ever +in any other Form than that of a Watch. Or +an eternal House, whose Materials were never +asunder, but always in the Form of an House. +And ’tis as hard to conceive an <i>Eternal Earth</i>, +or an <i>Eternal World</i>: These are made up of more +various Substances, more Ingredients, and into a +far greater Composition; and the living Part of +the World, Plants and Animals, have much more +Variety of Parts and multifarious Construction, +than any House, or any other artificial Thing: +So that we are led as much by Nature and Necessity, +to conceive this great Machine of the +World, or of the Earth, to have been once in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>a State of greater Simplicity than now it is, as to +conceive a Watch, an House, or any other Structure, +to have been once in its first and simple Materials. +This I speak without Reference to immediate +Creation, for <i>Aristotle</i> did not own any +such thing, and therefore the Argument stands +good against him, upon those Grounds and Notions +that he goes; yet I guess what Answer +would be made by him or his Followers to this +Argumentation: They would say, there is not +the same Reason for Natural things, as for Artificial, +though equally compounded. Artificial +Things could not be from Eternity, because they +suppose Man, by whose Art they were made, +pre-existent to them; the Workman must be before +the Work, and whatsoever hath any thing +before it, is not Eternal. But may not the same +thing be said of Natural things? Do not most of +them require the Action of the Sun, and the Influence +of the Heavens for their Production, and +longer Preparations than any Artificial things +do? Some Years or Ages would be necessary for +the Concoction and Maturation of Metals and +Minerals; Stones themselves, at least some sorts +of them, were once Liquors, or fluid Masses; +and all Vegetable Productions require the Heat +of the Sun, to predispose and excite the Earth +and the Seeds. Nay, according to <i>Aristotle</i>, ’tis +not Man by himself that begets a Man, but the +Sun is his Coadjutor. You see then ’twas as necessary +that the Sun, that great Workman of Nature, +should pre-exist to Natural things, produc’d +in, or upon the Earth, as that Man should pre-exist +<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>to Artificial. So that the Earth, under that +Form and Constitution it now hath, could no +more be Eternal, than a Statue or Temple, or +any Work of Art.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Besides</span>, that Form, which the Earth is under +at present, is in some sort preternatural, like +a Statue made and broken again; and so hath +still the less Appearance or Pretence of being Eternal. +If the Elements had lain in that Order +to one another, as <i>Aristotle</i> hath dispos’d them, +and as seems to be their first Disposition; the Earth +altogether in a Mass in the middle, or towards +the Centre; then the Water in a Spherical Mass +about that; the Air above the Water, and then a +Sphere of Fire, as he fancied, in the highest Circle +of the Air: If they had lain, I say, in this Posture, +there might have been some Pretence that +they had been Eternally so; because that might +seem to be their Original Posture, in which Nature +had first plac’d them. But the Form and Posture +we find them in at present is very different, +and according to his Doctrine must be look’d upon +as unnatural and violent; and no violent +State, by his own Maxim, can be perpetual, or +can have been so.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> there is still a more pressing Consideration +against this Opinion. If this present State +and Form of the Earth had been from Eternity, +it would have long ere this destroy’d itself, and +chang’d itself: The Mountains sinking by degrees +into the Valleys, and into the Sea, and the Waters +rising above the Earth; which Form it would +certainly have come into, sooner or later, and in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>it continu’d drowned and uninhabitable, for all +succeeding Generations. For ’tis certain, that the +Mountains and higher Parts of the Earth grow +lesser and lesser from Age to Age; and that from +many Causes, sometimes the Roots of them are +weaken’d, and eaten by subterraneous Fires, and +sometimes they are torn and tumbled down by +Earthquakes, and fall into those Caverns that are +under them; and tho’ those violent Causes are +not constant, or universal, yet if the Earth had +stood from Eternity, there is not a Mountain +would have escaped this Fate in one Age or other. +The Course of these Exhalations or Fires would +have reach’d them all sooner or later, if thro’ +infinite Ages they had stood exposed to them. +But there are also other causes that consume them +insensibly, and make them sink by degrees; and +those are chiefly the Winds, Rains, and Storms, +and Heat of the Sun without; and within, the +soaking of Water and Springs, with Streams and +Currents in their Veins and Crannies. These +two sorts of Causes would certainly reduce all +the Mountains of the Earth, in tract of Time, to +Equality; or rather lay them all under Water: +For whatsoever moulders, or is wash’d away from +them, is carried down into the lower Grounds, +and into the Sea, and nothing is ever brought +back again by any Circulation: Their Losses are +not repair’d, nor any proportionable Recruits +made from any other parts of Nature. So as the +higher parts of the Earth being continually spending, +and the lower continually gaining, they +must of necessity at length come to an Equality; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>and the Waters that lie in the lower parts and in +the Channels, those Channels and Valleys being +fill’d up with Earth, would be thrust out and rise +every where upon the Surface of the Earth; +which new Post, when they had once seiz’d on +it, they would never quit nor would any thing +be able to dispossess them; for ’tis their natural +Place and Situation which they always tend to, +and from which there is no Progress nor Regress +in a Course of Nature. So that the Earth would +have been, both now, and from innumerable Generations +before this, all under Water and uninhabitable; +if it had stood from Everlasting, and +this Form of it had been its first Original Form.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Nor</span> can he doubt of this Argumentation, +that considers the Coherence of it, and will allow +time enough for the Effect. I do not say the +Earth would be reduc’d to this uninhabitable +Form in ten thousand Years time, tho’ I believe +it would: But take twenty, if you please, take +an hundred thousand, take a million, ’tis all one, +for you may take the one as easily as the other +out of Eternity; and they make both equally against +their Supposition. Nor is it any matter +how little you suppose the mountains to decrease +’tis but taking more time, and the same Effect +still follows. Let them but waste as much as a +Grain of Mustard-Seed every Day, or a Foot in +an Age, this would be more than enough in ten +thousand Ages to consume the tallest Mountain +upon Earth. The Air alone, and the little drops +of Rain have defac’d the strongest and the proudest +Monuments of the <i>Greeks</i> and <i>Romans</i>; and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span>allow them but time enough, and they will of +themselves beat down the Rocks into the Sea, +and the Hills into the Valleys. But if we add to +these all those other foremention’d Causes that +work with more Violence, and the Weight of +the Mountains themselves, which, upon any occasion +offer’d, is ready to sink them lower, we shall +shorten the Time and make the Effect more sure.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> need add no more here in particular against +this <i>Aristotelian</i> Doctrine, that makes the +present Form of the Earth to have been from Eternity; +for the Truth is, this whole Book is one +continued Argument against that opinion; shewing +that it hath <i>de facto</i> chang’d its Form; both +in that we have prov’d that it was not capable +of an universal Deluge in this Form, and consequently +was once under another; and also in that +we shall prove at large hereafter throughout the +Third and Fourth Sections, that it hath been +broken and dissolv’d. We might also add one +Consideration more, that if it had stood always +under this Form, it would have been under Fire, +if it had not been under Water; and the Conflagration, +which it is to undergo, would have overtaken +it long ere this. For <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i> saith, The +Heavens and the Earth that are now, as oppos’d +to the Antediluvian, and consider’d in their present +Form and Constitution, are fitted to be consumed +by Fire. And whosoever understands the +Progress and Revolutions of Nature, will see that +neither the present Form of the Earth, nor its +first Form, were permanent and immutable +Forms, but transient and temporary by their own +<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>Frame and Constitution; which the Author of +Nature, after certain Periods of Time, had design’d +for Change and for Destruction.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much for the Body of the Earth, that +it could not have been from Eternity, as <i>Aristotle</i> +pretended, in the Form it hath. Now let’s +consider the Origination of Mankind; and that +we shall find could much less be Eternal than the +other; for whatsoever destroy’d the Form of the +Earth, would also destroy Mankind; and besides, +there are many particular Marks and Arguments, +that the Generations of Men have not been from +Everlasting. All History, and all Monuments +of Antiquity, of what kind soever, are but of a +few Thousand of Years date; we have still the +Memory of the Golden Age, of the first State of +Nature, and how Mortals liv’d then in Innocency +and Simplicity. The Invention of Arts, even +those that are necessary or useful to Human Life, +hath been within the Knowledge of Men: How +imperfect was the Geography of the Ancients, +how imperfect their Knowledge of the Earth, +how imperfect their Navigation? Can we imagine, +if there had been Men from Everlasting, a +Sea as now, and all materials for shipping as much +as we have, that Men could have been so ignorant, +both of the Land and of the Sea, as ’tis manifest +they have been till of late Ages? They had +very different Fancies concerning the Figure of +the Earth. They knew no Land beyond our Continent, +and that very imperfectly too; and the +Torrid Zone they thought utterly uninhabitable. +We think it strange, taking that short Date of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>the World, which we give it, that Men should +not have made more Progress in the Knowledge +of these Things; but how impossible is it then, +if you suppose them to have been from Everlasting? +They had the same Wit and Passions +that we have, the same Motives that we have, +can we then imagine, that neither the Ambition +of Princes, nor Interest or Gain in private Persons, +nor Curiosity and the Desire of Knowledge, +nor the Glory of Discoveries, nor any other Passion +or Consideration could ever move them +in that endless time, to try their Fortunes upon +the Sea, and know something more of the World +they inhabited? Though you should suppose +them generally stupid, which there is no Reason +to do, yet in a Course of infinite Generations, +there would be some great Genii, some extraordinary +Persons that would attempt things above +the rest. We have done more within the +compass of our little World, which we can but +count (as to this) from the general Deluge, than +those Eternal Men had done in their innumerable +Ages foregoing.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>You</span> will say it may be, they had not the Advantages +and Opportunities for Navigation as we +have, and for Discoveries; because the use of the +Loadstone, and the Mariners needle was not then +known. But that’s the Wonder, that either that +Invention, or any other should not be brought +to light till t’other Day, if the World had stood +from Eternity. I say this or any other practical Invention; +for such Things, when they are once +found out and known, are not easily lost again, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>because they are of daily use. And ’tis in most other +practical arts, as in Navigation, we generally +know their original and History; who the Inventors, +and by what degrees improv’d, and how few +of them brought to any Perfection till of late +Ages. All the Artificial and Mechanical World +is in a manner new; and what you may call the +<i>Civil</i> World too is in a great measure so. What +relates to Government, and Laws; to Wars +and Discipline; we can trace these things to their +Origin, or very near it. The use of Money and of +Coins, nay the Use of the very Elements; for they +tell us of the first Invention of fire by <i>Prometheus</i>, +and the employing of Wind or Water to turn +the Mills, and grind their Corn was scarce +known before the <i>Romans</i>, <i>Plin. <abbr class='spell'>l.</abbr> 7. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 56.</i> And +that we may think nothing eternal here, they +tell us the Ages and Genealogies of their very +Gods. The measures of Time for the common +uses of Life, the dividing it into Hours, with the +Instruments for those Purposes, are not of an unknown +Date: Even the Arts for preparing Food +and Cloathing, Medicines and Medicaments, +Building, Civil and Military, Letters and Writing, +which are the Foundations of the World +Civil: These, with all their Retinue of lesser +Arts and Trades that belong to them, History +and Tradition tell us when they had their Beginning, +or were very imperfect; and how many +of their Inventors and Inventresses were deify’d. +The World hath not stood so long but we can +still run it up to those artless Ages, when Mortals +liv’d by plain Nature; when there was but +<span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>one Trade in the World, one Calling, to look +to their Flocks; and afterwards to till the Ground, +when Nature grew less liberal: And may we +not reasonably think this the Beginning of Mankind, +or very near it? If Man be a Creature, +both naturally sagacious to find out its own Conveniencies, +and naturally sociable and inclin’d +to live in a Community, a little Time would +make them find out and furnish themselves with +what was necessary in these two kinds, for the +Conveniencies of single Life, and the Conveniencies +of Societies; they would not have liv’d +infinite Ages, unprovided of them. If you say +<i>Necessity</i> is the Mother of Arts and Inventions, +and there was no Necessity before, and therefore +these things were so slowly invented; this is a +good Answer upon our Supposition, that the +World began but some Ages before these were +found out, and was abundant with all Things at +first; and Men not very numerous, and therefore +were not put so much to the use of their +Wits, to find out Ways for living commodiously. +But this is no Answer upon their Supposition; +for if the World was eternal and Men too, there +were no first Ages, no new and fresh Earth; Men +were never less numerous, nor the Earth more +fruitful; and consequently there was never less +Necessity at any time than is now. This also +brings to Mind another Argument against this +Opinion, (<i>viz.</i>) from the gradual Increase of +Mankind. ’Tis certain the World was not so +populous one or two thousand Years since, as +it is now, seeing ’tis observ’d in particular Nations, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>that within the Space of two or three hundred +Years, notwithstanding all Casualties, the +Number of Men doubles. If then the Earth had +stood from Everlasting, it had been overstock’d +long ere this, and would not have been capable +to contain its Inhabitants many Ages and Millions +of Ages ago. Whereas we find the Earth +is not yet sufficiently inhabited, and there is still +Room for some Millions. And we must not fly +to universal Deluges and Conflagrations to destroy +Mankind; for besides that the Earth was +not capable of a Deluge in this present Form, +nor would have been in this Form after a Conflagration, +<i>Aristotle</i> doth not admit of these universal +Changes, nor any that hold the Form of +the Earth to be eternal. But to return to our +Arts and Inventions.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> have spoken of practical Arts and Inventions +useful in human Life; then for Theoretical +Learning and Sciences, there is nothing yet finish’d +or compleat in these; and what is known +hath been chiefly the Production of latter Ages. +How little hath been discover’d till of late, either +of our own Bodies, or of the Body of the +Earth, and of the Functions or Motions of Nature +in either? What more obvious, one would +think, than the Circulation of the Blood? What +can more excite our Curiosity than the flowing +and ebbing of the Sea? Than the Nature of Metals +and Minerals? These are either yet unknown, +or were so at least till this last Age; which seems +to me, to have made a greater Progress than all +Ages before put together, since the beginning of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>the World. How unlikely is it then that these +Ages were Eternal? That the Eternal Studies of +our Fore-fathers could not effect so much as a +few Years have done of late? And the whole +Mass of Knowledge in this Earth doth not seem +to be so great, but that a few Ages more, with +two or three happy Genius’s in them, may bring +to light all that we are capable to understand in +this State of Mortality.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> these Arguments concerning the Novelty +of the Earth, and the Origin of Mankind, I +know there are some shuffling Excuses made, +but they can have little Effect upon those Instances +we have chosen. And I would ask those +Eternalists one fair Question, What Mark is there +that they could expect or desire of the Novelty +of a World, that is not found in this? Or what +Mark is there of Eternity that is found in this? +If then their Opinion be without any positive +Argument, and against all Appearances in Nature, +it may be justly rejected as unreasonable +upon all Accounts. ’Tis not the bold asserting +of a Thing that makes it true, or that makes it +credible against Evidence. If one should assert +that such an one had liv’d from all Eternity, +and I could bring Witnesses that knew him a +Sucking-child, and others that remembred him +a School-boy, I think it would be a fair Proof, +that the Man was not Eternal. So if there be +Evidence, either in Reason or History, that it +is not very many Ages since Nature was in her +Minority, as appears by all those Instances we +have given above; some whereof trace her +<span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>down to her very Infancy: This, I think, may +be taken for a good Proof that she is not Eternal. +And I do not doubt, but if the History of +the World was writ Philosophically, giving an +Account of the several States of Mankind in +several Ages, and by what Steps or Degrees +they came from their first Rudeness or Simplicity +to that Order of Things, both Intellectual +and Civil, which the World is advanc’d to at +present, That alone would be a full Conviction, +that the Earth and Mankind had a Beginning. +As the Story of <i>Rome</i>, how it rose from a mean +Original, by what degrees it increas’d, and how +it chang’d its Form and Government till it came +to its Greatness, doth satisfy us very well, that +the <i>Roman</i> Empire was not Eternal.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much concerning the Temporal Original +of the Earth. We are now to consider the +manner of it, and to shew how it rose from a +Chaos. I do not remember that any of the Ancients +that acknowledge the Earth to have had +an Original, did deny that Original to have been +from a Chaos. We are assur’d of both from the +Authority of <i>Moses</i>, who saith, that in the Beginning +the Earth was <i>Tohu Bohu</i>, without Form +and Void; a fluid, dark, confus’d Mass, without +Distinction of Elements; and made up of +all Variety of Parts, but without Order, or any +determinate Form; which is the true Description +of a Chaos: And so it is understood by the +general Consent of Interpreters both Hebrew +and Christian. We need not therefore spend +any time here to prove, that the Origin of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>Earth was from a Chaos, seeing that it is agreed +on by all that give it any Origin. But we will +proceed immediately to examine into what Form +it first rose when it came out of that Chaos; or +what was the primæval Form of the Earth, that +continued till the Deluge, and how the Deluge +depended upon it, and upon its Dissolution.</p> + +<p class='c004'>And, that we may proceed in this Enquiry by +such easy steps as any one may readily follow, we +will divide it into Three Propositions, whereof +the first is this in general; <i>that the Form of the +Antediluvian Earth, or of the Earth that rose +first from the Chaos, was different from the Form +of the present Earth</i>. I say, <i>different in general</i>, +without specifying yet what its particular Form +was, which shall be exprest in the following Proposition.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> first Proposition we have in effect prov’d +in the second Chapter; where we have shewn, +that if the Earth had been always in this Form, it +would not have been capable of a Deluge; seeing +that could not have been effected without such +an infinite Mass of Water as could neither be +brought upon the Earth, nor afterward any way +removed from it. But we will not content our +selves with that Proof only, but will prove it also +from the Nature of the Chaos, and the manifest +Consequences of it. And because this is a leading +Proposition, we think it not improper to +prove it also from Divine Authority, there being +a pregnant Passage to this Purpose in the Writings +of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>. Where treating of this very Subject, +the Deluge, he manifestly puts a difference +<span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span>between the Antediluvian Earth and the present +Earth, as to their Form and Constitution. The +Discourse is in the second Epistle of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>, +the third Chapter, where certain Deists, as they +seem to have been, laught at the Prophecy of the +Day of Judgment, and of the Conflagration of +the World, using this Argument against it, <i>That +since the Fathers fell asleep, all things have continued +as they were from the beginning</i>. All External +Nature hath continued the same without +any remarkable Change or Alteration, and why +should we believe, say they, there will be any? +What Appearance, or what Foundation is there +of such a Revolution, that all Nature will be +dissolved, and the Heavens and the Earth consum’d +with Fire, as your Prophecies pretend? So +from the Permanency and Immutability of Nature +hitherto, they argu’d its Permanency and +Immutability for the future. To this the <i>Apostle</i> +answers, that they are willing to forget, that the +Heavens and the Earth of old had a particular +Form and Constitution as to Water, by reason +whereof the World, that then was, perish’d by a +Deluge. And the Heavens and the Earth that are +now, or since the Deluge, have a particular Constitution +in reference to Fire, by reason whereof +they are expos’d to another sort of Destruction +or Dissolution, namely by Fire, or by an universal +Conflagration. The Words of the Apostle, +<i>Chap. <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> <abbr title='verses'>v.</abbr> 5, 6, 7.</i> are these; <i>For this they +are willingly ignorant of, that by the Word of +God the Heavens were of old, and the Earth, +consisting of Water, and by Water</i>; or (as we +<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>render it) <i>standing out of the Water, and in the +Water; wherein the World that then was, being +overflow’d with Water, perish’d. But the Heavens +and the Earth that are now, by the same +Word are kept in store, reserv’d unto Fire against +the Day of Judgment</i>. We shall have occasion, +it may be, hereafter to give a full Illustration +of these Words; but at present we shall +only take notice of this in general, that the +Apostle here doth plainly intimate some difference +that was between the old World and the +present World, in their Form and Constitution; +or betwixt the Antediluvian and the present +Earth, by reason of which difference, that was +subject to perish by a Deluge, as this is subject to +perish by Conflagration. And as this is the general +Air and Importance of this Discourse of the +Apostle’s, which every one at first sight would discover; +so we may in several particular ways +prove from it our first Proposition, which now +we must return to; (<i>viz.</i>) <i>That the Form and +Constitution of the Antediluvian Earth was +different from that of the present Earth.</i> This +may be inferr’d from the Apostle’s Discourse, +first, because he makes an opposition betwixt +these two Earths, or these two natural Worlds; +and that not only in respect of their Fate, the +one perishing by Water, as the other will perish +by Fire, but also in respect of their different +Disposition and Constitution leading to this different +Fate; for otherwise his <i>fifth Verse</i> is superfluous, +and his Inference in the <i>sixth</i> ungrounded; +you see he premiseth in the <i>fifth +<span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>Verse</i> as the Ground of his Discourse, what the +Constitution of the antediluvian Heavens and +Earth was, and then infers from it in the <i>sixth +Verse</i>, that they therefore perish’d in a Deluge +of Water. Now if they had been the same with +ours, there had neither been any Ground for +making an Opposition betwixt them, nor any +Ground of making a contrary Inference as to +their Fate. Besides, in that he implies that the +Constitution of the antediluvian Earth was +such, as made it subject to a Deluge; he shews +that it was different from the Constitution of +the present Earth; for the Form of that is such, +as makes it rather incapable of a Deluge, as we +have shewn in the second Chapter. Then we +are to observe further, that when he saith (<i><abbr title='verse'>v.</abbr> 6.</i>) +that the first World perish’d in a Deluge, or was +destroy’d by it; this is not to be understood of +the animate World only, Men and living Creatures, +but of the natural world, and the Frame of +it; for he had describ’d it before by the Heavens +and the Earth, which make the natural World. +And the Objection of the Atheists, or Deists rather, +which he was to answer, proceeded upon +the natural World. And lastly, this perishing of +the world in a Deluge is set against, or compar’d +with the perishing of the World in the Conflagration, +when the Frame of Nature will be dissolv’d. +We must therefore, according to the Tenor +of the Apostle’s arguing, suppose, that the +natural World was destroy’d or perish’d in the +Deluge; and seeing it did not perish as to Matter +and Substance, it must be as to the Form, +Frame and Composition of it, that it perish’d; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>and consequently, the present Earth is of another +Form and Frame from what it had before +the Deluge; which was the thing to be proved.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Lastly</span>, Let us consider what it is the Apostle +tells these Scoffers that they were ignorant +of: Not that there was a Deluge, they could not +be ignorant of that; nor doth he tell them that +they were. But he tells them that they were ignorant +that the Heavens and the Earth of old +were so and so constituted, after a different manner +than they are now, and that the State of Nature +was chang’d at the Deluge; if they had +known or attended to this, they had made no +such Objection, nor us’d any such Argument as +they did against the future Conflagration of the +World. They pretended that there had been no +Change in Nature since the beginning, and the +Apostle in answer tells them, that they are willingly +ignorant of the first Constitution of the +Heavens, and the Earth, and of that Change and +Dissolution that happen’d to them in the Deluge; +and how the present Heavens and Earth have +another Constitution, whereby in like manner +they are expos’d, in God’s due time, to be consum’d +or dissolv’d by Fire. This is the plain, easy +and natural Import of the Apostle’s Discourse; +thus all the Parts of it are coherent, and the Sense +genuine and apposite, and this is a full Confirmation +of our first and general Assertion, That +<i>the antediluvian Earth was of another Form +from the present Earth</i>. This hath been observ’d +formerly by some of the Ancients from this +Text, but that it hath not been generally observ’d, +was partly because they had no Theory to back +<span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span>such an Interpretation, and make it intelligible; +and partly because they did not observe, that the +Apostle’s Discourse here was an Argumentation, +and not a bare Affirmation, or simple Contradiction +to those that rais’d the Scruple; ’tis an +Answer upon a Ground taken, he premiseth, and +then infers, in the <i>fifth</i> and <i>sixth</i> Verses, concerning +the Deluge; and in the <i>seventh</i>, concerning +the Conflagration. And when I had discover’d +in my Thoughts from the Consideration +of the Deluge, and other natural Reasons, that +the Earth was certainly once in another Form, it +was a great Assurance and Confirmation to me, +when I reflected on this place of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s; +which seems to be so much directed and intended +for the same purpose, or to teach us the same +Conclusion, that though I design’d chiefly a Philosophical +Theory of these Things, yet I should +not have thought we had been just to Providence, +if we had neglected to take Notice of this Passage +and Sacred Evidence; which seems to have been +left us on purpose to excite our Enquiries, and +strengthen our Reasonings, concerning the first +State of Things. Thus much from Divine Authority: +We proceed now to prove the same +Proposition from Reason and Philosophy, and +the Contemplation of the Chaos, from whence +the first Earth arose.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> need not upon this Occasion make a particular +Description of the Chaos, but only consider +it as a fluid Mass, or a Mass of all sorts of +little Parts and Particles of Matter mix’d together, +and floating in Confusion, one with another. +’Tis impossible that the Surface of this +<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>Mass should be of such a Form and Figure, as +the Surface of our present Earth is: Or that any +Concretion or consistent State which this Mass +could flow into immediately, or first settle in, +could be of such a Form and Figure as our present +Earth. The first of these Assertions is of easy +proof; for a fluid Body, we know, whether it be +Water or any other Liquor, always casts it self +into a smooth and spherical Surface; and if any +Parts, by Chance, or by some Agitation, become +higher than the rest, they do not continue so, but +glide down again every way into the lower Places, +till they all come to make a Surface of the +same height, and of the same distance every +where from the Center of their Gravity. A +Mountain of Water is a thing impossible in Nature, +and where there are no Mountains there +are no Valleys. So also a Den or Cave within +the Water, that hath no Walls but the liquid +Element, is a Structure unknown to Art or Nature; +all things there must be full within, and +even and level without, unless some external +Force keep them by Violence in another Posture. +But is this the Form of our Earth, which is neither +regularly made within nor without? The +Surface and exterior Parts are broken into all +sorts of Inequalities, Hills and Dales, Mountains +and Valleys; and the plainer Tracts of it lie generally +inclin’d or bending one way or other, +sometimes upon an easy Descent, and other +times with a more sensible and uneasy Steepness; +and though the great Mountains of the Earth +were taken all away, the remaining parts would +be more unequal than the roughest Sea; whereas +<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>the Face of the Earth should resemble the Face +of the calmest Sea, if it was still in the Form of +its first Mass. But what shall we say then to the +huge Mountains of the Earth, which lie sometimes +in Lumps or Clusters heapt up by one another, +sometimes extended in long Ridges or +Chains, for many hundred Miles in length? And +’tis remarkable, that in every Continent, and in +every ancient and original Island, there is either +such a Cluster, or such a Chain of Mountains. +And can there be any more palpable Demonstrations +than these are, that the Surface of the +Earth is not in the same Form that the Surface +of the Chaos was, or that any fluid Mass can +stand or hold it self in?</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Then</span> for the Form of the Earth within or +under its Surface, ’tis no less impossible for the +Chaos to imitate that; for ’tis full of Cavities +and empty Places, of Dens and broken Holes, +whereof some are open to the Air, and others +cover’d and enclos’d wholly within the Ground. +These are both of them unimitable in any liquid +Substance, whose Parts will necessarily flow together +into one continued Mass, and cannot be +divided into Apartments and separate Rooms, +nor have Vaults or Caverns made within it; the +Walls would sink, and the Roof fall in: For +liquid Bodies have nothing to sustain their Parts, +nor any thing to cement them; they are all +loose and incoherent, and in a perpetual Flux: +Even an heap of Sand or fine Powder will suffer +no Hollowness within them, though they be +dry Substances, and though the Parts of them being +rough will hang together a little and stand +<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>a little upon an Heap; but the Parts of Liquors +being glib, and continually in motion, they fall +off from one another, which way soever Gravity +inclines them, and can neither have any +Hills or Eminencies on their Surface, nor any +Hollowness within their Substance.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>You</span> will acknowledge, it may be, that this +is true, and that a liquid Mass or Chaos, while +it was liquid, was incapable of either the outward +or inward Form of the Earth; but when +it came to a Concretion, to a State of Consistency +and Firmness, then it might go, you’ll say, +into any Form. No, not in its first Concretion, +nor in its first State of Consistence; for that +would be of the same Form that the Surface of +it was when it was liquid, as Water when it +congeals, the Surface of the Ice is smooth and +level, as the Surface of the Water was before; +so Metals, or any other Substances melted, or +Liquors that of themselves grow stiff and harden, +always settle into the same Form which they had +when they were last liquid, and are always solid +within, and smooth without, unless they be cast +in a Mould, that hinders the Motion and Flux +of the Parts. 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 in; for that is the Mould, as it were, upon +which it is cast; as the Shell of an Egg is of a +like Form with the Surface of the Liquor it lies +upon. And therefore by Analogy with all other +Liquors and Concretions, the Form of the +Chaos, whether liquid or concrete, could not +be the same with that of the present Earth, or +<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>like it: And consequently, that Form of the +first or primogenial Earth which rose immediately +out of the Chaos, was not the same, nor like +to that of the present Earth; which was the first +and preparatory Proposition we laid down to +be prov’d. And this being prov’d by the Authority +both of our Reason and our Religion, we +will now proceed to the second which is more +particular.</p> +<h3 id='chap-1-5' class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='five'>V.</abbr></span></h3> +<p class='c012'><i>The Second Proposition is laid down, viz. That +the Face of the Earth before the Deluge was +smooth, regular, and uniform; without Mountains, +and without a Sea. The Chaos out of +which the World rose is fully examin’d, and +all its Motions observ’d, and by what Steps it +wrought it self into an habitable World. Some +Things in Antiquity relating to the first State +of the Earth are interpreted, and some Things +in the Sacred Writings. The Divine Art +and Geometry in the Construction of the first +Earth is observ’d and celebrated.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have seen it prov’d, in the foregoing +Chapter, That the Form of the first or +antediluvian Earth was not the same, nor like +the Form of the present Earth. This is our +first Discovery at a distance, but ’tis only general +and negative, tells us what the Form of +that Earth was not, but tells us not expresly +what it was; that must be our next Enquiry, +and advancing one step farther in our Theory, +we lay down this second Proposition: <i>That +<span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>the Face of the Earth before the Deluge was +smooth, regular, and uniform; without Mountains, +and without a Sea</i>. This is a bold Step, +and carries us into another World, which we +have never seen, nor ever yet heard any relation +of; and a World, it seems, of very different +Scenes and Prospects from ours, or from any +thing we have yet known. An Earth without a +Sea, and plain as the <i>Elysian</i> Fields; if you travel +it all over, you will not meet with a Mountain +or a Rock, yet well provided of all requisite +things for an habitable World; and the same +indeed with the Earth we still inhabit, only under +another Form. And this is the great Thing +that now comes into debate, the great Paradox +which we offer to be examined, and which we +affirm, That the Earth, in its first Rise and Formation +from a Chaos, was of the Form here described, +and so continued for many hundreds of +Years.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> examine and prove this, we must return +to the beginning of the World, and to that +Chaos out of which the Earth and all sublunary +things arose: ’Tis the Motions and Progress +of this, which we must now consider, +and what Form it settled into when it first became +an habitable World.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Neither</span> is it perhaps such an intricate +Thing as we imagine at first Sight, to trace a +Chaos into an habitable World; at least there +is a particular Pleasure to see things in their Origin, +and by what Degrees and successive Changes +they rise into that Order and State we see +them in afterwards, when compleated. I am +<span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>sure, if ever we would view the Paths of Divine +Wisdom, in the Works and in the Conduct of +Nature, we must not only consider how Things +are, but how they came to be so. ’Tis pleasant +to look upon a Tree in the Summer, cover’d +with its green Leaves, deckt with Blossoms, +or laden with Fruit, and casting a pleasing +Shade under its spreading Boughs; but to +consider how this Tree with all its Furniture +sprang from a little Seed; how Nature shap’d +it, and fed it, in its Infancy and Growth; added +new Parts, and still advanc’d it by little and +little, ’till it came to this Greatness and Perfection: +This, methinks, is another sort of Pleasure, +more rational, less common, and which is +properly the Contemplation of Divine Wisdom +in the Works of Nature. So to view this Earth, +and this sublunary World, as it is now complete, +distinguish’d into the several Orders of Bodies +of which it consists, every one perfect and +admirable in its kind; this is truly delightful, and +a very good Entertainment of the Mind: But to +see all these in their first Seeds, as I may so say; +to take in Pieces this Frame of Nature, and +melt it down into its first Principles; and then to +observe how the Divine Wisdom wrought all +these Things out of Confusion into Order, and +out of Simplicity into that beautiful Composition +we now see them in; this, methinks, is another +kind of Joy, which pierceth the Mind more +deep, and is more satisfactory. And to give our +selves and others this Satisfaction, we will first +make a short Representation of the Chaos, and +then shew, how, according to Laws establish’d in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>Nature by the Divine Power and Wisdom, it +was wrought by degrees from one Form into +another, ’till it settled at length into an habitable +Earth; and that of such a Frame and Structure, +as we have described in this second Proposition.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>By</span> the Chaos I understand the Matter of the +Earth and Heavens, without Form or Order; +reduc’d into a fluid Mass, wherein are the Materials +and Ingredients of all Bodies, but mingled +in Confusion one with another. As if you +should suppose all sorts of Metals, Gold, Silver, +Lead, <i>&c.</i> melted down together in a common +Mass, and so mingled, that the Parts of no one +Metal could be discern’d as distinct from the rest, +this would be a little Metallick Chaos: Suppose +then, the Elements thus mingled, Air, Water +and Earth, which are the Principles of all Terrestrial +Bodies; mingled, I say, without any +Order of higher or lower, heavier or lighter, +solid or volatile, in such a kind of confus’d Mass +as is here represented in the first Scheme.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig1-1.jpg' alt='A confused spherical Mass of matter.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 Figure 1.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Let</span> this then represent to us the Chaos; in +which the first Change that we should imagine +to happen would be this, that the heaviest and +grossest Parts would sink down towards the middle +of it, (for there we suppose the Center of its +Gravity) and the rest would float above. These +grosser Parts thus sunk down and compress’d +more and more, would harden by degrees, and +constitute the interiour Parts of the Earth: The +rest of the Mass, which swims above, would be +also divided by the same Principle of Gravity +into two Orders of Bodies, the one liquid like +<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>Water, the other volatile like Air. For the more +fine and active Parts disentangling themselves +by degrees from the rest would mount above +them; and having Motion enough to keep them +upon the Wing, would play in those open Places +where they constitute that Body we call <span class='sc'>Air</span>. +The other Parts being grosser than these, and +having a more languid Motion, could not fly +up separate from one another, as these did, but +settled in a Mass together, under the Air, upon +the Body of the Earth, composing not only +Water strictly so called, but the whole Mass +of Liquors, or liquid Bodies, belonging to the +Earth. And these first Separations being thus +made, the Body of the Chaos would stand in +that Form which it is here represented in by +the second Scheme.</p> + +<div id='fig1-2' class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig1-2.jpg' alt='Concentric spheres of Matter, the heaviest nearest the center.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 Figure 2.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> liquid Mass which encircled the Earth +was not, as I noted before, the mere Element +of Water, but a Collection of all Liquors that +belong to the Earth: I mean of all that do originally +belong to it. Now seeing there are two +chief kinds of Terrestrial Liquors, those that +are fat, oily and light; and those that are lean +and more earthy, like common Water; which +two are generally found in compound Liquors; +we cannot doubt but there were of both sorts +in this common Mass of Liquids. And it being +well known, that these two kinds mix’d together, +if left to themselves and the general Action +of Nature, separate one from another when +they come to settle, as in Cream and thin Milk, +Oil and Water, and such like; we cannot but +conclude, that the same Effect would follow +<span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>here, and the more oily and light Part of this +Mass would get above the other, and swim upon +it. The whole Mass being divided into +two lesser Masses, and so the Globe would stand +as we see it in the third Figure.</p> + +<div id='fig1-3' class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig1-3.jpg' alt='The concentric spheres with heavy matter inner-most, with heavier and the lighter liquids in spheres above.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 Figure 3.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Hitherto</span> the Changes of the Chaos are +easy and unquestionable, and would be dispatcht +in a short time; we must now look over again +these two great Masses of the <i>Air</i> and <i>Water</i>, +and consider how their Impurities or grosser +Parts would be dispos’d of; for we cannot imagine +but they were both at first very muddy +and impure: And as the Water would have its +Sediment, which we are not here concern’d to +look after, so the great Regions of the Air would +certainly have their Sediment too; for the Air +was as yet thick, gross and dark, there being an +abundance of little Terrestrial Particles swimming +in it still, after the grossest were sunk +down; which, by their Heaviness and lumpish +Figure, made their way more easily and speedily. +The lesser and lighter which remain’d would +sink too, but more slowly, and in a longer time; +so as in their Descent they would meet with that +oily Liquor upon the Face of the Deep, or upon +the watery Mass, which would entangle and +stop them from passing any further; whereupon +mixing there with that unctuous Substance, +they compos’d a certain Slime, or fat, soft, and +light Earth, spread upon the Face of the Waters; +as ’tis represented in the fourth Figure.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig1-4.jpg' alt='The liquid layers have rearranged by heaviness and oilyness.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 Figure 4.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> thin and tender Orb of Earth increas’d +still more and more, as the little earthy Parts +that were detain’d in the Air could make their +<span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>way to it. Some having a long Journey from +the upper Regions, and others being very light +would float up and down a good while, before +they could wholly disengage themselves +and descend. But this was the general Rendezvous, +which sooner or later they all got to, +and mingling more and more with that oily +Liquor, they suckt it all up at length, and were +wholly incorporate together, and so began to +grow more stiff and firm, making both but one +Substance, which was the first Concretion, or +firm and consistent Substance that rose upon the +Face of the Chaos. And the whole Globe stood +in this Posture, as in Figure the fifth.</p> + +<div id='fig1-5' class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig1-5.jpg' alt='The tiny Earthy parts from above have settled down out of the Air, the rings marked 1, 2, and 3 from outside to in.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 Figure 5.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig1-6.jpg' alt='Another view of the Rings.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 Figure 6.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>It</span> may be, you will say, we take our Liberty, +and our own time for the Separation of +these two Liquors, the oily and the earthy, +the lighter and the heavier; and suppose that +<span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span>done before the Air was clear’d of earthy Particles, +that so they might be catcht and stopt +there in their Descent. Whereas if all these +Particles were fallen out of the Air before that +Separation was made in the liquid Mass, they +would fall down through the Water, as the +first did, and so no Concretion would be made, +nor any earthy Crust form’d upon the Face of +the Waters, as we here suppose there was. ’Tis +true, there could be no such Orb of Earth +form’d there, if the Air was wholly purg’d of +all its earthy Parts before the Mass of Liquids +began to purify it self, and to separate the oily +Parts from the more heavy: But this is an unreasonable +and incredible Supposition, if we +consider, the Mass of the Air was many thousand +Times greater than the Water, and would +in Proportion require a greater Time to be +purify’d; the Particles that were in the Regions +of the Air having a long way to come before +they reach’d the watery Mass, and far longer +than the oily Particles had to rise from any Part +of that Mass to the Surface of it. Besides, we +may suppose a great many degrees of Littleness +and Lightness in these earthy Particles, so as +many of them might float in the Air a good +while, like Exhalations before they fell down. +And lastly, We do not suppose the Separation +of these two Liquors wholly made and finish’d +before the Purgation of the Air began, tho’ we +represent them so for Distinction sake: Let them +begin to purify at the same time, if you please, +these Parts rising upwards, and those falling +downwards, they will meet in the middle, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>unite and grow into one Body, as we have describ’d. +And this Body or new Concretion +would be increas’d daily, being fed and supply’d +both from above and below; and having done +growing, it would become more dry by degrees, +and of a Temper of greater Consistency and +Firmness, so as truly to resemble and be fit to +make an habitable Earth, such as Nature intended +it for.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> you will further object, it may be, that +such an Effect as this would indeed be necessary +in some Degree and Proportion, but not in +such a Proportion, and in such Quantity, as +would be sufficient to make this Crust or concrete +Orb an habitable Earth. This I confess +appear’d to me at first a real Difficulty, till I consider’d +better the great disproportion there is betwixt +the Regions of the Air and the Circumference +of the Earth, or of that exterior Orb of +the Earth, we are now a making; which being +many thousand times less in Depth and Extent +than the Regions of the Air, taken as high as the +Moon, tho’ these earthy Particles we speak of +were very thinly dispers’d thro’ those vast Tracks +of the Air, when they came to be collected and +amass’d together upon the Surface of a far lesser +Sphere, they would constitute a Body of a very +considerable Thickness and Solidity. We see +the Earth sometimes cover’d with Snow two +or three Feet deep, made up only of little Flakes +or Pieces of Ice, which falling from the middle +Region of the Air, and meeting with the Earth +in their Descent, are there stop’d and heap’d +up one upon another. But if we should suppose +<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>little Particles of Earth to shower down, not +only from the middle Region, but from the +whole Capacity and Extent of those vast Spaces +that are betwixt us and the Moon, we could +not imagine but these would constitute an Orb +of Earth some thousands of times deeper than +the greatest Snow; which being increas’d and +swoln by that oily Liquor it fell into, and incorporated +with, it would be thick, strong, and +great enough in all respects to render it an habitable +Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> cannot doubt therefore but such a Body +as this would be form’d, and would be sufficient +in Quantity for an habitable Earth. Then +for the Quality of it, it will answer all the Purposes +of a <i>Rising World</i>. What can be a more +proper Seminary for Plants and Animals, than +a Soil of this Temper and Composition? A +finer and lighter sort of Earth, mix’d with a benign +Juice, easy and obedient to the Action of +the Sun, or of what other Causes were employ’d +by the Author of Nature, for the Production of +Things in the new made Earth. What sort or +disposition of matter could be more fit and ready +to catch Life from Heaven, and to be drawn +into all Forms than the Rudiments of Life, or +the Bodies of living Creatures would require? +What Soil more proper for Vegetation than +this warm Moisture, which could have no Fault, +unless it was too fertile and luxuriant? And +that is no Fault neither at the beginning of a +World. This I am sure of, that the Learned amongst +the Ancients, both <i>Greeks</i>, <i>Ægyptians</i>, +<i>Phœnicians</i>, and others, have described the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>primogenial Soil, Ἰλὺς πρωτογενὴς, or the Temper +of the Earth, that was the first Subject for +the Generation and Origin of Plants and Animals, +after such a manner, as is truly express’d, +and I think with Advantage, by this Draught +of the primogenial Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much concerning the Matter of the +first Earth. Let us reflect a little upon the Form +of it also, whether external or internal; both +whereof do manifestly shew themselves from the +manner of its Production or Formation. As to +the external Form, you see it is according to +the Proposition we were to prove, <i>smooth, regular +and uniform, without Mountains; and +without a Sea</i>. And the Proof we have given +of it is very easy: The Globe of the Earth could +not possibly rise immediately from a Chaos +into the irregular Form in which it is at present. +The Chaos being a fluid Mass, which +we know doth necessarily fall into a Spherical +Surface, whose Parts are equi-distant from the +Center, and consequently in an equal and even +Convexity one with another. And seeing upon +the Distinction of a Chaos and Separation into +several Elementary Masses, the Water would +naturally have a superiour Place to the Earth, +’tis manifest, that there could be no habitable +Earth form’d out of the Chaos, unless by some +Concretion upon the Face of the Water. Then +lastly, 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 upon, there being no Causes, that +<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>we know of, to make any Inequality in it, we +must conclude it equal and uniform, and without +Mountains, as also without a Sea; 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 upon.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Contemplation of these things, and of +this Posture of the Earth upon the Waters, doth +so strongly bring to Mind certain Passages of +Scripture, (which will recur in another Place) +that we cannot, without Injury to Truth, pass +them by here in silence. Passages that have such +a manifest Resemblance and Agreement to this +Form and Situation of the Earth, that they +seem visibly to point at it: Such are those Expressions +of the Psalmist, <i>God hath founded the +Earth upon the Seas</i>. And in another Psalm, +speaking of the Wisdom and Power of God in +the Creation, he saith, <i>To him who alone doth +great wonders; to him that by Wisdom made +the Heavens; to him that extended or stretched +out the Earth above the Waters</i>. What can +be more plain or proper to denote that Form +of the Earth that we have describ’d, and to express +particularly the Inclosure of the Waters +within the Earth, as we have represented them? +He saith in another Place, <i>By the Word of the +Lord were the Heavens made; he shut up the +Waters of the Sea as in Bags</i>, (for so the Word +is to be render’d, and is render’d by all, except +the <i>English</i>) <i>and laid up the Abyss as in Store-houses.</i> +This, you see, is very conformable to +that System of the Earth and Sea, which we have +<span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span>propos’d here. Yet there is something more express +than all this, in that remarkable place in +the <i>Proverbs</i> of <i>Solomon</i>, where <i>Wisdom</i> declaring +her Antiquity and Existence before the +Foundation of the Earth, amongst other things +saith, <i><abbr title='Proverbs'>Prov.</abbr> <abbr title='eight'>viii.</abbr> 27.</i> <i>When he prepared the Heavens, +I was there: When he drew an Orb over +the Surface of the Abyss</i>; or when he set an Orb +upon the Face of the Abyss. We render it in +the <i>English</i>, a <i>Compass</i>, or <i>Circle</i>, but ’tis more +truly render’d an Orb or Sphere; and what Orb +or Spherical Body was this, which at the Formation +of the Earth was built and plac’d round about +the Abyss, but that wonderful Arch, whose +Form and Production we have describ’d, encompassing +the Mass of Waters, which in Scripture +is often call’d the Abyss or Deep? [<i>See <a href='#fig1-5'>Fig. 5.</a> +<abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 78.</i> This Orb is represented by the Circle 1. +and the Abyss by the Region 2.] Lastly, This +Scheme of the first Earth gives Light to that Place +we mention’d before of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s, where the +first Earth is said to <i>consist of Water, and by Water</i>; +and by reason thereof was obnoxious to a +Deluge. The first Part of this Character is plain +from the Description now given; and the second +will appear in the following Chapter. In the +mean time, concerning these Passages of Scripture, +which we have cited, we may truly and +modestly say, that though they would not, it +may be, without a Theory premis’d, have been +taken or interpreted in this Sense; yet this Theory +being premis’d, I dare appeal to any unprejudic’d +Person, if they have not a fairer and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>easier, a more full and more emphatical Sense, +when apply’d to that Form of the Earth and Sea +we are now speaking of, than to their present +Form, or to any other we can imagine.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much concerning the external Form +of the first Earth. Let us now reflect a little +upon the internal Form of it, which consists of +several Regions, involving one another like Orbs +about the same Center, or of the several Elements +cast circularly about each other; as it appears +in the fourth and fifth Figure. And as we +have noted the external Form of this primæval +Earth, to have been mark’d and celebrated in +the Sacred Writings; so likewise in the Philosophy +and Learning of the Ancients, there are +several Remains and Indications of this internal +Form and Composition of it. For ’tis observable, +that the Ancients in treating of the Chaos, +and in raising the World out of it, rang’d it into +several Regions or Masses, as we have done; +and in that Order successively, rising one from +another, as if it was a Pedigree or Genealogy. +And those Parts and Regions of Nature, into +which the Chaos was by degrees divided, they +signified commonly by dark and obscure Names; +as the <i>Night</i>, <i>Tartarus</i>, <i>Oceanus</i>, and such +like, which we have express’d in their plain +and proper Terms. And whereas the Chaos, +when it was first set on Work, ran all into +Divisions and Separations of one Element from +another, which afterwards were all in some +Measure united and associated in this primogenial +Earth; the Ancients accordingly made +<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span><i>Contention</i> the Principle that reign’d in the Chaos +at first, and then <i>Love:</i> The one to express +the Divisions, and the other the Union of all Parties +in this middle and common Bond. These, +and such like Notions, which we find in the +Writings of the Ancients figuratively and darkly +delivered, receive a clearer Light, when compar’d +with this Theory of the Chaos; which representing +every thing plainly, and in its natural +Colours, is a Key to their Thoughts, and an +Illustration of their obscurer Philosophy, concerning +the original of the world; as we have shewn +at large in the <i>Latin</i> Treatise, <i>Lib. 2. chap. 7.</i></p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>There</span> is another Thing in Antiquity, relating +to the Form and Construction of the Earth, +which is very remarkable, and hath obtain’d +throughout all learned Nations and Ages. And +that is the Comparison or Resemblance of the +Earth to an <i>Egg</i>. And this is not so much for +its external Figure, tho’ that be true too, as for +the inward Composition of it; consisting of +several Orbs, one including another, and in that +Order, as to answer the several Elementary Regions +of which the new made Earth was constituted. +For if we admit for the <i>Yolk</i> a Central +Fire (which tho’ very reasonable, we had no occasion +to take Notice of in our Theory of the +Chaos) and suppose the Figure of the Earth +<i>Oval</i>, and a little extended towards the Poles, +(as probably it was, seeing the Vortex that contains +it is so) those two Bodies do very naturally +represent one another, as in this Scheme, +which represents the interior Faces of both, a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>divided <i>Egg</i>, or Earth. Where, as the two inmost +Regions (<abbr class='spell'>A, B</abbr>,) represent the Yolk and +the Membrane that lies next above it; so the +exterior Region of the Earth (<abbr class='spell'>D</abbr>) is as the Shell +of the Egg, and the Abyss (<abbr class='spell'>C</abbr>) under it as the +White that lies under the Shell. And considering +that this Notion of the <i>Mundane Egg</i>, or +that the World was <i>Oviform</i>, hath been the +Sense and Language of all Antiquity, <i>Latins</i>, +<i>Greeks</i>, <i>Persians</i>, <i>Ægyptians</i>, and others, as +we have shew’d elsewhere, [<i>Tell. Theor. Sac. +lib. 2. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 10.</i>] I thought it worthy our Notice +in this Place; seeing it receives such a clear and +easy Explication from that Origin and Fabrick +we have given to the first Earth, and also reflects +Light upon the Theory it self, and confirms it to +be no Fiction: This Notion, which is a kind of +Epitome, or Image of it, having been conserv’d +in the most Ancient Learning.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much concerning the first Earth, its +Production and Form; and concerning our second +Proposition relating to it; which being +prov’d by Reason, the Laws of Nature, and the +Motions of the Chaos; then attested by Antiquity, +both as to the Matter and Form of it; +and confirm’d by Sacred Writers, we may take +it now for a well establish’d Truth, and proceed +upon this Supposition, <i>That the antediluvian +Earth was smooth and uniform, without +Mountains or Sea</i>, to the Explication of the +Universal Deluge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Give</span> me leave only, before we proceed any +further, to annex here a short Advertisement, +concerning the Causes of this wonderful Structure +of the first Earth. ’Tis true, we have propos’d +the natural Causes of it, and I do not +know wherein our Explication is false or defective; +but in Things of this kind we may easily +be too credulous. And this Structure is so +marvellous, that it ought rather to be consider’d +as a particular Effect of the Divine Art, than +as the Work of Nature. The whole Globe of +the Water vaulted over, and the exterior Earth +hanging above the Deep, sustain’d by nothing +but its own Measures and Manner of Construction: +A Building without Foundation or +Corner-stone. This seems to be a Piece of Divine +Geometry or Architecture; and to this, I +think, is to be referr’d that magnificent Challenge +which God Almighty made to <i>Job</i>, <i>Job +<abbr title='thirty-eight'>xxxviii.</abbr> 4, 5, 6, 7,</i> &c. <i>Where wast thou when I +laid the Foundations of the Earth? Declare if +<span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span>thou hast Understanding. Who hath laid the +Measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who +hath stretched the Line upon it? Whereupon +are the Foundations thereof fastned? Or who +laid the Corner-stone thereof? When the Morning +Stars sang together, and all the Sons of +God shouted for Joy.</i> <i>Moses</i> also, when he had +describ’d the Chaos, saith, <i>The Spirit of God +mov’d upon</i>, or sat brooding upon, <i>the Face of +the Waters</i>; without all doubt to produce some +Effects there. And <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>, when he speaks +of the Form of the antediluvian Earth, how it +stood in reference to the Waters, adds, <i>By the +Word of God</i>, Τῷ λόγῳ τοῦ Θεοῦ, or by the Wisdom +of God it was made so. And this same +<i>Wisdom</i> of God, in the <i>Proverbs</i>, as we observed +before, takes Notice of this very piece +of Work in the Formation of the Earth. <i>When +he set an Orb over the Face of the Deep, I +was there</i>. And lastly, the ancient Philosophers, +or at least the best of them, to give them +their due, always brought in <i>Mens</i> or <i>Amor</i>, +Λόγος & Ἔρως, as a Supernatural Principle +to unite and consociate the parts of the Chaos; +which was first done in the Composition of +this wonderful Arch of the Earth. <i>Wherefore</i> +to the great Architect, who made the boundless +Universe out of nothing, and form’d the +Earth out of a Chaos, let the Praise of the whole +Work, and particularly of this Masterpiece, +for ever with all Honour be given.</p> +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span> + <h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='six'>VI.</abbr></span></h3> +</div> +<p class='c012'><i>The Dissolution of the first Earth: The Deluge +ensuing thereupon. And the Form of the present +Earth rising from the Ruins of the first.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have now brought to light the antediluvian +Earth out of the dark Mass of +the Chaos; and not only described the Surface +of it, [<i>See Fig. 5, & 6. pag. 78, & 87.</i>] +but laid open the inward parts, to shew in what +Order its Regions lay. Let us now close it +up, and represent the Earth entire, and in larger +Propositions, more like an habitable World; as +in this Figure, where you see the smooth Convex +of the Earth, and may imagine the great +Abyss spread under it; <i>as at the Aperture</i>, +which two are to be the only Subject of our +further Contemplation.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig1-7.jpg' alt='The smooth Sphere of the Earth, with an Aperture into it.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 Figure 7.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> this smooth Earth were the first Scenes of +the World, and the first Generations of Mankind; +it had the Beauty of Youth and blooming +Nature, fresh and fruitful, and not a Wrinkle, +Scar or Fracture in all its Body; no Rocks nor +Mountains, no hollow Caves, nor gaping Channels, +but even and uniform all over. And the +Smoothness of the Earth made the Face of the +Heavens so too; the Air was calm and serene; +none of those tumultuary Motions and Conflicts +of Vapours, which the Mountains and the +Winds cause in ours: ’Twas suited to a golden +Age, and to the first Innocency of Nature.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span><span class='sc'>All</span> this you’ll say is well, we are got into +a pleasant World indeed, but what’s this to the +Purpose? What Appearance of a Deluge here, +where there is not so much as a Sea, nor half +so much Water as we have in this Earth? Or +what Appearance of Mountains or Caverns, or +other Irregularities of the Earth, where all is +level and united: So that instead of loosing the +Knot, this ties it the harder. You pretend to +shew us how the Deluge was made, and you +lock up all the Waters within the Womb of +the Earth, and set Bars and Doors, and a Wall +of impenetrable Strength and Thickness to keep +them there. And you pretend to shew us the +Original of Rocks and Mountains, and Caverns +of the Earth, and bring us to a wide and endless +Plain, smooth as the calm Sea.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> is all true, and yet we are not so far +from the Sight and Discovery of those Things +as you imagine; draw but the Curtain, and these +Scenes will appear, or something very like ’em. +We must remember that <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i> told us, +that the antediluvian Earth perished, or was +demolished; and <i>Moses</i> saith, the <i>great Abyss</i> +was broken open at the Deluge. Let us then +suppose, that at a Time appointed by Divine +Providence, and from Causes made ready to +do that great Execution upon a sinful World, +that this <i>Abyss</i> was open’d, or that the Frame +of the Earth broke and fell down into the +<i>great Abyss</i>. At this one stroke all Nature +would be chang’d, and this single Action would +have two great and visible Effects: The one +<span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>Transient, and the other Permanent. First, +an Universal Deluge would overflow all the +Parts and Regions of the broken Earth during +the great Commotion and Agitation of the +Abyss, by the violent Fall of the Earth into it. +This would be the first and unquestionable Effect +of this Dissolution, and all that World +would be destroy’d. Then when the Agitation +of the Abyss was asswag’d, and the Waters by +degrees were retir’d into their Channels, and the +dry Land appear’d, you would see the true Image +of the present Earth in the Ruins of the first. +The Surface of the Globe would be divided into +Land and Sea; the Land would consist of Plains +and Valleys and Mountains, according as the +Pieces of this Ruin were plac’d and dispos’d: +Upon the Banks of the Sea would stand the +Rocks, and near the Shore would be Islands, +or lesser Fragments of Earth compass’d round +by Water. Then as to subterraneous Waters, +and all subterraneous Caverns and Hollownesses, +upon this Supposition those things cou’d +not be otherwise; for the Parts would fall hollow +in many Places in this, as in all other Ruins: +And seeing the Earth fell into this Abyss, +the Waters at a certain Height would flow into +all those hollow Places and Cavities; and wou’d +also sink and insinuate into many Parts of the +solid Earth. And though these subterraneous +Vaults or Holes, whether dry or full of Water, +would be more or less in all Places, where +the Parts fell hollow; yet they would be found +especially about the Roots of the Mountains, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>and the higher Parts of the Earth; for there +the Sides bearing up one against the other, they +could not lie so close at the Bottoms, but many +Vacuities would be intercepted. Nor are there +any other Inequalities or Irregularities observable +in the present Form of the Earth; whether in +the Surface of it, or interior Construction, +whereof this <i>Hypothesis</i> doth give a ready, fair, +and intelligible Account; and doth at one view +represent them all to us, with their Causes, as +in a Glass: And whether that Glass be true, and +the Image answer to the Original, if you doubt +of it, we will hereafter examine them Piece by +Piece. But in the first Place, we must consider the +general Deluge, how easily and truly this Supposition +represents and explains it, and answers +all the Properties and Conditions of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>I think</span> it will be easily allow’d, that such +a Dissolution of the Earth as we have propos’d, +and Fall of it into the Abyss, would certainly +make an Universal Deluge; and effectually destroy +the old World, which perish’d in it. But +we have not yet particularly prov’d this Dissolution, +and in what manner the Deluge follow’d +upon it: And to assert things in gross never +makes that firm Impression upon our Understandings, +and upon our Belief, as to see them +deduc’d with their Causes and Circumstances; +and therefore we must endeavour to shew what +Preparations there were in Nature for this great +Dissolution, and after what manner it came to +pass, and the Deluge in Consequence of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span><span class='sc'>We</span> have noted before, that <i>Moses</i> imputed +the Deluge to the Disruption of the Abyss; +and <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>, to the particular Constitution +of that Earth, which made it obnoxious to be +absorpt in Water, so that our Explication so far +is justified. But it was below the Dignity of +those Sacred Pen-Men, or the Spirit of God +that directed them, to shew us the Causes of this +Disruption, or of this Absorption; this is left +to the Enquiries of Men. For it was never the +Design of Providence, to give such particular +Explications of natural Things, as should make +us idle, or the Use of Reason unnecessary; but +on the contrary, by delivering great Conclusions +to us to excite our Curiosity and Inquisitiveness +after the Methods, by which such things were +brought to pass: And it may be there is no greater +Trial or Instance of natural Wisdom, than +to find out the Channel, in which these great +Revolutions of Nature, which we treat on, +flow and succeed one another.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Let</span> us therefore resume that System of the +antediluvian Earth, which we have deduc’d +from the Chaos, and which we find to answer +<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s Description, and <i>Moses</i>’s Account +of the Deluge. This Earth could not +be obnoxious to a Deluge, as the Apostle supposeth +it to have been, but by a Dissolution; +for the Abyss was enclos’d within its Bowels. +And <i>Moses</i> doth in effect tell us, there was +such a Dissolution; when he saith, <i>The Fountains +of the great Abyss were broken open</i>. +For Fountains are broken open no otherwise +<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>than by breaking up the Ground that covers +them. We must therefore here enquire +in what Order, and from what Causes the +Frame of this exterior Earth was dissolved, and +then we shall soon see how, upon that Dissolution, +the Deluge immediately prevail’d and +overflow’d all the Parts of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>I do</span> not think it in the power of human +Wit to determine how long this Frame would +stand, how many Years, or how many Ages; +but one would soon imagine, that this kind of +Structure would not be perpetual, nor last indeed +many thousands of Years, if one consider the +Effect that the Heat of the Sun would have upon +it, and the Waters under it; drying and parching +the one, and rarefying the other into Vapours. +For we must consider, that the Course of the +Sun at that time, or the Posture of the Earth to +the Sun, was such, that there was no Diversity +or Alternation of Seasons in the Year, as there +is now; by reason of which Alternation, our +Earth is kept in an Equality of Temper, the contrary +Seasons balancing one another; so as what +Moisture the Heat of the Summer sucks out of +the Earth, ’tis repaid in the Rains of the next +Winter; and what Chaps were made in it, are +fill’d up again, and the Earth reduc’d to its +former Constitution. But if we should imagine +a continual Summer, the Earth would +proceed in Driness still more and more, and +the Cracks would be wider, and pierce deeper +into the Substance of it: And such a continual +Summer there was, at least an Equality of Seasons +<span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>in the antediluvian Earth, as shall be prov’d in +the following Book, concerning <i>Paradise</i>. In +the mean time, this being suppos’d, let us consider +what Effect it would have upon this Arch of +the exterior Earth, and the Waters under it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> cannot believe, but that the Heat of the +Sun, within the Space of some hundreds of +Years, would have reduc’d this Earth to a considerable +degree of Driness in certain Parts; +and also have much rarefied and exhal’d the +Waters beneath it: And considering the Structure +of that Globe, the exterior Crust, and the +Waters lying round under it, both expos’d to the +Sun, we may fitly compare it to an <i>Æolipile</i>, +or an hollow Sphere with Water in it, which +the Heat of the Fire rarefies and turns into Vapours +and Wind. The Sun here is as the Fire, +and the exterior Earth is as the Shell of the <i>Æolipile</i>, +and the Abyss as the water within it; +now when the Heat of the Sun had pierced +thro’ the Shell and reach’d the Waters, it began +to rarefy them, and raise them into Vapours, +which Rarefaction made them require more +Space and Room than they needed before, while +they lay close and quiet. And finding themselves +pent in by the exterior Earth, they press’d with +Violence against that Arch, to make it yield and +give way to their Dilatation and Eruption. So +we see all Vapours and Exhalations inclos’d within +the Earth, and agitated there, strive to break +out, and often shake the Ground with their Attempts +to get loose. And in the Comparison +we us’d of an <i>Æolipile</i>, if the Mouth of it +<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>be stop’d that gives the Vent, the Water rarefied +will burst the Vessel with its Force: And the +Resemblance of the Earth to an Egg, which we +us’d before, holds also in this Respect; for when +it heats before the Fire, the Moisture and Air +within being rarefied, makes it often burst +the Shell. And I do the more willingly mention +this last Comparison, because I observe that +some of the Ancients, when they speak of the +Doctrine of the <i>Mundane Egg</i>, say, that after +a certain Period of Time it was broken.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> there is yet another Thing to be considered +in this Case; for as the Heat of the Sun +gave Force to these Vapours more and more, +and made them more strong and violent; so +on the other Hand, it also weaken’d more and +more the Arch of the Earth, that was to resist +them; sucking out the Moisture that was the +Cement of its parts, drying it immoderately, +and chapping it in sundry Places. And there +being no Winter then to close up and unite its +Parts, and restore the Earth to its former Strength +and Compactness, yet grew more and more dispos’d +to a Dissolution. And at length, these +Preparations in Nature being made on either +side, the Force of the Vapours increas’d, and the +Walls weaken’d which should have kept them +in, when the appointed time was come, that +All-wise Providence had design’d for the Punishment +of a sinful World, the whole Fabrick +brake, and the Frame of the Earth was torn in +Pieces, as by an Earthquake; and those great +Portions or Fragments, into which it was divided, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>fell down into the Abyss, some in one Posture, +and some in another.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> is a short and general Account how we +may conceive the Dissolution of the first Earth, +and an Universal Deluge arising upon it. And +this manner of Dissolution hath so many Examples +in Nature every Age, that we need not insist +farther upon the Explication of it. The generality +of Earthquakes arise from like Causes, +and often end in a like Effect, a partial Deluge or +Inundation of the Place or Country where they +happen; and of these we have seen some Instances +even in our own Times: 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 straitned, +they strive every way to set themselves at Liberty, +and often break their Prison, or the Cover of +the Earth that kept them in; which Earth upon +that Disruption falls into the subterraneous Caverns +that lie under it: And if it so happens that +those Caverns are full of Water, as generally they +are, if they be great or deep, that City or Tract +of Land is drown’d. And also the Fall of such +a Mass of Earth, with its Weight and Bulk, doth +often force out the Water so impetuously, as +to throw it upon all the Country round about. +There are innumerable Examples in History +(whereof we shall mention some hereafter) of +Cities and Countries thus swallowed up, or overflow’d, +by an Earthquake, and an Inundation arising +upon it. And according to the manner of +their Fall or Ruin, they either remain’d wholly +<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>under Water, and perpetually drown’d as <i>Sodom</i> +and <i>Gomorrha</i>, <i>Plato</i>’s <i>Atlantis</i>, <i>Bura</i> and <i>Helice</i>, +and other Cities and Regions in <i>Greece</i> and +<i>Asia</i>; or they partly emerg’d, and became dry +Land again; when (their Situation being pretty +high) the Waters, after their violent Agitation +was abated, retir’d into the lower Places, and +into their Channels.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Now</span> if we compare these Partial Dissolutions +of the Earth with an Universal Dissolution, +we may as easily conceive an Universal Deluge +from an Universal Dissolution, as a Partial Deluge +from a Partial. If we can conceive a City, +a Country, an Island, a Continent thus absorpt +and overflown; if we do but enlarge our +Thought and Imagination a little, we may conceive +it as well of the whole Earth. And it seems +strange to me, that none of the Ancients should +hit upon this way of explaining the Universal +Deluge; there being such frequent Instances in +all Ages and Countries of Inundations made in +this manner, and never of any great Inundation +made otherwise, unless in maritime Countries, +by the Irruption of the Sea into Grounds that lie +low. ’Tis true, they would not so easily imagine +this Dissolution, because they did not understand +the true Form of the antediluvian Earth; but, +methinks, the Examination of the Deluge should +have led them to the Discovery of that: For observing +the Difficulty, or Impossibility of an +Universal Deluge, without the Dissolution of +the Earth; as also frequent Instances of these +Dissolutions accompanied with Deluges, where +<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>the Ground was hollow, and had subterraneous +Waters; this, methinks, should have prompted +them to imagine, that those subterraneous Waters +were universal at that time, or extended +quite round the Earth; so as a Dissolution of the +exterior Earth could not be made any where but +it would fall into Waters, and be more or less +overflow’d. And when they had once reach’d +this Thought, they might conclude, both what +the Form of the antediluvian Earth was, and +that the Deluge came to pass by the Dissolution +of it. But we reason with Ease about the finding +out of Things, when they are once found +out; and there is but a thin Paper-wall sometimes +between the great Discoveries, and a +perfect Ignorance of them. Let us proceed now +to consider, whether this Supposition will answer +all the Conditions of an Universal Deluge, +and supply all the Defects which we found in +other Explications.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> great Difficulty propos’d, was to find +Water sufficient to make an Universal Deluge, +reaching to the Tops of the Mountains; and +yet that this Water should be transient, and after +some time should so return into its Channels, +that the dry Land would appear, and the +Earth become again habitable. There was that +double Impossibility in the common Opinion, +that the Quantity of Water necessary for such a +Deluge was no where to be found, or could +no way be brought upon the Earth; and then if +it was brought, cou’d no way be remov’d again. +Our Explication quite takes off the Edge of this +<span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>Objection; for, performing the same Effect with +a far less Quantity of Water, ’tis both easy to +be found, and easily remov’d when the Work +is done. When the exterior Earth was broke, +and fell into the Abyss, a good part of it was +cover’d with Water, by the meer Depth of the +Abyss it fell into, and those Parts of it that +were higher than the Abyss was deep, and consequently +would stand above it in a calm Water, +were notwithstanding reach’d and overtop’d by +the Waves, during the Agitation and violent +Commotion of the Abyss. For it is not imaginable +what the Commotion of the Abyss would +be upon this Dissolution of the Earth, nor to what +Height its Waves would be thrown, when those +prodigious Fragments were tumbled down into +it. Suppose a Stone of ten thousand Weight taken +up into the Air a Mile or two, and then let +fall into the middle of the Ocean, I do not believe +but that the dashing of the Water upon +that Impression would rise as high as a Mountain. +But suppose a mighty Rock, or heap of Rocks to +fall from that Height, or a great Island, or a +Continent; these would expel the Waters out +of their Places with such a Force and Violence, +as to fling them among the highest Clouds.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> incredible to what Height sometimes +great Stones and Cinders will be thrown, at the +Eruptions of fiery Mountains; and the Pressure +of a great Mass of Earth falling into the Abyss, +though it be a Force of another kind, could not +but impel the Water with so much Strength, as +would carry it up to a great Height in the Air; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>and to the top of any thing that lay in its way, +any Eminency, high Fragment, or new Mountain: +And then rolling back again, it would +sweep down with it whatsoever it rush’d upon, +Woods, Buildings, living Creatures, and carry +them all headlong into the great Gulph. Sometimes +a Mass of Water would be quite struck off +and separate from the rest, and toss’d through +the Air like a flying River; but the common +Motion of the Waves was to climb up the Hills +or inclin’d Fragments; and then return into the +Valleys and Deeps again, with a perpetual Fluctuation +going and coming, ascending and descending, +’till the Violence of them being spent by +degrees, they settled at last in the Places allotted +for them; where <i>Bounds are set that they cannot +pass over, that they return not again to cover +the Earth, Psalm. <abbr title='a hundred and four'>civ.</abbr> 6, 7, 8, 9.</i></p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Neither</span> is it to be wondred, that the great +Tumult of the Waters, and the Extremity of the +Deluge lasted for some Months; for besides, that +the first Shock and Commotion of the Abyss was +extreamly violent, from the general Fall of the +Earth, there were ever and anon some secondary +Ruins; or some Parts of the great Ruin, that +were not well settled, broke again, and made +new Commotions: And ’twas a considerable +Time before the great Fragments that fell, and +their lesser Dependencies could be so adjusted +and fitted, as to rest in a firm and immoveable +Posture: For the Props and Stays whereby they +lean’d one upon another, or upon the Bottom of +the Abyss, often fail’d, either by the incumbent +<span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span>Weight, or the violent Impulses of the Water +against them; and so renewed, or continued the +Disorder and Confusion of the Abyss. Besides, +we are to observe, that these great Fragments +falling hollow, they inclos’d and bore down with +them under their concave Surface a great deal +of Air; and while the Water compass’d these +Fragments, and overflow’d them, the Air could +not readily get out of those Prisons, but by degrees, +as the Earth and Water above would give +way; so as this would also hinder the Settlement +of the Abyss, and the retiring of the Water into +those subterraneous Channels, for some Time. +But at length, when this Air had found a vent, +and left its place to the Water, and the Ruins +both primary and secondary were settled and fix’d +then the Waters of the Abyss began to settle too, +and the dry Land to appear; first the tops of the +Mountains, then the high Grounds, then the +Plains and the rest of the Earth. And this gradual +Subsidency of the Abyss (which <i>Moses</i> also +hath particularly noted) and Discovery of +the several Parts of the Earth would also take +up a considerable Time.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> a new World appear’d, or the Earth +put on its new Form, and became divided into +Sea and Land; and the Abyss, which from several +Ages, even from the beginning of the World, +had lain hid in the Womb of the Earth, was +brought to light and discover’d; the greatest part +of it constituting our present Ocean, and the rest +filling the lower Cavities of the Earth: Upon the +Land appear’d the Mountains and the Hills, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>the Islands in the Sea, and the Rocks upon the +Shore. And so the Divine Providence, having +prepar’d Nature for so great a Change, at one +stroke dissolv’d the Frame of the old World, and +made us a new one out of its Ruins, which we +now inhabit since the Deluge. All which Things +being thus explain’d, deduc’d, and stated, we now +add and pronounce our Third and last Proposition; +<i>That the Disruption of the Abyss, or Dissolution +of the primæval Earth, and its Fall into +the Abyss, was the Cause of the Universal Deluge, +and of the Destruction of the old World</i>.</p> +<h3 id='chap-1-7' class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='seven'>VII.</abbr></span></h3> +<p class='c012'><i>That the Explication we have given of an Universal +Deluge is not an Idea only, but an Account +of what really came to pass in this Earth, +and the true Explication of Noah’s Flood; as +is prov’d by Argument and from History. An +Examination of Tehom Rabba, or the great +Abyss, and that by it the Sea cannot be understood, +nor the subterraneous Waters, as they +are at present. What the true Notion and +Form of it was, collected from Moses and other +Sacred Writers; The frequent Allusions +in Scripture to the opening and shutting the +Abyss, and the particular Stile of Scripture +in its Reflections on the Origin. And the Formation +of the Earth. Observations on Deucalion’s +Deluge.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have now given an Account of the +first great Revolution of Nature, and of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>the Universal Deluge, in a way that is intelligible, +and from Causes that answer the Greatness +of the Effect: We have suppos’d nothing but +what is also prov’d, both as to the first Form of +the Earth, and as to the manner of its Dissolution; +and how far from that would evidently +and necessarily arise a general Deluge; which +was that, which put a Period to the old World, +and the first state of Things. And tho’ all this +hath been deduc’d in due Order, and with Connexion +and Consequence of one thing upon another, +so far as I know, which is the true Evidence +of a Theory; yet it may not be sufficient +to command the Assent and Belief of some +Persons, who will allow, it may be, and acknowledge, +that this is a fair <i>Idea</i> of a possible +Deluge in general, and of the Destruction of a +World by it; but this may be only an <i>Idea</i>, they’ll +say; we desire it may be prov’d from some collateral +Arguments, taken either from Sacred +History, or from Observation, that this hath really +been exemplified upon the Earth, and that +<i>Noah</i>’s Flood came to pass this way. And seeing +we have design’d this first Book chiefly for +the Explication of <i>Noah</i>’s Deluge, I am willing +to add here a Chapter or two extraordinary upon +this occasion; to shew, that what we have delivered +is more than an <i>Idea</i>, and that it was in +this very way that <i>Noah</i>’s Deluge came to pass. +But they who have not this Doubt, and have a +Mind to see the Issue of the Theory, may skip +these two Chapters, if they please, and proceed +to the following, where the Order is continued.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span><span class='sc'>To</span> satisfy then the Doubtful in this Particular, +let us lay down in the first place that +Conclusion which they seem to admit, <i>viz.</i> +That this is a possible and consistent Explication +of an Universal Deluge; and let’s see how +far this would go, if well consider’d, towards +the Proof of what they desire, or towards the +Demonstration of <i>Noah</i>’s Deluge in particular. +It is granted on both Hands, that there hath +been an Universal Deluge upon the Earth, +which was <i>Noah</i>’s Deluge; and it is also granted, +that we have given a possible and consistent +<i>Idea</i> of an Universal Deluge: Now we have +prov’d <i>Chap. <abbr title='two'>II.</abbr></i> and <i><abbr title='three'>III.</abbr></i> that all other ways +hitherto assign’d for the Explication of <i>Noah</i>’s +Flood are incongruous or impossible; therefore +it came to pass in that possible and competent +way which we have propos’d. And if we have +truly prov’d, in the foremention’d Chapters, the +Impossibility or Unintelligibility of it in all other +ways, this Argumentation is undeniable. +Besides, we may argue thus, as it is granted that +there hath been an Universal Deluge upon the +Earth; so I suppose it will be granted that +there hath been but one: Now the Dissolution of +the Earth, whensoever it happen’d, would make +one Universal Deluge, and therefore the only +one, and the same with <i>Noah</i>’s. That such a +Dissolution as we have describ’d would make +an Universal Deluge, I think, cannot be question’d; +and that there hath been such a Dissolution, +besides what we have already alledg’d, +shall be prov’d at large from natural Observations +<span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>upon the Form and Figure of the present +Earth, in the <i>Third</i> Section and last <i>Chapter</i> +of this Book; In the mean time we will proceed to +History, both Sacred and Prophane, and by comparing +our Explication with those, give further +Assurance of its Truth and Reality.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> the first Place, it agrees, which is most +considerable, with <i>Moses</i>’s Narration of the Deluge; +both as to the Matter and Manner of it. +The Matter of the Deluge <i>Moses</i> makes to be the +Waters from above, and the Waters from below; +or he distinguishes the Causes of the Deluge, +as we do, into Superior and Inferior, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> +<abbr title='seven'>vii.</abbr> 11.</i> and the Inferior Causes he makes to be +the Disruption of the Abyss, which is the principal +Part, and the great Hinge of our Explication. +Then as to the manner of the Deluge, the +Beginning and the Ending, the Increase and Decrease, +he saith, <i>Verse 17, 18, 19, 20. Chap. <abbr title='seven'>viii.</abbr> +3, 5.</i> it increas’d gradually, and decreas’d gradually, +by <i>going</i> and <i>coming</i>; that is, after many +repeated Fluctuations and Reciprocations of the +Waves, the Waters of the Abyss began to be +more compos’d, and to retire into their Channels, +whence they shall never return to cover +the Earth again. This agrees wholly with our +Theory; we suppose the Abyss to have been +under an extream Commotion and Agitation +by the Fall of the Earth into it, and this at first +encreas’d more and more, till the whole Earth +was fallen; then continuing for some time at the +height of its Rage, overwhelming the greatest +Mountains, it afterwards decreas’d by the like degrees, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>leaving first the Tops of the Mountains, +then the Hills and the Fields, ’till the Waters +came to be wholly drawn off the Earth into +their Channels.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>It</span> was no doubt a great Oversight in the Ancients, +to fancy the Deluge like a great standing +Pool of Water, reaching from the Bottom of +the Valleys to the Tops of the Mountains, every +where alike, with a level and uniform Surface; +by reason of which mistaken Notion of the Deluge, +they made more Water necessary to it +than was possible to be had, or being had, than it +was possible to get quit of again; for there are +no Channels in the Earth that could hold so +much Water, either to give it, or to receive it. +And the <i>Psalmist</i>, [<i>vid.</i> <i><abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> Austin in loc.</i>] speaking +of the Deluge, as it seems to me, notes this +violent Commotion of the Abyss, <i>Psal. <abbr title='a hundred and four'>civ.</abbr> +8, 9.</i> <i>The Waters went up by the Mountains, +came down by the Valleys unto the Place which +thou hast founded for them</i>. I know some interpret +that Passage of the State of the Waters in +the Beginning, when they cover’d the Face of +the whole Earth, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> 2.</i> but that cannot be, +because of what follows in the next Verse; <i>Thou +hast set a Bound that they may not pass over, that +they turn not again to cover the Earth</i>. Which +is not true, if the preceding Words be understood +of the State of the Waters at the Beginning +of the World; for they did pass those Bounds, +and did return since that time to cover the Earth, +namely at the Deluge: But if these Words be referr’d +to the Time of the Deluge, and the State +<span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>of the Waters then, ’tis both a just Description +of the Motion of the Abyss, and certainly true, +that the Waters since that time are so settled in +their Channels, that they shall never overflow +the Earth again. As we are assur’d by the Promise +made to <i>Noah</i>, and that illustrious Pledge +and Confirmation of it, the <i>Rainbow</i>, that the +Heavens also shall never pour out so much Waters +again; their State being chang’d as well as +that of the Earth, or Sea, from what they were +before the Deluge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> before we leave <i>Moses</i>’s Narration of +the Deluge, we must examine further, what is, +or can be understood by his <i>Tehom-Rabba</i>, or +<i>great Abyss</i>, which, he saith, was broken up at +the Deluge, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='seven'>vii.</abbr> 11.</i> for this will help us +to discover, whether our Explication be the same +with his, and of the same Flood. And first we +must consider, whether by the <i>Tehom-Rabba</i>, +or Mosaical Abyss, can be understood the Sea +or Ocean, under that Form we see it in at present; +and ’tis plain, methinks, that the Sea cannot +be understood by this great Abyss, both because +the Sea is not capable upon any Disruption +to make such an Universal Deluge; and because +the Narration of <i>Moses</i>, and his Expressions concerning +this Abyss, do not agree to the Sea. +Some of the Ancients indeed did imagine, that +the Waters of the Sea were much higher than +the Land, and stood, as it were, on a heap; so +as when these Waters were let loose, they overflow’d +the Earth, and made a Deluge. But this +is known to be a gross Mistake; the Sea and the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>Land make one Globe, and the Waters couch +themselves, as close as may be, to the Center of +this Globe in a Spherical Convexity; so that if +all the Mountains and Hills were scal’d, and the +Earth made even, the Waters would not overflow +its smooth Surface; much less could they +overflow it in the Form that it is now, where +the Shores are higher than the Sea, the Inland +Parts than the Shores, and the Mountains +still far above all: So as no Disruption of the +Sea could make an Universal Deluge, by reason +of its Situation. But besides that, the Quantity +of Water contain’d in the Sea is no way +sufficient to make a Deluge in the present Form +of the Earth; for we have shewn before, <a href='#chap-1-2'><i>Chap. <abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr></i></a> that eight such Oceans as ours would be +little enough for that Purpose. Then as to +the Expressions of <i>Moses</i> concerning this Abyss, +if he had meant the Sea by it, and that the +Deluge was made by the Disruption of the +Sea, why did he not say so? There is no mention +of the Sea in all the History of the Deluge: +<i>Moses</i> had mention’d the Sea before, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> +<abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> 10.</i> and us’d a Word that was common, and +known to signify the Sea; and if he had a +Mind to express the same thing here, why should +he not use the same Word and the same Term? +In an Historical Relation we use Terms that are +most proper and best known; but instead of that +he useth the same Term here that he did, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> +<abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> 2.</i> when he saith, <i>Darkness was upon the +Face of the Abyss, or of the Deep</i>, as we render +it; there the Abyss was open, or cover’d +<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>with Darkness only, namely, before the exterior +Earth was form’d; Here the same Abyss is mention’d +again, but cover’d, by the Formation of +the Earth upon it; and the covering of this +Abyss was broken or <i>cloven asunder</i>, and the +Waters gush’d out that made the Deluge. This +I am sure is the most natural Interpretation or +Signification of this Word, according as it is us’d +in <i>Moses</i>’s Writings. Furthermore, we must observe +what <i>Moses</i> saith concerning this Abyss, +and whether that will agree with the Sea or no; +he saith the <i>Fountains of the great Abyss were +broken open</i>; now if by the great Abyss you understand +the Sea, how are its Fountains broken open? +To break open a Fountain, is to break open the +Ground that covers it, and what Ground covers +the Sea? So that upon all Considerations, either +of the Word that <i>Moses</i> here useth, <i>Tehom-Rabba</i>, +or of the thing affirmed concerning it, +<i>breaking open its Fountains</i>; or of the Effect +following the breaking open its Fountains, +<i>drowning of the Earth</i>; from all these Heads it +is manifest, that the Sea cannot be understood +by the great <i>Abyss</i>, whose Disruption was the +Cause of the Deluge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> as the <i>Mosaical</i> Abyss cannot be the +Sea, so neither can it be those subterraneous Waters +that are dispers’d in the Cells and Caverns of +the Earth; for as they are now lodg’d within the +Earth, they are not one <i>Abyss</i>, but several Cisterns +and Receptacles of Water in several Places, +especially under the roots of Mountains and +Hills, separate one from another, sometimes by +<span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span>whole Regions and Countries interpos’d. Besides, +what Fountains, if they were broken up, +could let out this Water, or bring it upon the +Face of the Earth? When we sink a Mine, or +dig a Well, the Waters, when uncover’d, do not +leap out of their Places out of those Cavities, +or at least, do not flow upon the Earth; ’Tis not +as if you open’d a Vein, where the Blood spirts +out, and riseth higher than its Source; but as +when you take off the Cover of a Vessel, the Water +doth not fly out for that: So if we should imagine +all the subterraneous Caverns of the Earth +uncover’d, and the Waters laid bare, there they +would lie unmov’d in their Beds, if the Earth did +not fall into them to force them up. Furthermore, +if these Waters were any way extracted +and laid upon the Surface of the Ground, nothing +would be gain’d, as to the Deluge, by that, for as +much Water would run into these Holes again +when the Deluge begun to rise; so that this +would be but an useless Labour, and turn to no +Account. And lastly, These Waters are no way +sufficient for Quantity to answer to the <i>Mosaical</i> +Abyss, or to be the principal Cause of the +Deluge, as that was.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Now</span>, seeing neither the Sea, as it is at present, +nor the subterraneous Waters, as they are +at present, can answer to the <i>Mosaical</i> Abyss, we +are sure there is nothing in this present Earth +that can answer to it. Let us then on the other +Hand compare it with that subterraneous Abyss, +which we have found in the antediluvian Earth, +represented; <i><a href='#fig1-2'>Fig. 2</a>. p. 77.</i> and examine their +<span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>Characters and Correspondency: First, <i>Moses</i>’s +Abyss was cover’d, and subterraneous, for the +Fountains of it are said to have been cloven or +burst open; then, it was vast and capacious; +and thirdly, it was so dispos’d, as to be capable +of a Disruption, that would cause an universal +Deluge to the Earth. Our antediluvian Abyss +answers truly to all these Characters; it was in +the Womb of the Earth; the Earth was founded +upon those Waters, as the <i>Psalmist</i> saith; +or they were inclos’d within the Earth as in a +Bag. Then for the Capacity of it, it contained +both all the Waters now in the Ocean, and all +those that are dispers’d in the Caverns of the +Earth: And lastly, it is manifest its Situation +was such, that upon a Disruption or Dissolution +of the Earth which cover’d it, an universal Deluge +would arise. Seeing then this answers the +Description, and all the Properties of the <i>Mosaical</i> +Abyss, and nothing else will, how can we +in Reason judge it otherwise than the same, and +the very Thing intended and propos’d in the History +of <i>Noah</i>’s Deluge under the Name of <i>Tehom-Rabba</i>, +or the great Abyss, at whose Disruption +the World was over-flow’d? And as we +do not think it an unhappy Discovery to have +found out, (with a moral Certainty) the Seat +of the <i>Mosaical</i> Abyss, which hath been almost +as much sought for, and as much in vain, as the +Seat of <i>Paradise</i>; so this gives us a great Assurance, +that the Theory we have given of a general +Deluge is not a mere Idea, but is to be appropriated +to the Deluge of <i>Noah</i>, as a true Explication +of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span><span class='sc'>And</span> to proceed now from <i>Moses</i> to other +divine Writers; That our Description is a Reality, +both as to the antediluvian Earth, and as +to the Deluge, we may further be convinc’d from +<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s Discourse concerning those two +Things, <i>2 Epist. <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> 6.</i> <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i> saith, that the +Constitution of the antediluvian Earth was such, +in reference to the Waters, that by reason of +that it was obnoxious to a Deluge; we say these +Waters were the great Abyss it stood upon, by +reason whereof that World was really expos’d +to a Deluge, and overwhelm’d in it upon the +Disruption of this Abyss, as <i>Moses</i> witnesses. +’Tis true, <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i> doth not specify what those +Waters were, nor mention either the Sea or the +Abyss; but seeing <i>Moses</i> tells us, that it was by +the Waters of the Abyss that the Earth was overwhelmed, +<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s Waters must be understood +of the same Abyss, because he supposeth them +the Cause of the same Deluge. And, I think, the +Apostle’s Discourse there cannot receive a better +Illustration, than from <i>Moses</i>’s History of the Deluge. +<i>Moses</i> distinguishes the Causes of the Flood +into those that belong to the Heavens, and those +that belong to the Earth; the Rains and the Abyss: +<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i> also distinguisheth the Causes +of the Deluge into the Constitution of the Heavens, +in reference to its Waters; and the Constitution +of the Earth, in reference to its Waters; +and no doubt they both aim at the same +Causes, as they refer to the same Effect; only +<i>Moses</i> mentions the immediate Causes, the +Rains and the Waters of the Abyss; and <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span><i>Peter</i> mentions the more remote and fundamental +Causes, that Constitution of the Heavens, +and that Constitution of the Earth, in reference +to their respective Waters, which made that +World obnoxious to a Deluge: And these two, +speaking of <i>Noah</i>’s Deluge, and agreeing thus +with one another, and both with us, or with the +Theory which we have given of a general Deluge, +we may safely conclude, that it is no imaginary +Idea, but a true Account of that ancient Flood, +whereof <i>Moses</i> hath left us the History.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> seeing the right understanding of the +<i>Mosaical</i> Abyss is sufficient alone to prove all +we have deliver’d concerning the Deluge, as also +concerning the Frame of the antediluvian Earth, +give me leave to take Notice here of some other +Places of Scripture, which we mention’d before, +that seem manifestly to describe this same Form +of the Abyss with the Earth above it, <i>2 Esdr. +<abbr title='sixteen'>xvi.</abbr> 58.</i> <i>Psal. <abbr title='twenty-four'>xxiv.</abbr> 2.</i> <i>He founded the Earth +upon the Seas, and establish’d it upon the Floods.</i> +And <i>Psal. <abbr title='a hundred and thirty-six'>cxxxvi.</abbr> 6.</i> <i>He stretch’d out the Earth +above the Waters.</i> Now this Foundation of the +Earth upon the Waters, or Extension of it above +the Waters, <i>2 Esdr. <abbr title='chapter'>c.</abbr> <abbr title='six'>vi.</abbr></i> doth most aptly agree +to that Structure and Situation of the Abyss +and the antediluvian Earth, which we have +assign’d them, and which we have before describ’d; +but very improperly and forcedly to the +present Form of the Earth and the Waters. In +that second Place of the <i>Psalmist</i>, the Word +may be render’d either, he stretch’d, as we read +it, or he fix’d and consolidated the Earth above +<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>the Waters, as the Vulgate and Septuagint translate +it: For ’tis from the same Word with that +which is used for the Firmament, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='one'>i.</abbr></i> So +that as the Firmament was extended over and +around the Earth, so was the Earth extended +over and about the Waters, in that first Constitution +of Things; and I remember some of +the Ancients use this very Comparison of the +Firmament and Earth, to express the Situation +of the Paradisiacal Earth in reference to the +Sea or Abyss.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>There</span> is another remarkable Place in the +<i>Psalms</i>, to shew the Disposition of the Waters +in the first Earth; <i>Psal. <abbr title='thirty-three'>xxxiii.</abbr> 7.</i> <i>He gathereth +the Waters of the Sea as in a Bag, he layeth up +the Abysses in Store-houses.</i> This answers very +fitly and naturally to the Place and Disposition +of the Abyss which it had before the Deluge, inclos’d +within the Vault of the Earth, as in a +Bag, or in a Store-house. I know very well what +I render here in a Bag, is render’d in the <i>English</i> +as <i>an Heap</i>; but that Translation of the Word +seems to be grounded on the old Error, that the +Sea is higher than the Land, and so doth not +make a true Sense. Neither are the two Parts of +the Verse so well suited and consequent one to +another, if the first express an high Situation of +the Waters, and the second a low one. And accordingly +the Vulgate, Septuagint, and Oriental +Versions and Paraphrase, as also <i>Symmachus</i>, +<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Jerom</i>, and <i>Basil</i>, render it as we do +here, <i>in a Bag</i>, or by Terms equivalent.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> these Passages of the <i>Psalmist</i>, concerning +<span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span>the Form of the Abyss and the first Earth, +give me leave to add this general Remark, that +they are commonly usher’d in, or follow’d, +with something of Admiration in the Prophet. +We observ’d before, that the Formation of the +first Earth, after such a wonderful Manner, being +a Piece of divine Architecture, when it was +spoken of in Scripture, it was usually ascrib’d +to a particular Providence; and accordingly we +see in these Places now mentioned, that it is +still made the Object of Praise and Admiration: +In the <i><abbr title='a hundred and thirty-sixth'>cxxxvi.</abbr> Palm</i> ’tis reckon’d among the +Wonders of God, <i>Verses 4, 5, 6.</i> <i>Give Praise +to him who alone doth great Wonders: To +him that by Wisdom made the Heavens: To +hime that stretched out the Earth above the +Waters</i>. And in like manner, in that <i><abbr title='thirty-third'>xxxiii.</abbr> <abbr title='psalm'>Ps.</abbr></i> +’tis join’d with the Forming of the Heavens, +and made the Subject of the Divine Power +and Wisdom: <i>Verses 6, 7, 8, 9.</i> <i>By the Word +of the Lord were the Heavens made, and all +the Host of them by the Breath of his Mouth; +He gathereth the Waters of the Sea together, as +in a Bag, he layeth up the Abyss in Store-houses. +Let all the Earth fear the Lord; Let all the Inhabitants +of the World stand in awe of him; +For he spake, and it was; he commanded, and it +stood fast</i>. Namely, all Things stood in that +wonderful Posture in which the Word of his +Power and Wisdom had establish’d them. <i>David</i> +often made the Works of Nature, and the +external World, the Matter of his Meditations, +and of his Praises and Philosophical Devotions; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>reflecting sometimes upon the present +Form of the World, and sometimes upon the +primitive Form of it: And tho’ poetical Expressions, +as the <i>Psalms</i> are, seldom are so determinate +and distinct, but that they may be +interpreted more than one Way; yet, I think, +it cannot but be acknowledg’d, that those Expressions, +and Passages that we have instanc’d +in, are more fairly and aptly understood of the +ancient Form of the Sea, or the Abyss, as it +was inclos’d within the Earth, than of the present +Form of it in an open Channel.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>There</span> are also in the Book of <i>Job</i> many +noble Reflections upon the Works of Nature, +and upon the Formation of the Earth and the +Abyss; whereof that in <i>Chap. <abbr title='twenty-six'>xxvi.</abbr> 7.</i> <i>He stretcheth +out the North over the empty Places, and +hangeth the Earth upon nothing</i>, seems to parallel +the Expression of <i>David</i>; <i>He stretched out +the Earth upon the Waters</i>; for the Word we +render the <i>empty Place</i> is <span class='sc'>Tohu</span>, which is apply’d +to the Chaos and the first Abyss, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> 2.</i> +and the <i>hanging the Earth upon nothing</i> is much +more wonderful, if it be understood of the first +habitable Earth, that hung over the Waters, sustain’d +by nothing but its own peculiar Form, and +the Libration of its Parts, than if it be understood +of the present Earth, and the whole Body +of it; for if it be in its Center or proper Place, +whither should it sink further, or whither should +it go? But this Passage, together with the foregoing +and following Verses, requires a more critical +Examination than this Discourse will easily bear.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span><span class='sc'>There</span> is another remarkable Discourse in +<i>Job</i>, that contains many Things to our present +Purpose, ’tis <i>Chap. <abbr title='thirty-three'>xxxviii.</abbr></i> where God reproaches +<i>Job</i> with his Ignorance of what pass’d at +the beginning of the World, and the Formation +of the Earth, <i>Verses 4, 5, 6.</i> <i>Where wast +thou when I laid the Foundations of the Earth? +Declare if thou hast Understanding. Who hath +laid the Measures thereof, if thou knowest? or +who hath stretched the Line upon it? Whereupon +are the Foundations thereof fastned? or +who laid the Corner-stone?</i> All these Questions +have far more Force and Emphasis, more Propriety +and Elegancy, if they be understood of +the first and antediluvian Form of the Earth, +than if they be understood of the present; for +in the present Form of the Earth there is no +Architecture, no Structure, no more than in a +Ruin; or at least none comparatively to what +was in the first Form of it. And that the exterior +and superficial Part of the Earth is here spoken +of, appears by the Rule and Line applied to it; +but what Rule or Regularity is there in the +Surface of the present Earth? What Line was +us’d to level its Parts? But in its original Construction, +when it lay smooth and regular in its +Surface, as if it had been drawn, by Rule and +Line in every Part; and when it hung pois’d upon +the Deep, without Pillar or Foundation-Stone, +then just Proportions were taken, and +every thing plac’d by Weight and Measure: +And this, I doubt not, was that artificial Structure +here alluded to; and when this Work was +<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>finish’d, then <i>The Morning Stars sang together, +and all the Sons of God shouted for Joy, Verse 7.</i></p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> far the Questions proceed upon the +Form and Construction of the first Earth; in +the following <i>Verses</i> (8, 9, 10, 11.) they proceed +upon the Demolition of that Earth, the +opening the Abyss, and the present State of both. +<i>Or who shut up the Sea with Doors when it +brake forth, as if it had issu’d out of a Womb?</i> +Who can doubt but this was at the breaking +open the <i>Fountains of the Abyss</i>? <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='seven'>vii.</abbr> 11.</i> +when the Waters gush’d out, as out of the great +Womb of Nature; and by reason of that Confusion +and Perturbation of Air and Water that +rose upon it, a thick Mist and Darkness was +round the Earth, and all Things as in a second +Chaos, <i>When I made the Cloud the Garment +thereof, and thick Darkness a Swadling-band +for it, and brake up for it my decreed Place, +and made Bars and Doors</i>. Namely, (taking +the Words as thus usually render’d) the present +Channel of the Sea was made when the +Abyss was broke up, and at the same Time +were made the shory Rocks and Mountains, +which are the Bars and Boundaries of the Sea. +<i>And said hitherto shalt thou come, and no further; +and here shall thy proud Waves be stay’d.</i> +Which last Sentence shews, that this cannot +be understood of the first Disposition of the +Waters, as they were before the Flood, for +their proud Waves broke those Bounds, whatsoever +they were, when they over-flow’d the +Earth in the Deluge. And that the Womb which +<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>they broke out of was the great Abyss, the +<i>Chaldee</i> Paraphrase in this Place doth expresly +mention; and what can be understood by +חְהומה מן <i>the Womb of the Earth</i>, but that +subterraneous Capacity in which the Abyss lay? +Then that which followeth is a Description or +Representation of the great Deluge that ensued, +and of that Disorder in Nature that was then, +and how the Waters were settled and bounded +afterwards. Not unlike the Description in +<i>Psalm <abbr title='a hundred and four'>civ.</abbr> ver. 6, 7, 8, 9.</i> And thus much for +these Places in the Book of <i>Job</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>There</span> remains a remarkable Discourse in +the <i>Proverbs of Solomon</i>, relating to the <i>Mosaical</i> +Abyss, and not only to that, but to the Origin +of the Earth in general; where <i>Wisdom</i> +declares her Antiquity and Pre-existence to all +the Works of this Earth, <i>Chap. <abbr title='eight'>viii.</abbr> Verse 23, +24, 25, 26, 27, 28.</i> <i>I was set up from Everlasting, +from the Beginning ere the Earth was. +When there were no Deeps or Abysses, I was +brought forth; when no Fountains abounding +with Water.</i> Then in the <i>27th Verse</i>, <i>When he +prepared the Heavens, I was there; when he +set a Compass upon the Face of the Deep or Abyss. +When he established the Clouds above, when +he strengthned the Fountains of the Abyss.</i> +Here is mention made of the Abyss, and of +the Fountains of the Abyss; and who can +question, but that the Fountains of the Abyss +here are the same with the Fountains of the +Abyss which <i>Moses</i> mentions, and were broken +open, as he tells us, at the Deluge? Let us +<span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span>observe therefore what Form <i>Wisdom</i> gives to +this Abyss, and consequently to the <i>Mosaical</i>; +And here seem to be two Expressions that determine +the Form of it, <i>Verse 28.</i> <i>He strengthned +the Fountains of the Abyss</i>, that is, the cover +of those Fountains, for the Fountains could +be strengthned no other Way than by making +a strong Cover or Arch over them. And that +Arch is express’d more fully and distinctly in +the foregoing <i>Verse</i>, <i>When he prepar’d the Heavens, +I was there; when he set a Compass on +the Face of the Abyss</i>; we render it <i>Compass</i>, +the Word signifies a Circle or Circumference, +or an Orb or Sphere. So there was in the Beginning +of the World a Sphere, Orb or Arch +set round the Abyss, according to the Testimony +of <i>Wisdom</i>, who was then present. And +this shews us both the Form of the <i>Mosaical</i> +Abyss, which was included within this Vault: +And the Form of the habitable Earth, which +was the outward Surface of this Vault, or the +Cover of the Abyss that was broke up at the +Deluge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> thus much, I think, is sufficient to have +noted out of Scripture, concerning the <i>Mosaical</i> +Abyss, to discover the Form, Place, and Situation +of it; which I have done the more largely, +because that being determin’d, it will draw in +easily all the rest of our Theory concerning the +Deluge. I will now only add one or two general +Observations, and so conclude this Discourse: +The first Observation is concerning the Abyss; +namely, That the <i>opening and shutting of the Abyss</i>, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>is the great Hinge upon which Nature turns +in this Earth: This brings another Face of things, +other Scenes, and a new World upon the Stage: +And accordingly it is a thing often mention’d +and alluded to in Scripture, sometimes in a natural, +sometimes in a moral or theological Sense; +and in both Senses, our Saviour shuts and opens +it as he pleaseth. Our Saviour, who is both +Lord of Nature and of Grace, whose Dominion +is both in Heaven and in Earth, hath a double +Key; that of the Abyss, whereby Death and +Hell are in his Power, and all the Revolutions +of Nature are under his Conduct and Providence; +and the Key of <i>David</i>, whereby he +admits or excludes from the City of God, and +the Kingdom of Heaven whom he pleaseth. +<i>Job <abbr title='eleven'>xi.</abbr> 10, 12, 14.</i> <i><abbr title='Apocalypse'>Apoc.</abbr> <abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> 18. <abbr title='twenty'>xx.</abbr> 1, 2, 3. <abbr title='twenty-one'>xxi.</abbr> +1.</i> <i><abbr title='Apocalypse'>Apoc.</abbr> <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> 7.</i> <i><abbr title='Isaiah'>Isa.</abbr> <abbr title='twenty-two'>xxii.</abbr> 22.</i> Of those Places +that refer to the shutting and opening the Abyss +in a natural Sense, I cannot but particularly +take Notice of that in <i>Job</i>, <i>Chap. <abbr title='twelve'>xii.</abbr> ver. +14, 15.</i> and <i>Chap. <abbr title='eleven'>xi.</abbr> 10.</i> <i>God breaketh down, +and it cannot be built again: He shutteth up +Man, and there can be no opening: Behold, he +withholdeth the Waters, and they dry up; also +he sendeth them out and they overturn the Earth</i>. +Tho’ these Things be true of God in lesser and +common Instances, yet to me it is plain, that +they principally refer to the Deluge, the opening +and shutting the Abyss, with the Dissolution +or Subversion of the Earth thereupon; +and accordingly they are made the great Effects +of the divine Power and Wisdom in the <i>13th +<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>Verse</i> of <i>Chap. <abbr title='twelve'>xii.</abbr></i> <i>With God is Wisdom and +Strength, he hath Counsel and Understanding; +Behold, he breaketh down</i>, &c. And also in +the Conclusion ’tis repeated again, <i>Verse 16.</i> +<i>With him is Strength and Wisdom</i>; which Solemnity +would scarce have been us’d for common +Instances of his Power. When God is +said to build or pull down, and no Body can +build again, ’tis not to be understood of an +House or a Town. God builds and unbuilds +Worlds; and who shall build up that Arch that +was broke down at the Deluge? Where shall +they lay the Foundation, or how shall the +Mountains be rear’d up again to make Part of +the Roof? This is the Fabrick, which when +God breaketh down, none can build up again. +<i>He withholdeth the Waters, and they dry up</i>: +As we shew’d the Earth to have been immoderately +chap’d and parch’d before its Dissolution. +<i>He sendeth them forth, and they overturn the +Earth</i>. What can more properly express the +breaking out of the Waters at the Disruption +of the Abyss, and the Subversion or Dissolution of +the Earth in consequence of it? ’Tis +true, this last Passage may be applied to the breaking +out of Waters in an ordinary Earthquake, +and the Subversion of some Part of the Earth, +which often follows upon it; but it must be acknowledg’d, +that the Sense is more weighty, if +it be referr’d to the great Deluge, and the great +Earthquake which laid the World in Ruins and +in Water. And philosophical Descriptions in sacred +Writings, like Prophecies, have often a lesser +<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>and a greater Accomplishment and Interpretation.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>I could</span> not pass by this Place without giving +this short Explication of it. We proceed now +to the second Observation, which is concerning +the Style of Scripture, in most of those Places +we have cited, and others upon the same Subject. +The Reflections that are made in several Parts +of the divine Writings, upon the Origin of the +World, and the Formation of the Earth, seem +to me to be writ in a Style something approaching +to the Nature of a prophetical Style, and to +have more of a divine Enthusiasm and Elocution +in them, than the ordinary Text of Scripture; +the Expressions are lofty, and sometimes abrupt, +and often figurative and disguis’d, as may be observed +in most of those Places we have made use +of, and particularly in that Speech of <i>Wisdom</i>, +<i><abbr title='Proverbs'>Prov.</abbr> <abbr title='eight'>viii.</abbr></i> where the <i>26th Verse</i> is so obscure, +that no two Versions that I have yet met with, +whether ancient or modern, agree in the Translation +of that Verse. And therefore, tho’ I fully +believe that the Construction of the first Earth is +really intended in those Words; yet seeing it +could not be made out clear without a long and +critical Discussion of them, I did not think that +proper to be insisted upon here. We may also +observe, that whereas there is a double Form or +Composition of the Earth, that which it had at +first, or till the Deluge, and that which it hath +since; sometimes the one, and sometimes the +other may be glanc’d upon in these Scripture +Phrases and Descriptions; and so there may be in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>the same Discourse an Intermixture of both. And +it commonly happens so in an enthusiastick or +prophetick Style, that by reason of the Eagerness +and Trembling of the Fancy, it doth not always +regularly follow the same even Thread of Discourse, +but strikes many times upon some other +Thing that hath Relation to it, or lies under or +near the same view. Of this we have frequent +Examples in the <i>Apocalypse</i>, and in that Prophecy +of our Saviour’s, <i><abbr title='Matthew'>Matth.</abbr> <abbr title='twenty-four'>xxiv.</abbr></i> concerning the +Destruction of <i>Jerusalem</i>, and of the World. But +notwithstanding any such Unevenness or Indistinctness +in the Style of those Places which we +have cited concerning the Origin and Form of +the Earth, we may at least make this Remark, +that if there never was any other Form of the +Earth but the present, nor any other State of the +Abyss, than what it is in now, ’tis not imaginable +what should give Occasion to all those Expressions +and Passages that we have cited; which being +so strange in themselves and paradoxical, should +yet so much favour, and so fairly comply with +our Suppositions. What I have observ’d in another +Place, <i>Tell. Theor. lib. 2. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 6.</i> in treating of +<i>Paradise</i>, that the Expressions of the ancient Fathers +were very extravagant, if <i>Paradise</i> was nothing +but a little Plot of Ground in <i>Mesopotamia</i>, +as many of late have fancied, may in like Manner +be observ’d concerning the ancient Earth and Abyss; +if they were in no other Form nor other +State than what they are under now, the Expressions +of the sacred Writers concerning them are +very strange and unaccountable, without any sufficient +<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>Ground, that we know, or any just Occasion +for such uncouth Representations. If there +was nothing intended or referr’d to in those Descriptions, +but the present Form and State of +the Earth, that is so well known, that in describing +of it there would be nothing dark or +mysterious, nor any occasion for Obscurity in +the Style or Expression, whereof we find so +much in those. So as, all Things consider’d, +what might otherwise be made an Exception to +some of these Texts alledg’d by us, <i>viz.</i> that +they are too obscure, becomes an Argument for +us: As implying that there is something more +intended by them than the present and known +Form of the Earth. And we having propos’d +another Form and Structure of the Earth, to +which those Characters suit and answer more +easily; as this opens and gives Light to those +difficult Places, so it may be reasonably concluded +to be the very Sense and Notion intended +by the holy Writers.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> thus much, I think, is sufficient to have +observ’d out of Scripture, to verify our Explication +of the Deluge, and our Application of it +to <i>Noah</i>’s Flood, both according to the <i>Mosaical</i> +History of the Flood, and according to +many occasional Reflections and Discourses dispers’d +in other Places of Scripture concerning +the same Flood, or concerning the Abyss and the +first Form of the Earth. And though there may +be some other Passages of a different Aspect, they +will be of no Force to disprove our Conclusions, +because they respect the present Form of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>Earth and Sea; and also, because Expressions that +deviate more from the common Opinion, are +more remarkable and more proving; in that +there is nothing could give Occasion to such, +but an Intention to express the very Truth. So, +for instance, if there was one Place in Scripture +that said <i>the Earth was mov’d</i>, and several that +seem’d to imply, that the <i>Sun</i> was mov’d, we +should have more regard to that one Place for +the Motion of the Earth, than to all the other +that made against it; because those others might +be spoken and understood according to common +Opinion and common Belief, but that +which affirm’d the Motion of the Earth, could +not be spoken upon any other Ground, but only +for Truth and Instruction-sake. I leave this +to be apply’d to the present Subject.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much for the sacred Writings. As to +the History of the ancient Heathens, we cannot +expect an Account or Narration of <i>Noah</i>’s +Flood, under that Name and Notion; but it +may be of use to observe two Things out of +that History. First, that the Inundations recorded +there came generally to pass in the Manner +we have describ’d the universal Deluge; namely, +by Earthquakes and an Eruption of subterraneous +Waters, the Earth being broken and falling +in: And of this we shall elsewhere give a +full Account out of their Authors. Secondly, +that <i>Deucalion</i>’s Deluge in particular, which is +suppos’d by most of the ancient Fathers to represent +<i>Noah</i>’s Flood, is said to have been +accompanied with a gaping or Disruption of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>Earth. <i>Apollodorus</i> said, <i>Bibl. lib. 1.</i> that the +Mountains of <i>Thessaly</i> were divided asunder, or +separate one from another at that time: And +<i>Lucian</i> (<i>De Dea Syria</i>) tells a very remarkable +Story to this purpose, concerning <i>Deucalion</i>’s +Deluge, and a Ceremony observ’d in the +Temple of <i>Hieropolis</i>, in Commemoration of +it; which Ceremony seems to have been of that +Nature, as imply’d that there was an opening +of the Earth at the Time of the Deluge, and +that the Waters subsided into that again when +the Deluge ceas’d. He saith, that this Temple +at <i>Hieropolis</i> was built upon a kind of Abyss, +or had a bottomless Pit, or gaping of the Earth +in one Part of it; and the People of <i>Arabia</i> and +<i>Syria</i>, and the Countries thereabouts, twice a +Year repair’d to this Temple, and brought with +them every one a Vessel of Water, which they +pour’d out upon the Floor of the Temple, and +made a kind of an Inundation there in Memory +of <i>Deucalion</i>’s Deluge; and this Water sunk by +Degrees into a Chasm or opening of a Rock, +which the Temple stood upon, and so left the +Floor dry again. And this was a Rite solemnly +and religiously perform’d both by the Priests and +by the People. If <i>Moses</i> had left such a +religious Rite among the <i>Jews</i>, I should not +have doubted to have interpreted it concerning his +Abyss, and the retiring of the Waters into it; +but the actual Disruption of the Abyss could +not well be represented by any Ceremony. And +thus much concerning the present Question, and +the true Application of our Theory to <i>Noah</i>’s +Flood.</p> +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span> + <h3 id='chap-1-8' class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='eight'>VIII.</abbr></span></h3> +</div> +<p class='c012'><i>The particular History of Noah’s Flood is explained +in all the material Parts and Circumstances +of it, according to the preceding Theory. +Any seeming Difficulties remov’d, and +the whole Section concluded, with a Discourse +how far the Deluge may be look’d upon +as the Effect of an ordinary Providence, +and how far of an extraordinary.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have now proved our Explication of +the Deluge to be more than an <i>Idea</i>, +or to be a true Piece of natural History; and +it may be the greatest and most remarkable +that hath yet been since the Beginning of the +World. We have shewn it to be the real Account +of <i>Noah</i>’s Flood, according to Authority +both divine and human; and I would willingly +proceed one step further, and declare my +Thoughts concerning the Manner and Order +wherein <i>Noah</i>’s Flood came to pass; in what +Method all those Things happen’d and succeeded +one another, that make up the History of +it, as Causes or Effects, or other Parts or Circumstances: +As how the Ark was born upon +the Waters, what Effect the Rains had, at what +Time the Earth broke, and the Abyss was open’d; +and what the Condition of the Earth +was upon the ending of the Flood, and such +like. But I desire to propose my Thoughts concerning +these Things only as Conjectures, +which I will ground as near as I can upon +<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>Scripture and Reason, and am very willing +they should be rectified where they happen +to be amiss. I know how subject we are to +Mistakes in these great and remote Things, +when we descend to Particulars; but I am willing +to expose the Theory to a full Trial, and +to shew the way for any to examine it, provided +they do it with Equity and Sincerity. I have +no other Design than to contribute my Endeavours +to find out the Truth in a Subject of so +great Importance, and wherein the World hath +hitherto had so little Satisfaction: And he that +in an obscure Argument proposeth an <i>Hypothesis</i> +that reacheth from End to End, tho’ it be +not exact in every Particular; ’tis not without +a good Effect; for it gives Aim to others to +take their Measures better, and opens their Invention +in a matter which otherwise, it may be, +would have been impenetrable to them: As +he that makes the first way thro’ a thick Forest, +tho’ it be not the streightest and shortest, deserves +better, and hath done more than he that +makes it streighter and smoother afterwards.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Providence</span> that ruleth all things and all +Ages, after the Earth had stood above sixteen +hundred Years, thought fit to put a Period to +that World; and accordingly it was revealed +to <i>Noah</i>, that for the Wickedness and Degeneracy +of Men, God would destroy Mankind with +the <i>Earth</i>, (<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='six'>vi.</abbr> 13.</i>) in a Deluge of Water; +whereupon he was commanded, in order to the +preserving of himself and Family, as a Stock +for the new World, to build a great Vessel or +<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>Ark, to float upon the Waters, and had Instructions +given him for the Building of it, both +as to the Matter, and as to the Form. <i>Noah</i> believed +the Word of God, tho’ against his Senses, +and all external Appearances, and set himself +to work to build an Ark, according to the Directions +given, which after many Years Labour +was finish’d; whilst the incredulous World, secure +enough, as they thought, against a Deluge, +continued still in their Excesses and Insolencies, +and laught at the Admonition of <i>Noah</i>, and at +the Folly of his Design of building an extravagant +Machine, a floating House, to save himself +from an imaginary Inundation; for they thought +it no less, seeing it was to be in an Earth where +there was no Sea, nor any Rain neither in those +Parts, according to the ordinary Course of Nature; +as shall be shewn in the second Book of +this Treatise.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> when the appointed Time was come, the +Heavens began to melt, and the Rains to fall, +and these were the first surprizing Causes and +Preparatives to the Deluge: They fell, we suppose, +(tho’ we do not know how that could proceed +from natural Causes) throughout the Face +of the whole Earth; which could not but have +a considerable Effect on that Earth, being even +and smooth, without Hills and Eminencies, and +might lay it all under Water to some Depth; +so as the Ark, if it could not float upon those +Rain-Waters, at least taking the Advantage of a +River, or of a Dock or Cistern made to receive +them, it might be afloat before the Abyss was +<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>broken open. For I do not suppose the Abyss +broken open before any Rain fell; and when +the opening of the Abyss and of the Flood-gates +of Heaven are mention’d together, I am apt to +think those Flood-gates were distinct from the +common Rain, and were something more violent +and impetuous. So that there might be preparatory +Rains before the Disruption of the Abyss: +And I do not know but those Rains, so covering +up and enclosing the Earth on every side, +might providentially contribute to the Disruption +of it; not only by softning and weakning the +Arch of the Earth in the bottom of those Cracks +and Chasms which were made by the Sun, and +which the Rain would first run into, but especially +by stopping on a sudden all the Pores of the +Earth, and all Evaporation, which would make +the Vapours within struggle more violently, as +we get a Fever by a Cold; and it may be in +that struggle, the Doors and the Bars were +broke, and the great Abyss gush’d out, as out +of a Womb.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>However</span>, when the Rains were fallen, +we may suppose the Face of the Earth cover’d +over with Water; and whether it was these +Waters that <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i> refers to, or that of the +Abyss afterwards, I cannot tell, when he saith +in his first Epistle, <i>Chap. <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> 20.</i> <i>Noah and his +Family were sav’d by Water</i>; so as the Water +which destroyed the rest of the World was +an Instrument of their Conservation, in as +much as it bore up the Ark, and kept it from +that impetuous Shock, which it would have +<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>had, if either it had stood upon dry Land +when the Earth fell, or if the Earth had been +dissolv’d without any Water on it or under it. +However, Things being thus prepar’d, let us +suppose the great Frame of the exterior Earth to +have broke at this time, or the Fountains of the +great Abyss, as <i>Moses</i> saith, to have been then +open’d; from thence would issue upon the Fall +of the Earth, with an unspeakable Violence, such +a Flood of Waters as would over-run and overwhelm +for a Time all those Fragments which the +Earth broke into, and bury in one common +Grave all Mankind, and all the Inhabitants of +the Earth. Besides, if the <i>Flood-gates</i> of Heaven +were any thing distinct from the Forty Days +Rain, their Effusion, ’tis likely, was at this same +time when the Abyss was broken open; for the +sinking of the Earth would make an extraordinary +Convulsion of the Regions of the Air, and +that Crack and Noise that must be in the Falling +World, and in the Collision of the Earth +and the Abyss, would make a great and universal +Concussion above, which things together +must needs so shake, or so squeeze the Atmosphere, +as to bring down all the remaining +Vapours; but the Force of these Motions not +being equal throughout the whole Air, but drawing +or pressing more in some Places than in other, +where the Center of the Convulsion was, there +would be the chiefest collection, and there would +fall, not Showers of Rain, or single Drops, but +great Spouts or Cascades of Water; and this is +that which <i>Moses</i> seems to call, not improperly, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>the <i>Cataracts</i> of Heaven, or the <i>Windows +of Heaven being set open</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> the Flood came to its height; and ’tis +not easy to represent to our selves this strange +Scene of Things, when the Deluge was in its +Fury and Extremity; when the Earth was broken +and swallowed up in the Abyss, whose raging +Waters rise higher than the Mountains, and fill’d +the Air with broken Waves, with an universal +Mist, and with thick Darkness, so as Nature +seem’d to be in a second Chaos; and upon this +Chaos rid the distress’d Ark, that bore the small +Remains of Mankind. No Sea was ever so tumultuous +as this, nor is there any thing in present +Nature to be compar’d with the Disorder +of these Waters; all the Poetry, and all the Hyperboles +that are used in the Description of +Storms and raging Seas, were literally true in +this, if not beneath it. The Ark was really carried +to the Tops of the highest Mountains, and +into the Places of the Clouds, and thrown down +again into the deepest Gulphs; and to this very +State of the Deluge and of the Ark, which was +a Type of the Church in this World, <i>David</i> +seems to have alluded in the name of the Church, +<i>Psal. <abbr title='thirteen'>xiii.</abbr> 7.</i> <i>Abyss calls upon Abyss at the Noise +of thy Cataracts or Water-spouts; all thy Waves +and Billows have gone over me</i>. It was no +doubt an extraordinary and miraculous Providence, +that could make a Vessel so ill mann’d, +live upon such a Sea; that kept it from being +dash’d against the Hills, or overwhelm’d in the +Deeps. That Abyss, which had devoured and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span>swallow’d up whole Forests of Woods, Cities +and Provinces, nay the whole Earth, when it had +conquer’d all, and triumph’d over all, could +not destroy this single Ship. I remember in the +Story of the <i>Argonauticks</i>, <i>Dion. Argonaut. <abbr class='spell'>l.</abbr> +1. <abbr class='spell'>v.</abbr> 47.</i> when <i>Jason</i> set out to fetch the Golden +Fleece, the Poet saith, all the Gods that +Day look’d down from Heaven to view the Ship; +and the <i>Nymphs</i> stood upon the Mountain-tops +to see the noble Youth of <i>Thessaly</i> pulling at +the Oars; we may with more Reason suppose +the Good Angels to have look’d down upon +this Ship of <i>Noah</i>’s; and that not out of Curiosity, +as idle Spectators, but with a passionate +Concern for its Safety and Deliverance. A Ship, +whose Cargo was no less than a whole World; +that carry’d the Fortune and Hopes of all Posterity, +and if this had perish’d, the Earth for any +thing we know had been nothing but a Desart, +a great Ruin, a dead heap of Rubbish, from the +Deluge to the Conflagration. But Death and Hell, +the Grave and Destruction have their Bounds. +We may entertain our selves with the Consideration +of the Face of the Deluge, and of the +broken and drown’d Earth, in this Scheme, with +the floating Ark, and the Guardian Angels.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig1-8.jpg' alt='The Sphere of the Earth has developed mountains and valleys.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 Figure 8.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much for the Beginning and Progress +of the Deluge. It now remains only that we +consider it in its Decrease, and the State of the +Earth after the Waters were retir’d into their +Channels, which makes the present State of it. +<i>Moses</i> saith, God brought a Wind upon the +Waters, and the Tops of the Hills became bare, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>and then the lower Grounds and Plains by degrees; +the Waters being sunk into the Channels +of the Sea, and the Hollowness of the +Earth, and the whole Globe appearing in the +Form it is now under. There needs nothing +be added for Explication of this, ’tis the genuine +Consequence of the Theory we have given of +the Deluge; and whether this Wind was a +descending Wind to depress and keep down +the Swellings and Inequalities of the Abyss, +or whether it was only to dry the Land as fast +as it appear’d, or might have both Effects, I do +not know; but as nothing can be perpetual +that is violent, so this Commotion of the Abyss +abated after a certain time, and the great Force +that impell’d the Waters decreasing, their natural +Gravity began to take Effect, and to reduce +them into the lowest Places, at an equal +Height, and in an even Surface, and level one +Part with another: That is, in short, the Abyss +became our Sea, fixt within its Channel, and +bounded by Rocks and Mountains: <i>Then was +the decreed Place establish’d for it, and Bars and +Doors were set; then was it said, hitherto shalt +thou come, and no further, and here shall thy +proud Waves be stopt</i>, <i>Job <abbr title='thirty-eight'>xxxviii.</abbr> 10, 11.</i> +And the Deluge being thus ended, and the Waters +settled in their Channels, the Earth took +such a broken Figure as is represented in those +larger Schemes, <i><abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> <a href='#Page_100'>100</a>.</i> And this will be the +Form and State of it till its great Change comes +in the Conflagration, when we expect <i>a new +Heaven and a new Earth</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span><span class='sc'>But</span> to pursue this Prospect of Things a little +further; we may easily imagine, that for +many Years after the Deluge ceas’d, the Face +of the Earth was very different from what it +is now, and the Sea had other Bounds than it +hath at present. I do not doubt but the Sea +reach’d much further in-land, and clim’d higher +upon the Sides of the Mountains; and I have +observ’d in many Places a Ridge of Mountains +some Distance from the Sea, and a Plain from +their Roots to the Shore; which Plain no doubt +was formerly cover’d by the Sea, bounded against +those Hills as its first and natural Ramparts, +or as the Ledges or Lips of its Vessel. And it +seems probable, that the Sea doth still grow narrower +from Age to Age, and sinks more within +its Channel and the Bowels of the Earth, according +as it can make its Way into all those +subterraneous Cavities, and crowd the Air out +of them. We see whole Countries of Land +gain’d from it, and by several Indications, as +ancient Sea-ports left dry and useless, old Sea-marks +far within the Land, Pieces of Ships, +Anchors, <i>&c.</i> left at a great Distance from the +present Shores; from these Signs, and such like, +we may conclude that the Sea reach’d many +Places formerly that now are dry Land, and at +first I believe was generally bound in on either +Side with a Chain of Mountains. So I should +easily imagine the Mediterranean Sea, for instance, +to have been bounded by the Continuation +of the <i>Alps</i> through <i>Dauphine</i> and <i>Languedoc</i> +to the <i>Pyreneans</i>, and at the other End +<span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>by the <i>Darmatick</i> Mountains almost to the Black +Sea. Then <i>Atlas major</i>, which runs along with +the Mediterranean from <i>Ægypt</i> to the <i>Atlantick</i> +Ocean, and now parts <i>Barbary</i> and <i>Numidia</i>, +may possibly have been the ancient Barrier on +the <i>Africk</i> Side. And in our own Island I could +easily figure to my self, in many Parts of it, other +Sea-bounds than what it hath at present; and +the like may be observ’d in other Countries.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> as the Sea had much larger Bounds for +some Time after the Deluge, so the Land had a +different Face in many Respects to what it hath +now; for we suppose the Valleys and lower +Grounds, where the Descent and Derivation of +the Water was not so easy, to have been full +of Lakes and Pools for a long Time; and these +were often converted into Fens and Bogs, where +the Ground being spungy, suck’d up the Water, +and the loosen’d Earth swell’d into a soft and +pappy Substance; which would still continue +so, if there was any Course of Water sensible +or insensible, above or within the Ground, that +fed this moist Place: But if the Water stood in +a more firm Basin, or on a Soil, which for its +Heaviness or any other Reason would not mix +with it, it made a Lake or clear Pool. And we +may easily imagine there were innumerable such +Lakes, and Bogs, and Fastnesses for many Years +after the Deluge, till the World begun to be +pretty well stock’d with People, and human Industry +cleansed and drained those unfruitful and +unhabitable Places. And those Countries that +have been later cultivated, or by a lazier People, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>retain still, in Proportion to their Situation and +Soil, a greater Number of them.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Neither</span> is it at all incongruous or inconvenient +to suppose, that the Face of the Earth stood +in this Manner for many Years after the Deluge; +for while Mankind was small and few, +they needed but a little Ground for their Seats +or Sustenance; and as they grew more numerous, +the Earth proportionally grew more dry, +and more Parts of it fit for Habitation. I easily +believe that <i>Plato</i>’s Observation or Tradition +[<i>de Leg. <abbr title='fifty-one'>li.</abbr> 3.</i>] is true, that Men at first, after +the Flood, liv’d in the Up-lands and Sides +of the Mountains, and by Degrees sunk into +the Plains and lower Countries, when Nature +had prepar’d them for their Use, and their Numbers +requir’d more Room. The History of <i>Moses</i> +<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='eleven'>xi.</abbr></i> tells us, that some Time after the +Deluge, <i>Noah</i> and his Posterity, his Sons and +his Grand-children, chang’d their Quarters, and +fell down into the Plains of <i>Shiner</i>, from the +Sides of the Hills where the Ark had rested; +and in this Plain was the last general Rendezvous +of Mankind; so long they seem to have +kept in a Body, and from thence they were divided +and broken into Companies, and dispers’d, +first, into the neighbouring Countries, and then +by degrees throughout the whole Earth; the several +successive Generations, like the Waves of +the Sea when it flows, over-reaching one another, +and striking out farther and farther upon +the Face of the Land. Not that the whole Earth +was peopled by an uniform Propagation of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>Mankind every Way, from one Place, as a +common Center; like the Swelling of a Lake +upon a Plain: For sometimes they shot out in +length, like Rivers, and sometimes they flew +into remote Countries in Colonies, like Swarms +from the Hive, and settled there, leaving many +Places uninhabited betwixt them and their first +Home. Sea-shores and Islands were generally +the last Places inhabited; for while the Memory +or Story of the Deluge was fresh amongst +them, they did not care for coming so near +their late Enemy; or at least, to be inclos’d +and surrounded by his Forces.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> this may be sufficient to have discours’d +concerning all the Parts of the Deluge, and the +Restitution of the Earth to an habitable Form, +for the further Union of our Theory with the +History of <i>Moses</i>; there rests only one Thing +in that History to be taken notice of, which +may be thought possibly not to agree so well +with our Account of the Deluge; namely, that +<i>Moses</i> seems to shut up the Abyss again at the +End of the Deluge, which our Explication supposeth +to continue open. But besides that half +the Abyss is still really cover’d, <i>Moses</i> saith the +same Thing of the Windows of Heaven, that +they were shut up too; and he seemeth in both +to express only the Cessation of the Effect which +proceeded from their opening: For as <i>Moses</i> had +ascrib’d the Deluge to the opening of these two, +so when it was to cease, he saith, these two +were shut up; as they were really put into such +a Condition, both of then, that they could +<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>not continue the Deluge any longer, nor ever +be the Occasion of a second; and therefore in +that Sense, and as to that Effect were for ever +shut up. Some may possibly make that also an +Objection against us, that <i>Moses</i> mentions and +supposes the Mountains at the Deluge, for he +saith, the Waters reached fifteen Cubits above +the Tops of them; whereas we suppose the antediluvian +Earth to have had a plain and uniform +Surface, without any Inequality of Hills +and Valleys. But this is easily answer’d, it was +in the Height of the Deluge that <i>Moses</i> mention’d +the Mountains, and we suppose them to +have risen then, or more towards the Beginning +of it, when the Earth was broke; and these +Mountains continuing still upon the Face of the +Earth, <i>Moses</i> might very well take them for a +Standard to measure and express to Posterity the +Height of the Waters, though they were not +upon the Earth when the Deluge began. Neither +is there any mention made, as is observ’d +by some, of Mountains in Scripture, or of Rain, +till the Time of the Deluge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> have now finish’d our Account of <i>Noah</i>’s +Flood, both generally and particularly; +and I have not wittingly omitted or conceal’d +any Difficulty that occurr’d to me, either from +the History, or from abstract Reason; our +Theory, so far as I know, hath the Consent +and Authority of both: And how far it agrees +and is demonstrable from natural Observation, +or from the Form and <i>Phænomena</i> of +this Earth, as it lies at present, shall be the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>Subject of the remaining Part of this first Book. +In the mean time I do not know any Thing +more to be added in this Part, unless it be to conclude +with an Advertisement to prevent any +Mistake or Misconstruction, as if this Theory, +by explaining the Deluge in a natural Way, +in a great Measure, or, by natural Causes, +did detract from the Power of God, by which +that great Judgment was brought upon the World +in a providential and miraculous Manner.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> satisfy all reasonable and intelligent Persons +in this Particular, I answer and declare, first, +That we are far from excluding divine Providence, +either ordinary or extraordinary, from +the Causes and Conduct of the Deluge. I know +a Sparrow doth not fall to the Ground without +the Will of our Heavenly Father, much +less doth the great World fall in Pieces without +his good Pleasure and Superintendency. In him +all Things live, move, and have their Being; +Things that have Life and Thought have it from +him, he is the Fountain of both. Things that +have Motion only, without Thought, have it also +from him: And what hath only naked Being, +without Thought or Motion, owe still that +Being to him. And these are not only derived +from God at first, but every Moment continued +and conserv’d by him. So intimate and universal +is the Dependance of all Things upon the +Divine Will and Power.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> the second Place, they are guilty, in my +Judgment, of a great Error or Indiscretion, +that oppose the Course of Nature to Providence. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span><abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Paul</i> says, (<i>Acts <abbr title='fourteen'>xiv.</abbr> 17.</i>) God hath +not left us without Witness, in that he gives +us Rain from Heaven; yet Rains proceed from +natural Causes, and fall upon the Sea as well +as upon the Land. In like manner, our Saviour, +<i><abbr title='Matthew'>Mat.</abbr> <abbr title='six'>vi.</abbr> 21.</i> makes those Things Instances of +Divine Providence, which yet come to pass in +an ordinary Course of Nature; in that Part of +his excellent Sermon upon the Mount, <i>Luke +<abbr title='twelve'>xii.</abbr> 24.</i> that concerns Providence, he bids them +<i>consider the Lilies how they grow, they toil not, +neither do they spin, and yet Solomon in all his +Glory was not array’d like one of these</i>: He +bids them also <i>consider the Ravens, they neither +sow nor reap, neither have they Store-house +nor Barn, and God feedeth them</i>. The +Lilies grow, and the Ravens are fed according +to the ordinary Course of Nature, and yet +they are justly made Arguments of Providence +by our Saviour; nor are these Things less providential, +because constant and regular; on the +contrary, such a Disposition or Establishment +of second Causes, as will in the best Order, +and for a long Succession, produce the most +regular Effects, assisted only with the ordinary +Concourse of the first Cause, is a greater Argument +of Wisdom and Contrivance, than such +a Disposition of Causes as will not in so good +an Order, or for so long a Time produce regular +Effects, without an extraordinary Concourse +and Interposition of the first Cause. This +I think is clear to every Man’s Judgment. We +think him a better Artist that makes a Clock +<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>that strikes regularly at every Hour from the +Springs and Wheels which he puts in the Work, +than he that hath so made his Clock that he +must put his Finger to it every Hour to make +it strike: And if one should contrive a Piece +of Clock-work, so that it should beat all the +Hours, and make all its Motions regularly for +such a Time, and that Time being come, upon +a Signal given, or a Spring touch’d, it should +of its own accord fall all to Pieces; would +not this be look’d upon as a Piece of greater Art +than if the Workman came at that Time prefix’d, +and with a great Hammer beat it into pieces? +I use these Comparisons to convince us, +that it is no Detraction from divine Providence, +that the Course of Nature is exact and regular, +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 World. This +seems to me to be the great Art of divine Providence, +so to adjust the two Worlds, human +and natural, material and intellectual, as seeing +thro’ the Possibilities and Futuritions of each, +according to the first State and Circumstances +he puts them under, they should all along correspond +and fit one another, and especially in +their great Crises and Periods.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thirdly</span>, Besides the ordinary Providence +of God in the ordinary Course of Nature, there +is doubtless an extraordinary Providence that +doth attend the greater Scenes and the greater +Revolutions of Nature. This, methinks, besides +<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>all other Proof from the Effects, is very rational +and necessary in itself; for it would be a Limitation +of the divine Power and Will so to be +bound up to second Causes, as never to use, upon +Occasion, an extraordinary Influence or Direction: +And ’tis manifest, taking any System of natural +Causes, if the best possible, that there may +be more and greater Things done, if to this, +upon certain Occasions, you join an extraordinary +Conduct. And as we have taken Notice +before, that there was an extraordinary Providence +in the Formation or Composition of the +first Earth, so I believe there was also in the Dissolution +of it: And I think it had been impossible +for the Ark to have liv’d upon the raging +Abyss, or for <i>Noah</i> and his Family to have been +preserv’d, if there had not been a miraculous +Hand of Providence to take care of them. But +’tis hard to separate and distinguish an ordinary +and extraordinary Providence in all Cases, and +to mark just how far one goes, and where the +other begins. And writing a Theory of the Deluge +here, as we do, we were to exhibit a Series +of Causes whereby it might be made intelligible, +or to shew the proximate natural Causes of it; +wherein we follow the Example both of <i>Moses</i> +and <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>; and with the same Veneration of +the divine Power and Wisdom in the Government +of Nature, by a constant ordinary Providence, +and an occasional extraordinary.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>So</span> much for the Theory of the Deluge, and +the second Section of this Discourse.</p> +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span> + <h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='nine'>IX.</abbr></span></h3> +</div> +<p class='c012'><i>The second Part of this Discourse, proving the +same Theory from the Effects and present +Form of the Earth. First, by a general Scheme +of what is most remarkable in this Globe, and +then by a more particular Induction; beginning +with an Account of subterraneous Cavities +and subterraneous Waters.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have now finished our Explication of +the universal Deluge, and given an Account, +not only of the Possibility of it, but (so +far as our Knowledge can reach) of its Causes; +and of that Form and Structure of the Earth, +whereby the <i>Old World</i> was subject to that sort +of Fate. We have not begged any principles or +Suppositions for the Proof of this; but taking +that common Ground, which both <i>Moses</i> and +all Antiquity present to us, <i>viz.</i> <i>That this +Earth rose from a Chaos</i>: We have from that +deduc’d, by an easy Train of Consequences, +what the first Form of it would be; and from +that Form, as from a nearer Ground, we have +by a second Train of Consequences made it appear, +that at some Time or other that first Earth +would be subject to a Dissolution, and by that +Dissolution to a Deluge. And thus far we have +proceeded only by the Intuition of Causes, as +is most proper to a Theory; but for the Satisfaction +of those that require more sensible Arguments, +and to compleat our Proofs on either +hand, we will now argue from the Effects; and +from the present State of Nature, and the present +<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>Form of the Earth, prove that it hath been +broken, and undergone such a Dissolution as +we have already describ’d, and made the immediate +Occasion of the Deluge. And that we +may do this more perspicuously and distinctly, +we will lay down this Proposition to be prov’d, +<i>viz.</i> <i>That the present Form and Structure of +the Earth, both as to the Surface and as to the +interior Parts of it, so far as they are known +and accessible to us, doth exactly answer to our +Theory concerning the Form and Dissolution of +the first Earth, and cannot be explain’d upon any +other Hypothesis yet known.</i></p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Orators</span> and Philosophers treat Nature +after a very different Manner; those represent +her with all her Graces and Ornaments, and if +there be any Thing that is not capable of that, +they dissemble it, or pass it over slightly. But +Philosophers view Nature with a more impartial +Eye, and without Favour or Prejudice give +a just and free Account, how they find all the +Parts of the Universe, some more, some less +perfect. And as to this Earth in particular, if +I was to describe it as an Orator, I would suppose +it a beautiful and regular Globe; and not +only so, but that the whole Universe was made +for its sake; that it was the Darling and Favourite +of Heaven, that the Sun shin’d only to +give it Light, to ripen its Fruit, and make fresh +its Flowers; and that the great Concave of the +Firmament, and all the Stars in their several +Orbs, were design’d only for a spangled Cabinet +to keep this Jewel in. This <i>Idea</i> I would +<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>give of it as an Orator; but a Philosopher that +overheard me would either think me in Jest, or +very injudicious, if I took the Earth for a Body +so regular in it self, or so considerable if compar’d +with the rest of the Universe. This, he +would say, is to make the great World like one +of the Heathen Temples, a beautiful and magnificent +Structure, and of the richest Materials, +yet built only for a little brute Idol, a Dog, or a +Crocodile, or some deformed Creature placed +in a Corner of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> must therefore be impartial where the +Truth requires it, and describe the Earth as it is +really in it self; and though it be handsome and +regular enough to the Eye in certain Parts of it, +single Tracks and single Regions; yet if we consider +the whole Surface of it, or the whole exterior +Region, ’tis as a broken and confus’d Heap +of Bodies, plac’d in no Order to one another, +nor with any Correspondency or Regularity of +Parts: And such a Body as the Moon appears to +us, when ’tis look’d upon with a good Glass, +rude and ragged; as it is also represented in the +modern Maps of the Moon; such a Thing would +the Earth appear if it was seen from the Moon. +They are both in my Judgment the Image or +Picture of a great Ruin, and have the true Aspect +of a World lying in its Rubbish. <i>See Fig.</i> +in <i><a href='#chap-1-11'>Chap. XI</a>.</i></p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Our</span> Earth is first divided into Sea and Land, +without any Regularity in the Portions, either +of the one or the other; in the Sea lie the Islands, +scatter’d like Limbs torn from the rest of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>Body; great Rocks stand rear’d up in the Waters; +the Promontories and Capes shoot into the Sea, +and the Sinus’s and Creeks on the other hand +run as much into the Land; and these without +any Order or Uniformity. Upon the other Part +of our Globe stand great Heaps of Earth or Stone, +which we call Mountains; and if these were all +plac’d together, they would take up a very considerable +part of the dry Land: In the rest of it are +lesser Hills, Valleys, Plains, Lakes and Marshes, +Sands and Desarts, <i>&c.</i> and these also without +any regular Disposition. Then the Inside of the +Earth, or inward Parts of it, are generally broken +or hollow, especially about the Mountains +and high Lands, as also towards the Shores of +the Sea, and among the Rocks. How many +Holes and Caverns, and strange subterraneous +Passages do we see in many Countries? And +how many more may we easily imagine, that +are unknown and unaccessible to us?</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> is the Pourtraicture of our Earth, drawn +without Flattery; and as oddly as it looks, it +will not be at all surprizing to one that hath +consider’d the foregoing Theory: For ’tis manifest +enough, that upon the Dissolution of the +first Earth, and its Fall into the Abyss, this very +Face and Posture of Things, which we have now +describ’d, or something extreamly like it, would +immediately result. The Sea would be open’d, +and the Face of the Globe would be divided into +Land and Water: And according as the Fragments +fell, some would make Islands or Rocks +in the Sea, others would make Mountains or +<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>Plains upon the Land; and the Earth would +generally be full of Caverns and Hollownesses, +especially in the mountainous Parts of it. And +we see the Resemblance and Imitation of this +in lesser Ruins, when a Mountain sinks and falls +into subterraneous Water; or, which is more +obvious, when the Arch of a Bridge is broken, +and falls into the Water, if the Water under it +be not so deep as to overflow and cover all its +Parts, you may see there the Image of all these +things in little Continents, and Islands, and +Rocks under Water: And in the Parts that +stand above the Water, you see Mountains, and +Precipices, and Plains, and most of the Varieties +that we see and admire in the Parts of the +Earth. What need we then seek any further for +the Explication of these things? Let us suppose +this Arch of the Bridge, as the great Arch of the +Earth, which once it had, and the Water under +it as the Abyss, and the Parts of this Ruin to +represent the Parts of the Earth: There will be +scarce any Difference but of lesser and greater, +the same things appearing in both. But we +have naturally that Weakness or Prejudice, +that we think great things are not to be explained +from easy and familiar Instances; we +think there must be something difficult and operose +in the Explication of them, or else we are +not satisfied; whether it is that we are ashamed +to see our Ignorance and Admiration to have +been so groundless, or whether we fancy there +must be a Proportion between the Difficulty +of the Explication, and the Greatness of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>thing explain’d; but that is a very false Judgment, +for let Things be never so great, if they +be simple, their Explication must be simple and +easy: And on the contrary, some things that +are mean, common, and ordinary, may depend +upon Causes very difficult to find out; for the +Difficulty of explaining an Effect doth not depend +upon its Greatness or Littleness, but upon +the Simplicity or Composition of its Causes. +And the Effects and <i>Phænomena</i> we are here to +explain, though great, yet depending upon Causes +very simple, you must not wonder if the +Explication, when found out, be familiar and +very intelligible.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> this is so intelligible, and so easily deducible +from the forementioned Causes, that a +Man born blind, or brought up all his Life in a +Cave, that had never seen the Face of the Earth, +nor ever heard any Description of it, more than +that it was a great Globe; having this Theory +propos’d to him, or being instructed what the +Form of the first Earth was, how it stood over +the Waters, and then how it was broke and fell +into them, he would easily of his own accord +foretel what Changes would arise upon this Dissolution; +and what the new Form of the Earth +would be. As in the first place he would tell you, +that this second Earth would be distinguish’d and +checker’d into Land and Water; for the Orb +which fell being greater than the Circumference +it fell upon, all the Fragments could not fall flat +and lie drown’d under Water; and those that +stood above would make the dry Land or habitable +<span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span>part of the Earth. Then in the second +Place, he would plainly discern that these Fragments +that made the dry Land could not lie +all plain and smooth and equal, but some would +be higher and some lower, some in one Posture +and some in another; and consequently would +make Mountains, Hills, Valleys and Plains, and +all other Varieties we have in the Situation of +the Parts of the Earth. And lastly, 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 it, a +great many Intervals and empty Places in the +Rubbish, as I may so say; for this we see happens +in all Ruins more or less; and where the +Fragments are great and hard, ’tis not possible +they should be so adjusted in their Fall, but that +they would lie hollow in many Places, and +many unfill’d Spaces would be intercepted amongst +them; some gaping in the Surface of +the Earth, and others hid within; so as this +would give occasion to all sorts of Fractures +and Cavities either in the Skin of the Earth, or +within its Body. And these Cavities, that I may +add that in the last Place, would be often fill’d +with subterraneous Waters, at least at such a +Depth; for the Foundations of the Earth standing +now within the Waters, so high as those +Waters reach’d they would more or less propagate +themselves every way.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> far our blind Man could tell us what +the new World would be, or the Form of the +Earth upon the great Dissolution; and we find +<span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>his Reasonings and Inferences very true, these +are the chief Lineaments and Features of our +Earth; which appear indeed very irregular and +very unaccountable when they are look’d upon +naked in themselves; but if we look upon them +through this Theory, we see as in a Glass all the +Reasons and Causes of them. There are different +Genius’s of Men, and different Conceptions, +and every one is to be allow’d their Liberty as to +things of this Nature; I confess, for my own +part, when I observe how easy and naturally this +<i>Hypothesis</i> doth apply it self to the general Face +of this Earth, hits and falls in so luckily and surprizingly +with all the odd Postures of its Parts, +I cannot, without Violence, bear off my Mind +from fully assenting to it: And the more odd +and extravagant, as I may so say, and the more +diversify’d the Effects and Appearances are, to +which an <i>Hypothesis</i> is to be apply’d, if it answers +them all and with Exactness, it comes +the nearer to a moral Certitude and Infallibility. +As a Lock that consists of a great deal of Workmanship, +many Wards, and many odd Pieces and +Contrivances, if you find a Key, that answers to +them all, and opens it readily, ’tis a thousand to +one that ’tis the true Key, and was made for that +Purpose.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='fss'>AN</span> eminent Philosopher of this Age, <i>Monsier +des Cartes</i>, hath made use of the like <i>Hypothesis</i> +to explain the irregular Form of the +present Earth; though he never dream’d of the +Deluge, nor thought that first Orb, built over +the Abyss, to have been any more than a transient +<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>Crust, and not a real habitable World that +lasted for more than sixteen hundred Years, as +we suppose it to have been. And though he hath, +in my Opinion, in the Formation of that first +Orb, and upon the Dissolution of it, committed +some great Oversights, whereof we have +given an Account in the <i>Latin</i> Treatise, <i><abbr class='spell'>C.</abbr> 7. +& lib. 2. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 4.</i> however he saw a Necessity of +such a Thing, and of the Disruption of it, to +bring the Earth into that Form and Posture +wherein we now find it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> far we have spoken in general, concerning +the Agreement and Congruity of our +Supposition with the present Face of the Earth, +and the easy Account it gives of the Causes of +it. And though I believe to ingenuous Persons, +that are not prejudic’d by the Forms and Opinions +of the Schools against every thing that looks +like a Novelty or Invention, thus much might +be sufficient; yet for the Satisfaction of all, we +will, as a farther Proof of our Theory, or that +part of it which concerns the Dissolution of the +Earth, descend to a particular Explication of +three or four of the most considerable and remarkable +things that occur in the Fabrick of this +present Earth; namely, <i>The great Channel of +the Ocean; subterraneous Cavities and subterraneous +Waters</i>; and lastly, <i>Mountains and +Rocks</i>. These are the Wonders of the Earth as +to the visible Frame of it; and who would not +be pleas’d to see a rational Account of these, +of their Origin, and of their Properties? Or +who would not approve of an <i>Hypothesis</i>, when +<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>they see that Nature in her greatest and strongest +Works may easily be understood by it, and is +in no other way, that we know of, intelligible?</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> will speak first of subterraneous Cavities +and Waters, because they will be of easier +Dispatch, and an Introduction to the rest.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>That</span> the Inside of the Earth is hollow and +broken in many Places, and is not one firm and +united Mass, we have both the Testimony of +Sense and of easy Observations to prove: How +many Caves and Dens and hollow Passages into +the Ground do we see in many Countries, +especially amongst Mountains and Rocks; and +some of them endless and bottomless so far as +can be discover’d? We have many of these in +our own Island, in <i>Derbyshire</i>, <i>Somersetshire</i>, +<i>Wales</i>, and other Counties, and in every Continent +or Island they abound more or less. These +Hollownesses of the Earth the Ancients made +Prisons, or Store-houses for the Winds, and +set a God over them to confine them, or let +them loose at his Pleasure. For some Ages after +the Flood, as all Antiquity tells us, these +were the first Houses Men had, at least in some +Parts of the Earth; here rude Mortals shelter’d +themselves, as well as they could, from the Injuries +of the Air, till they were beaten out by +wild Beasts that took Possession of them. The +ancient Oracles also us’d to be given out of these +Vaults and Recesses under Ground, the <i>Sibyls</i> +had their Caves, and the <i>Delphick</i> Oracle, and +their Temples sometimes were built upon an +hollow Rock. Places that are strange and solemn +<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>strike an Awe into us, and incline us to a kind +of superstitious Timidity and Veneration, and +therefore they thought them fit for the Seats +and Residences of their Deities. They fancied +also that Steams rise sometimes, or a sort of Vapour +in those hollow Places, that gave a kind +of a divine Fury or Inspiration. But all these +Uses and Employments are now in a great measure +worn out, we know no Use of them but +to make the Places talk’d on where they are, to +be the Wonders of the Country, to please our +Curiosity to gaze upon and admire; but we +know not how they came, nor to what purpose +they were made at first.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>It</span> would be very pleasant to read good Descriptions +of these subterraneous Places, and of +all the strange Works of Nature there; how she +furnisheth these dark neglected Grotto’s; they +have often a little Brook runs murmuring thro’ +them, and the Roof is commonly a kind of petrefied +Earth, or icy Fret-work, proper enough +for such Rooms. But I should be pleas’d especially +to view the Sea-caves, or those hollow +Rocks that lie upon the Sea, where the Waves +roll a great Way under Ground, and wear the +hard Rock into as many odd Shapes and Figures +as we see in the Clouds. ’Tis pleasant also to see +a River in the Middle of its Course throw itself +into the Mouth of a Cave, or an Opening +of the Earth, and run under Ground sometimes +many Miles; still pursuing its Way thro’ the dark +Pipes of the Earth, till at last it find an Out-let. +There are many of these Rivers taken Notice of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>in History in the several Parts of the Earth, as +the <i>Rhone</i> in <i>France</i>, <i>Guadiana</i> in <i>Spain</i>, and +several in <i>Greece</i>, <i>Alpheus</i>, <i>Lycus</i>, and <i>Erasinus</i>; +then <i>Niger</i> in <i>Africa</i>, <i>Tygris</i> in <i>Asia</i>, <i>&c.</i> +And I believe if we could turn <i>Derwent</i>, or any +other River, into one of the Holes of the +Peak, it would groap its Way till it found an +Issue, it may be, in some other Country. These +subterraneous Rivers that emerge again, shew us +that the Holes of the Earth are longer and reach +further than we imagine, and if we could see +into the Ground, as we ride, or walk, we should +be affrighted to see so often Waters or Caverns +under us.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> to return to our dry Caves; these commonly +stand high, and are sometimes of a prodigious +Greatness: <i>Strabo</i> [<i>Geo. <abbr class='spell'>l.</abbr> 16.</i>] mentions +some in the Mountains towards <i>Arabia</i>, +that are capable to receive four thousand Men at +once. The Cave of <i>Engedi</i> [<i>1 Sam. <abbr title='twenty-four'>xxiv.</abbr> 3, 4.</i>] +hid <i>David</i> and six hundred Men, so as <i>Saul</i>, +when he was in the Mouth of it, did not perceive +them. In the Mountains of the <i>Traconites</i> there +are many of these vast Dens and Recesses, and +the People of that Country defended themselves +a long time in those strong Holds against <i>Herod</i> +and his Army: They are plac’d among such +craggy Rocks and Precipices, that, as <i>Josephus</i> +[<i>Ant. Jud. <abbr class='spell'>l.</abbr> 14. <abbr class='spell'>ch.</abbr> 27.</i>] tells us, <i>Herod</i> was +forced to make a sort of open Chests, and in those +by Chains of Iron he let down his Soldiers from +the Top of the Mountains to go fight them in +their Dens. I need add no more Instances of this +<span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>Kind: In the natural History of all Countries, +or the geographical Descriptions of them, you +find such Places taken notice of, more or less; +yet if there was a good Collection made of the +chief of them in several Parts, it might be of +use, and would make us more sensible how broken +and torn the Body of the Earth is.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>There</span> are subterraneous Cavities of another +Nature, and more remarkable, which they +call <i>Volcano</i>’s, or fiery Mountains; that belch +out Flames and Smoke and Ashes, and sometimes +great Stones and broken Rocks, and +Lumps of Earth, or some metallick Mixture; +and throw them to an incredible Distance by +the Force of the Eruption. These argue great +Vacuities in the Bowels of the Earth, and Magazines +of combustible Matter treasur’d up in +them. And as the Exhalations within these Places +must be copious, so they must lie in long Mines +or Trains to do so great Execution, and to last +so long. ’Tis scarce credible what is reported +concerning some Eruptions of <i>Vesuvius</i> and +<i>Ætna</i>. The Eruptions of <i>Vesuvius</i> seem to +be more frequent and less violent of late; the +Flame and Smoke break out at the Top of the +Mountain, where they have eaten away the +Ground and made a great Hollow, so as it looks +at the Top, when you stand upon the Brims of +it, like an <i>Amphitheatre</i>, or like a great Caldron, +about a Mile in Circumference, and the +burning Furnace lies under it. The Outside of +the Mountain is all spread with Ashes, but the +Inside much more; for you wade up to the Mid-leg +<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>in Ashes to go down to the Bottom of the +Cavity and ’tis extremely heavy and troublesome +to get up again. The Inside lies sloping, and +one may safely go down, if it be not in a raging +Fit; but the middle Part of it, or Center, +which is a little rais’d like the Bottom of a Platter, +is not to be ventur’d upon, the Ground +there lies false and hollow, there it always +smoaks, and there the Funnel is suppos’d to be; +yet there is no visible Hole or Gaping any where +when it doth not rage. <i>Naples</i> stands below in +fear of this fiery Mountain, which hath often +cover’d its Streets and Palaces with its Ashes; +and in Sight of the Sea (which lies by the Side +of them both) and as it were in Defiance to it, +threatens at one time or other to burn that fair +City. History tells us, that some Eruptions of +<i>Vesuvius</i> have carry’d Cinders and Ashes as far +as <i>Constantinople</i>; this is attested both by <i>Greek</i> +and <i>Latin</i> Authors; particularly, that they were +so affrighted with these Ashes and Darkness, that +the Emperor left the City, and there was a +Day observ’d yearly for a Memorial of this +Calamity or Prodigy.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>ÆTNA</i> is of greater Fame than <i>Vesuvius</i>, +and of greater Fury, all Antiquity speaks of it; +not only the <i>Greeks</i> and <i>Romans</i>, but as far as +History reacheth, either real or fabulous, there +is something recorded of the Fires of <i>Ætna</i>: +The Figure of the Mountain is inconstant, by +reason of the great Consumptions and Ruins +it is subject to; the Fires and Æstuations of it +are excellently describ’d by <i>Virgil</i>, upon Occasion +of <i>Æneas</i>’s passing by those Coasts.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>—— <i>Horrificis juxta tonat Ætna ruinis;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Intendumque atram prorumpit ad ætheranubem,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Turbine fumantem piceo & candente favilla;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Attollitque globos flammarum & sydera lambit;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Interdum scopulos, avulsaque viscera montis</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Erigit eructans, liquefactaque saxa sub auras</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Cum gemitu glomerat, fundoque exæstuat imo.</i></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Fama est Enceladi semustum fulmine corpus</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Urgeri mole hac, ingentemque insuper Ætnam</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Impositam, ruptis flammam expirare caminis.</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Et fessum quoties mutet latus, intremere omnem</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Murmure Trinacriam & cœlum subtexere fumo.</i></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>——<i>Ætna, whose Ruins make a thunder;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Sometimes black Clouds of Smoke, that rowl about</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Mingled with Flakes of Fire, it belches out:</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And sometimes Balls of Flame it darts on high,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Or its torn Bowels flings into the Sky.</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Within deep Cells under the Earth, a Store</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Of Fire-materials, molten Stones, and Ore,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>It gathers, then spews out, and gathers more.</i></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Enceladus, when Thunder-struck by Jove,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Was bury’d here, and Ætna thrown above;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And when, to change his wearied Side, he turns,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>The Island trembles and the Mountain burns.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>Not</span> far from <i>Ætna</i> lies <i>Strombolo</i>, and +other adjacent Islands, where there are also such +Magazines of Fire; and throughout all Regions +and Countries in the <i>West-Indies</i> and in the +<i>East</i>, in the northern and southern Parts of the +Earth, there are some of these <i>Volcano</i>’s, which +<span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span>are sensible Evidences that the Earth is incompact +and full of Caverns; besides, the roarings +and bellowings that use to be heard before an +Eruption of these <i>Volcano</i>’s argue some dreadful +Hollowness in the Belly, or under the Roots +of the Mountain, where the Exhalations struggle +before they can break their Prison.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> subterraneous Cavities, that we have +spoke of hitherto, are such as are visible in the +Surface of the Earth, and break the Skin by some +gaping Orifice; but the Miners and those that +work under Ground meet with many more in +the Bowels of the Earth, that never reach to the +Top of it; Burrows and Channels, and Clifts +and Caverns, that never had the Comfort of +one Beam of Light since the great Fall of the +Earth. And where we think the Ground is firm +and solid, as upon Heaths and Downs, it often +betrays its Hollowness, by sounding under the +Horses Feet and the Chariot Wheels that pass +over it. We do not know when and where we +stand upon good Ground, if it was examin’d deep +enough; and to make us further sensible of this, +we will instance in two Things that argue the +Unsoundness and Hollowness of the Earth in +the inward Recesses of it, tho’ the Surface be intire +and unbroken; these are <i>Earthquakes</i> and +the Communication of <i>subterraneous Waters</i> +and <i>Seas</i>: Of which two we will speak a little +more particularly.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Earthquakes</span> are too evident Demonstrations +of the Hollowness of the Earth, being +the dreadful Effects or Consequences of it; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>for if the Body of the Earth was sound and compact, +there would be no such thing in Nature as +an Earthquake. They are commonly accompanied +with an heavy dead Sound, like a dull +Thunder which ariseth from the Vapours that +are striving in the Womb of Nature, when her +Throws are coming upon her. And that these +Caverns where the Vapours lie are very large +and capacious, we are taught sometimes by sad +Experience; for whole Cities and Countries have +been swallow’d up into them, as <i>Sodom</i> and <i>Gomorrah</i>, +and the Region of <i>Pentapolis</i>, and several +Cities in <i>Greece</i>, and in <i>Asia</i>, and other +Parts. Whole Islands also have been thus absorpt +in an Earthquake; the Pillars and Props they +stood upon being broken, they have sunk and +fallen in as an House blown up. I am also of Opinion, +that those Islands that are made by Divulsion +from a Continent, as <i>Sicily</i> was broken +off from <i>Italy</i>, and <i>Great-Britain</i>, as some think, +from <i>France</i>, have been made the same way; +that is, the Isthmus or Necks of Land, that join’d +these Islands with their Continents before, have +been hollow, and being either worn by the Water, +or shak’d by an Earthquake, have sunk down, +and so made Way for the Sea to overflow them, +and of a Promontory to make an Island. For +it is not at all likely that the Neck of Land +continued standing, and the Sea overflow’d it, +and so made an Island; for then, all those Passages +between such Islands, and their respective +Continents, would be extremely shallow and +unnavigable, which we do not find them to be. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>Nor is it any more Wonder if such a Neck of +Land should fall, than that a Mountain should +sink, or any other Tract of Land, and a Lake +rise in its Place, which hath often happened. +<i>Plato</i> supposeth his <i>Atlantis</i> to have been greater +than <i>Asia</i> and <i>Africa</i> together, and yet to +have sunk all into the Sea; whether that be true +or no, I do not think it impossible that some +Arms of the Sea, or Sinus’s, might have had such +an Original as that; and I am very apt to think, +that for some Years after the Deluge, ’till the +Fragments were well settled and adjusted, great +Alterations would happen as to the Face of the +Sea and the Land; many of the Fragments would +change their Posture, and many would sink into +the Water, that stood out before, the Props +failing that bore them up, or the Joints and Corners +whereby they lean’d upon one another: +And thereupon a new Face of Things would arise, +and a new Deluge for that part of the Earth. +Such Removes and Interchanges, I believe, +would often happen in the first Ages after +the Flood; as we see in all other Ruins, there +happen lesser and secondary Ruins after the first, +’till the Parts be so well pois’d and settled, that +without some Violence they scarce change their +Posture any more.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> to return to our Earthquakes, and to +give an Instance or two of their Extent and Violence: +<i>Pliny</i> mentions one in the Reign of <i>Tiberius +Cæsar</i>, that struck down twelve Cities of +<i>Asia</i> in one Night. And <i>Fournier</i> gives us an Account +of one in <i>Peru</i>, that reach’d three hundred +<span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>Leagues along the Sea-shore, and seventy Leagues +In-land; and level’d the Mountains all along +as it went, threw down the Cities, turn’d the +Rivers out of their Channels, and made an +universal Havock and Confusion: And all this, +he saith, was done within the Space of seven or +eight Minutes. There must be dreadful Vaults +and Mines under that Continent that gave Passage +to the Vapours, and Liberty to play for +Nine Hundred Miles in length, and above two +Hundred in breadth. <i>Asia</i> also hath been very +subject to these Desolations by Earthquakes; +and many Parts in <i>Europe</i>, as <i>Greece</i>, <i>Italy</i>, and +others. The Truth is, our Cities are built upon +Ruins, and our Fields and Countries stand upon +broken Arches and Vaults, and so does the greatest +Part of the outward Frame of the Earth, and +therefore it is no Wonder if it be often shaken; +there being Quantities of Exhalations within +these Mines, or cavernous Passages, that are capable +of Rarefaction and Inflammation; and, upon +such Occasions, requiring more Room, they +shake or break the Ground that covers them. +And thus much concerning Earthquakes.</p> + +<p class='c004'>A second Observation that argues the Hollowness +of the Earth, is the Communication +of the Seas and Lakes under Ground. The <i>Caspian</i> +and <i>Mediterranean</i> Seas, and several Lakes, +receive into them great Rivers, and yet have no +visible Out-let: These must have subterraneous +Out-lets, by which they empty themselves, otherwise +they would redound and overflow the +Brims of their Vessel. The <i>Mediterranean</i> is +<span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>most remarkable in this Kind, because ’tis observ’d, +that at one End the great Ocean flows into +it through the Straits of <i>Gibraltar</i>, with a sensible +Current, and towards the other End about +<i>Constantinople</i> the <i>Pontus</i> flows down into it +with a Stream so strong, that Vessels have much +ado to stem it; and yet it neither hath any visible +Evacuation or Out-let, nor overflows its +Banks. And besides that it is thus fed at either +End, it is fed by the Navel too, as I may so say; +it sucks in, by their Channels, several Rivers +into its Belly, whereof the <i>Nile</i> is one very +great and considerable. These Things have made +it a great Problem, <i>What becomes of the Water +of the Mediterranean Sea?</i> And for my Part, I +think the Solution is very easy, namely, that it +is discharged by subterraneous Passages, or convey’d +by Channels under the Ground into the +Ocean. And this manner of Discharge or Conveyance +is not peculiar to the <i>Mediterranean</i>, but +is common to it with the <i>Caspian</i> Sea, and other +Seas and Lakes, that receive great Rivers +into them, and have no visible Issue.</p> + +<p class='c004'>I know there have been propos’d several other +Ways to answer this Difficulty concerning +the Efflux or Consumption of the Waters of the +<i>Mediterranean</i>; some have suppos’d a double +Current in the Strait of <i>Gibraltar</i>, one that +carry’d the Water in, and another that brought +it out; like the Arteries and Veins in our Body, +the one exporting our Blood from the Heart, +and the other re-importing it: So they suppos’d +one Current upon the Surface, which carry’d +<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>the Water into the <i>Mediterranean</i>, and under +it at a certain Depth a Counter-Current, which +brought the Water back into the Ocean. But this +hath neither Proof nor Foundation; for unless +it was included in Pipes, as our Blood is, or consisted +of Liquors very different, these cross Currents +would mingle and destroy one another. +Others are of Opinion, that all the Water that +flows into the <i>Mediterranean</i>, or a Quantity +equal to it, is consumed in Exhalations every +Day: This seems to be a bolder Supposition than +the other; for if so much be consumed in Vapours +and Exhalations every Day as flows into +this Sea, what if this Sea had an Out-let and discharg’d +by that, every Day, as much as it receiv’d? +In a few Days the Vapours would have consumed +all the rest; and yet we see many Lakes +that have as free an Out-let as an In-let, and are +not consum’d, or sensibly diminish’d by the Vapours. +Besides, this Reason is a Summer Reason, +and would pass very ill in Winter, when the Heat +of the Sun is much less powerful: At least there +would be a very sensible Difference betwixt the +Height of the Waters in Summer and Winter, +if so much was consum’d every Day, as this Explication +supposeth. And the Truth is, this +Want of a visible Out-let is not a Property belonging +only to the <i>Mediterranean</i> Sea, as we +noted before, but is also in other Seas and great +Lakes, some lying in one Climate and some in +another, where there is no Reason to suppose +such excessive Exhalations; and tho’ ’tis true +some Rivers in <i>Africk</i>, and in other Parts of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>Earth, are thus exhal’d and dry’d up, without +ever flowing into the Sea (as were all the Rivers +in the first Earth) yet this is where the Sands +and parch’d Ground suck up a great part of them; +the heat of the Climate being excessively strong, +and the Channel of the River growing shallower +by degrees, and it may be, divided into lesser +Branches and Rivulets; which are Causes that +take no Place here. And therefore we must return +to our first Reason, which is universal, for +all Seasons of the Year and all Climates; and +seeing we are assur’d that there are subterraneous +Channels and Passages, for Rivers often fall into +the Ground, and sometimes rise again, and +sometimes never return; why should we doubt +to ascribe this Effect to so obvious a Cause? Nay, +I believe, the very Ocean doth evacuate it self +by subterraneous Out-lets; for considering what +a prodigious Mass of Water falls into it every +Day from the wide Mouths of all the Rivers of +the Earth, it must have Out-lets proportionable; +and those <i>Syrtes</i> or great Whirlpools, that +are constant in certain Parts or Sinus’s of the Sea, +as upon the Coast of <i>Norway</i> and of <i>Italy</i>, arise +probably from subterraneous Out-lets in those +Places, whereby the Water sinks, and turns, and +draws into it whatsoever comes within such a +Compass; and if there was no Issue at the Bottom, +tho’ it might by contrary Currents turn +Things round within its Sphere, yet there is +no Reason from that, why it should suck them +down to the Bottom. Neither does it seem improbable, +that the Currents of the Sea are from +<span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>these In-draughts, and that there is always a submarine +In-let in some part of them, to make a +Circulation of the Waters. But thus much for +the subterraneous Communication of Seas +and Lakes.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> thus much in general concerning subterraneous +Cavities, and concerning the hollow +and broken Frame of the Earth. If I had +now Magick enough to shew you at one View +all the Inside of the Earth, which we have imperfectly +describ’d; if we could go under the +Roots of the Mountains, and into the Sides of +the broken Rocks; or could dive into the Earth +with one of those Rivers that sink under Ground, +and follow its Course and all its Windings till +it rise again, or led us to the Sea, we should have +a much stronger and more effectual <i>Idea</i> of the +broken Form of the Earth, than any we can +excite by these faint Descriptions collected from +Reason. The Ancients I remember us’d to represent +these hollow Caves and subterraneous +Regions in the Nature of a <i>World</i> under Ground, +and suppos’d it inhabited by the <i>Nymphs</i>, especially +the <i>Nymphs</i> of the Waters and the Sea-Goddesses; +so <i>Orpheus</i> sung of old; and in Imitation +of him <i>Virgil</i> hath made a Description +of those Regions; feigning the Nymph <i>Cyrene</i> +to send for her Son to come down to her, and +make her a Visit in those Shades where Mortals +were not admitted.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Duc age, duc ad nos, fas illi limina Divum</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Tangere, ait: Simul alta jubet discedere late</i></div> + <div class='line'><i><span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span>Flumina, qua juvenis gressus inferret, at illum</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Curvata in momis faciem circumstitit unda,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Accepitque sinu vasto, misitque sub amnem.</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Jamq; domum mirans genetricis & humida regna,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Speluncisque lacos clausos, lucosque sonantes,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Ibat, & ingenti motu stupefactus aquarum</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Omnia sub magna labentia flumina terra</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Spectabat diversa locis; Phasimque Licumque,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Et Thalami matris pendentia pumice tecta, &c.</i></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Virgil.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Come lead the Youth below, bring him to me,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>The Gods are pleas’d our Mansions he should see;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Straight she commands the Floods to make him Way,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>They open their wide Bosom and obey;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Soft is the Path, and easy is his Tread,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>A watry Arch bends o’er his dewy Head;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And as he goes he wonders, and looks round,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>To see this new found Kingdom under Ground.</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>The silent Lakes in hollow Caves he sees,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And on their Banks an ecchoing Grove of Trees;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>The Fall of Waters ’mongst the Rocks below</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>He hears, and sees the Rivers how they flow:</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>All the great Rivers of the Earth are there,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Prepar’d, as in a Womb, by Nature’s Care.</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Last, to his Mother’s Bed chamber he’s brought,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Where the high Roof with Pumice-stone is wrought, &c.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>If we now could open the Earth as this <i>Nymph</i> +did the Water, and go down into the Bosom of +it; see all the dark Chambers and Apartments +there, how ill contriv’d, and how ill kept; so +<span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>many Holes and Corners, some fill’d with Smoak +and Fire, some with Water, and some with Vapours +and mouldy Air; how like a Ruin it lies +gaping and torn in the Parts of it; We should +not easily believe that God created it into this +Form immediately out of nothing: It would have +cost no more to have made Things in better Order; +nay, it had been more easy and more simple: +And accordingly we are assured that all Things +were made at first in Beauty and Proportion. +And if we consider Nature and the Manner of +the first Formation of the Earth, ’tis evident +that there could be no such Holes and Caverns, +nor broken Pieces, made then in the Body of it; +for the grosser Parts of the Chaos falling down +towards the Center, they would there compose +a Mass of Earth uniform and compact, the Water +swimming above it; and this first Mass under +the Water could have no Caverns or Vacuities +in it; for if it had any, the earthy Parts, +while the Mass was liquid or semi-liquid, would +have sunk into them and fill’d them up, expelling +the Air or Water that was there; and when +afterwards there came to be a Crust or new Earth +form’d upon the Face of the Waters, there could +be no Cavities, no Dens, no Fragments in it, no +more than in the other; and for the same general +Reason, <i>that is</i>, passing from a liquid Form +into a concrete or solid, leisurely and by degrees, +it would slow and settle together in an entire +Mass; there being nothing broken, nor any +Thing hard, to bear the Parts off from one another, +or to intercept any empty Spaces between +them.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> manifest then, that the Earth could not +be in this cavernous Form originally, by any +Work of Nature, nor by any immediate Action +of God, seeing there is neither Use nor Beauty +in this kind of Construction. Do we not then, +as reasonably, as aptly, ascribe it to that Desolation +that was brought upon the Earth in the +general Deluge, when its outward Frame was +dissolv’d and fell into the great Abyss? How +easily doth this answer all that we have observ’d +concerning the subterraneous Regions? That +hollow and broken Posture of Things under +Ground, all those Caves and Holes, and blind +Recesses, that are otherwise so unaccountable, +say but that they are a <i>Ruin</i>, and you have in +one Word explain’d them all. For there is no +sort of Cavities, interior or exterior, great or +little, open or shut, wet or dry, of what Form +or Fashion soever, but we might reasonably expect +them in a Ruin of that Nature. And as for +the subterraneous Waters, seeing the Earth fell +into the Abyss, the Pillars and Foundations of +the present (exterior) Earth must stand immers’d +in Water, and therefore at such a Depth from +the Surface every where, there must be Water +found, if the Soil be of a Nature to admit it. +’Tis true, all subterraneous Waters do not proceed +from this Original, for many of them are +the Effects of Rains and melted Snows sunk into +the Earth; but that in digging any where you +constantly come to Water at length, even in the +most solid Ground, this cannot proceed from +these Rains or Snows, but must come from below, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>and from a Cause as general as the Effect +is; which can be no other in my Judgment +than this, that the Roots of the exterior Earth +stand within the old Abyss, whereof, as a great +Part lies open in the Sea, so the rest lies hid and +cover’d among the Fragments of the Earth; +sometimes dispers’d and only moistning the +Parts, as our Blood lies in the Flesh, and in +the Habit of the Body; sometimes in greater +or lesser Masses, as the Blood in our Vessels. +And this I take to be the true Account of +subterraneous Waters, as distinguish’d from Fountains +and Rivers, and from the Matter and +Causes of them.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much we have spoke to give a general +<i>Idea</i> of the inward Parts of the Earth, and +an easy Explication of them by our <i>Hypothesis</i>; +which whether it be true or no, if you compare +it impartially with Nature, you will confess at +least, that all these Things are just in such a +Form and Posture as if it was true.</p> +<h3 id='chap-1-10' class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='ten'>X.</abbr></span></h3> +<p class='c012'><i>Concerning the Channel of the Sea, and the Original +of it; The Causes of its irregular Form and +unequal Depths: As also of the Original of +Islands, their Situation and other Properties.</i></p> +<p class='c008'>We have hitherto given an Account of the +subterraneous Regions, and of their general +Form; We now come above Ground to +view the Surface of the Globe, which we find +<i>Terraqueous</i>, or divided into Sea and Land: +<span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span>These we must survey, and what is remarkable +in them as to their Frame and Structure, we +must give an Account of from our <i>Hypothesis</i>, +and shew to be unaccountable from any other +yet known.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>As</span> for the Ocean, there are two things considerable +in it, the Water and the Channel that +contains it. The Water no doubt is as ancient +as the Earth, and cotemporary with it, and we +suppose it to be part of the great Abyss wherein +the World was drown’d; the rest lying cover’d +under the Hollow Fragments of Continents +and Islands. But that is not so much the Subject +of our present Discourse as the Channel of the +Ocean, that vast and prodigious Cavity that runs +quite round the Globe, and reacheth, for ought +we know, from Pole to Pole, and in many +Places is unsearchably deep: When I present +this great Gulf to my Imagination, emptied of +all its Waters, naked and gaping at the Sun, +stretching its Jaws from one End of the Earth to +another, it appears to me the most ghastly thing +in Nature. What Hands or Instruments could +work a Trench in the Body of the Earth of this +vastness, and lay Mountains and Rocks on the +side of it, as Ramparts to enclose it?</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> as we justly admire its Greatness, so we +cannot at all admire its Beauty or Elegancy, for +’tis as deform’d and irregular as it is great. And +there appearing nothing of Order, or any regular +Design in its Parts, it seems reasonable to +believe that it was not the Work of Nature, according +to her first Intention, or according to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>the first Model that was drawn in Measure and +Proportion by the Line and by the Plummet, +but a secondary Work, and the best that could +be made of broken Materials. And upon this +Supposition ’tis easy to imagine, how upon the +Dissolution of the Primæval Earth, the Channel +of the Sea was made, or that huge Cavity that +lies between the several Continents of the Earth; +which shall be more particularly explain’d after +we have view’d a little better the Form of +it, and the Islands that lie scatter’d by its Shores.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>There</span> is no Cavity in the Earth, whether +open or subterraneous, that is comparably so +great as that of the Ocean, nor would any appear +of that Deformity if we could see it empty. +The Inside of a Cave is rough and unsightly; +the Beds of great Rivers and great Lakes, +when they are laid dry, look very raw and rude, +the Valleys of the Earth, if they were naked, +without Trees and without Grass, nothing but +bare Ground and bare Stones, from the tops of +their Mountains, would have a ghastly Aspect; +but the Sea-Channel is the Complex of all +these; here Caves, empty Lakes, naked Valleys +are represented as in their Original, or rather +far exceeded and out-done as to all their +Irregularities; for the Cavity of the Ocean is +universally irregular, both as to the Shores and +Borders of it; as to the uncertain Breadth and +the uncertain Depth of its several Parts, and as +to its Ground and Bottom and the whole Mould: +If the Sea had been drawn round the Earth in +regular Figures and Borders, it might have been +<span class='pageno' id='Page_175'>175</span>a great Beauty to our Globe, and we should +reasonably have concluded it a Work of the +first Creation, or of Nature’s first Production; +but finding on the contrary all the Marks of +Disorder and Disproportion in it, we may as +reasonably conclude, that it did not belong to +the first Order of Things, but was something +succedaneous, when the Degeneracy of Mankind, +and the Judgments of God had destroyed +the first World, and subjected the Creation to +some kind of Vanity.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Nor</span> can it easily be imagin’d, if the Sea had +been always, and the Earth, in this <i>Terraqueous</i> +Form, broke into Continents and Islands, +how Mankind could have been propagated at +first thro’ the Face of the Earth, all from one +Head and from one Place. For Navigation was +not then known, at least as to the Grand Ocean, +or to pass from Continent to Continent; and +I believe <i>Noah</i>’s Ark was the first Ship, or Vessel +of Bulk, that ever was built in the World; how +could then the Posterity of <i>Adam</i> overflow the +Earth, and stock the several Parts of the World, +if they had been distant or separate then, as +they are now, by the Interposal of the great +Ocean? But this Consideration we will insist +upon more largely in another Place; let us reflect +upon the Irregularities of the Sea-Channel +again, and the possible Causes of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>If</span> we could imagine the Channel of the +Sea to have been made as we may imagine the +Channel of Rivers to have been, by long and +insensible Attrition, the Water wearing by +<span class='pageno' id='Page_176'>176</span>degrees the Ground under it, by the Force it +hath from its Descent and Course, we should +not wonder at its irregular Form; but ’tis not +possible this Channel should have had any such +Original; whence should its Water have descended, +from what Mountains, or from what +Clouds? Where is the Spring-head of the Sea? +What Force could eat away half the Surface +of the Earth; and wear it hollow to an immeasurable +Depth? This must not be from feeble +and lingring Causes, such as the Attrition +of Waters, but from some great Violence offer’d +to Nature, such as we suppose to have been in +the general Deluge, when the Frame of the Earth +was broken. And after we have a little survey’d +the Sea-Coast, and, so far as we can, the Form +of the Sea-Channel, we shall the more easily +believe that they could have no other Original +than what we assign.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Shores and Coasts of the Sea are no +way equal or uniform, but go in a Line uncertainly +crooked and broke; indented and jagg’d +as a thing torn, as you may see in the Maps of +the Coasts and the Sea-charts; and yet there are +innumerable more Inequalities than are taken +Notice of in those Draughts; for they only mark +the greater Promontories and Bays; but there +are besides those a Multitude of Creeks and Out-lets, +Necks of Land and Angles, which break +the Evenness of the Shore in all manner of +Ways. Then the Height and Level of the +Shore is as uncertain as the Line of it; ’tis +sometimes high and sometimes low, sometimes +<span class='pageno' id='Page_177'>177</span>spread in sandy Plains, as smooth as the Sea it +self, and of such an equal Height with it, that +the Waves seem to have no Bounds, but the +meer Figure and Convexity of the Globe; in +other Places ’tis rais’d into Banks and Ramparts +of Earth, and in others ’tis wall’d in with +Rocks; and all this without any Order that we +can observe, or any other Reason than that +this is what might be expected in a Ruin.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>As</span> to the Depths and Soundings of the Sea, +they are under no Rule nor Equality, any more +than the Figures of the Shores; Shallows in +some Places, and Gulphs in others; Beds of Sands +sometimes, and sometimes Rocks under Water; +as Navigators have learn’d by a long and dangerous +Experience: And tho’ we that are upon +dry Land, are not much concern’d how the +Rocks and the Shelves lie in the Sea, yet a poor +Shipwreckt-Mariner, when he hath run his Vessel +upon a Rock in the middle of the Channel, +expostulates bitterly with Nature, who it was +that plac’d that Rock there, and to what purpose? +Was there not Room enough, saith he, +upon the Land, or the Shore, to lay your great +Stones, but they must be thrown into the middle +of the Sea, as it were in spite to Navigation? +The best Apology that can be made for +Nature in this Case, so far as I know, is to confess, +that the whole Business of the Sea-Channel +is but a Ruin, and in a Ruin Things tumble +uncertainly, and commonly lie in Confusion: +Tho’ to speak the Truth, it seldom happens, +unless in narrow Seas, that Rocks, or Banks, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_178'>178</span>or Islands, lie in the middle of them, or very +far from the Shores.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Having</span> view’d the more visible Parts of the +Channel of the Sea, we must now descend to +the Bottom of it, and see the Form and Contrivance +of that; but who shall guide us in our +Journey, while we walk, as <i>Job</i> saith, <i>Chap. +<abbr title='thirty-eight'>xxxviii.</abbr> 16.</i> in the search of the Deep? Or +who can make a Description of that which +none hath seen? It is reasonable to believe, that +the Bottom of the Sea is much more rugged, +broken and irregular than the Face of the Land. +There are Mountains, and Valleys, and Rocks, +and Ridges of Rocks, and all the common Inequalities +we see upon Land; beside these, ’tis +very likely there are Caves under Water, and +hollow Passages into the Bowels of the Earth, +by which the Seas circulate and communicate +one with another, and with subterraneous Waters; +those great <i>Eddies</i> and infamous <i>Syrtes</i> +and Whirpools that are in some Seas, as the +<i>Baltick</i> and the <i>Mediterranean</i>, that suck into +them and overwhelm whatever comes within +their reach, shew that there is something below +that sucks from them in Proportion, and +that drinks up the Sea, as the Sea drinks up the +Rivers. We ought also to imagine the Shores +within the Water to go inclin’d and sloping, but +with great Inequality; there are many Shelves in +the way, and Chambers, and sharp Angles; and +many broken Rocks and great Stones lie rolled +down to the Bottom.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> true these things affect us little, because +<span class='pageno' id='Page_179'>179</span>they are not expos’d to our Senses; and we seldom +give our selves the trouble to collect from +Reason what the Form of the invisible and inaccessible +Parts of the Earth is; or if we do sometimes, +those <i>Ideas</i> are faint and weak, and +make no lasting Impression upon our Imagination +and Passions; but if we should suppose the +Ocean dry, and that we look’d down from the +Top of some high Cloud upon the empty Shell, +how horridly and barbarously would it look? +And with what Amazement should we see it +under us like an open Hell, or a wide bottomless +Pit? So deep, and hollow, and vast; so +broken and confus’d, so every way deform’d +and monstrous. This would effectually waken +our Imagination, and make us enquire and +wonder how such a thing came in Nature; from +what Causes, by what Force or Engines could +the Earth be torn in this prodigious manner? +Did they dig the Sea with Spades, and +carry out the Molds in Hand-baskets? Where +are the Entrails laid? and how did they cleave +the Rocks asunder? If as many Pioneers as the +Army of <i>Xerxes</i> had been at Work ever since +the Beginning of the World, they could not +have made a Ditch of this Greatness. Nor is it +the Greatness only, but that wild and multifarious +Confusion which we see in the Parts and +Fashion of it, that makes it strange and unaccountable; +’tis another Chaos in its kind; who +can paint the Scenes of it? Gulphs, and Precipices, +and Cataracts; Pits within Pits, and Rocks +under Rocks, broken Mountains and ragged +<span class='pageno' id='Page_180'>180</span>Islands, that look as if they had been Countries +pull’d up by the Roots, and planted in the Sea.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>If</span> we could make true and full Representations +of these things to our selves, I think we +should not be so bold as to make them the immediate +Product of Divine Omnipotence; being +destitute of all Appearance of Art or Counsel. +The first Orders of things are more perfect +and regular; and this <i>Decorum</i> seems to be observ’d, +that Nature doth not fall into Disorder +till Mankind be first degenerate and leads the +way. Monsters have been often made an Argument +against Providence; if a Calf have two +Heads, or five Legs, straight there must not be +a God in Heaven, or at least not upon Earth; and +yet this is but a Chance that happens once in +many Years, and is of no consequence at all to +the rest of the World: But if we make the standing +Frame of Nature monstrous, or deform’d and +disproportion’d, and to have been so not by Corruption +and Degeneracy, but immediately by +divine Creation or Formation, it would not be +so easy to answer that Objection against Providence. +Let us therefore prevent this Imputation; +and supposing, according to our Theory, +that these Things were not originally thus, let +us now explain more distinctly how they came +to pass at the Deluge, or upon the Dissolution +of the first Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> we will not content our selves with a +general Answer to these Observations concerning +the Sea-Channel, as if it was a sufficient +Account of them to say they were the Effects +<span class='pageno' id='Page_181'>181</span>of a Ruin; there are other things to be consider’d +and explain’d beside this Irregularity, as +the vast Hollowness of this Cavity, bigger incomparably +than any other belonging to the +Earth; and also the Declivity of the Sides of it, +which lie shelving from Top to Bottom: For +notwithstanding all the Inequalities we have +taken Notice of in the Channel of the Sea, it +hath one general Form, which may, though under +many Differences, be observed throughout, +and that is, that the Shores and Sides within +the Water lie inclin’d, and you descend by degrees +to the deepest Part which is towards the +Middle. This, I know, admits of many Exceptions; +for sometimes upon a rocky Shore, or +among rocky Islands, the Sea is very deep close +to the Rocks, and the deeper, commonly the +higher and steeper the Rocks are. Also where +the Descent is more leisurely, ’tis often after a +different Manner, in some Coasts more equal +and uniform, in others more broken and interrupted; +but still there is a Descent to the Channel +or deepest Part, and this in the deep Ocean +is fathomless; and such a deep Ocean, and such +a deep Channel there is always between Continents. +This, I think, is a Property as determinate +as any we can pitch upon in the Channel +of the Sea, and with those other two mention’d; +its vast Cavity, and universal Irregularity, is all +one can desire an Account of, as to the Form of +it; we will therefore from this Ground take +our Rise and first Measures for the Explication +of the Sea-Channel.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_182'>182</span><span class='sc'>Let</span> us suppose then in the Dissolution of +the Earth, when it began to fall, that it was divided +only into three or four Fragments, according +to the Number of our Continents; but those +Fragments being vastly great could not descend +at their full Breadth and Expansion, or at least +could not descend so fast in the Middle, as towards +the Extremities; because the Air about +the Edges would yield and give Place easily, not +having far to go, to get out of the Way; but +the Air that was under the Middle of the Fragment +could not without a very swift Motion +get from under the Concave of it, and consequently +its Descent there would be more resisted +and suspended; but the Sides in the mean +time would continually descend, bending the +Fragment with their Weight, and so making it +of a lesser Compass and Expansion than it was +before: And by this Means there would be an +Interval and Distance made between the two +falling Fragments, and a good Part of the Abyss, +after their Descent, would lie uncover’d in the +Middle betwixt them; as may be seen in the +annex’d Figure, where the Fragments A. B. +bending downwards in their Extremities, separate +as they go, and after they are faln, leave a +good Space in the Abyss betwixt them altogether +uncover’d: This Space is the main Channel +of the great Ocean, lying betwixt two Continents; +and the inclining Sides shew the Declivity +of the Shores.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig1-9-1.jpg' alt='Fragments are starting to break into Continents.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 Figure 9 Fig. 1.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig1-9-2.jpg' alt='The Fragments have Fallen like double Doors.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 Figure 9 Fig. 3.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> we have represented here only in a +Ring or Circle of the Earth, in the first Figure; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_183'>183</span>but it may be better represented in a broader +Surface, as in the second Figure, where the two +Fragments <abbr class='spell'>A. B.</abbr> that are to make the two opposite +Continents, fall in like double Doors, +opening downwards, the Hinges being towards +the Land on either Side, so as at the Bottom +they leave in the Middle betwixt them a deep +Channel of Water, <abbr class='spell'><i>a. a. a.</i></abbr> such as is betwixt +all Continents; and the Water reaching a good +Height upon the Land on either Side, makes +Sea there too, but shallower, and by degrees +you descend into the deepest Channel.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig1-9-3.jpg' alt='The great Disorder in the Chasm between the Fragments.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 Figure 9 Fig. 3.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> gives an Account of two Things that +we mention’d to be consider’d and explain’d as +to the Sea, how the great Cavity of its Channel +was made, and how it was made in that +general Form of Declivity in its Sides from the +Land: The third Thing was the Irregularities +of it, both as to its various Depths, and as to +the Form of the Shores and of the Bottom. And +this is as easily and naturally explain’d from the +same Supposition as the former two; for tho’ +we have hitherto represented the Fragments +<abbr class='spell'>A. B.</abbr> as even and regular after their Fall, because +that was most simple, and there was no +occasion then to represent them otherwise, yet +we must suppose, that as soon as in their Fall +they hit upon the Top or Bottom of the Abyss, +that great Force and Weight with which they +descended broke off all the Edges and Extremities, +and so made innumerable Ruptures and +Inequalities in the Shores, and as many within +the Sea, and at the Bottom; where the broken +<span class='pageno' id='Page_184'>184</span>Rocks and Lumps of Earth would lie in all imaginable +Disorder; as you may conceive from +the <i>third Figure</i>. For when the Motion came +on a sudden to be obstructed, the Load of the +Fragment still pressing it forwards, such a Concussion +arose, as made thousands of lesser Fragments, +of all Shapes and Magnitudes, and in all +Postures and Forms, and most of them irregular. +And by these Fractions and secondary Ruins +the Line of the Shores was broken, and the Level +of them too: In some Places they would +stand high, in others low, sometimes rough, and +sometimes even, and generally crooked, with +Angles and In-lets, and uncertain Windings. +The Bottom also by the same Stroke was diversify’d +into all Manner of Forms, sometimes rocky +with Pits and Gulphs, and sometimes spread +in plain Beds, sometimes shallow, and sometimes +deep; for those Differences would depend only +upon the Situation of the secondary Fragments; +and so it might come to pass, that some +Places near the Shore might be excessive deep +when a Rock or Rocks stood in a steep Posture, +as (<i>Figure 3.</i>) <abbr class='spell'><i>b. b. b.</i></abbr> and, on the contrary, +sometimes Places much more advanc’d into the +Ocean might be less deep, where a Fragment +of Earth lay under Water, or one bore up another, +as <abbr class='spell'><i>c. c. c.</i></abbr> but these Cases would not be +very frequent. To conclude, There are no Properties +of the Sea-channel, that I know of, nor +Differences or Irregularities in the Form of it, +which this <i>Hypothesis</i> doth not give a fair Account +of: And having thus far open’d the Way +<span class='pageno' id='Page_185'>185</span>and laid down the general Grounds for their +Explication, other things that are more minute, +we leave to the Curiosity of particular Genius’s; +being unwilling to clog the Theory at +first with things that may seem unnecessary. We +proceed now to the Consideration of Islands.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> must in the first Place distinguish between +<i>Original</i> Islands and <i>Fictitious</i> Islands: +Those I call fictitious, that are not of the same +Date and Antiquity with the Sea, but have been +made some at one time, some at another, by +accidental Causes, as the Aggestion of Sands +and Sand-beds, or the Sea leaving the Tops of +some shallow Places that lie high, and yet flowing +about the lower Skirts of them; these make +sandy and plain Islands, that have no high Land +in them, and are but Mock-Islands in effect. +Others are made by Divulsion from some Continent, +when an Isthmus, or the Neck of a Promontory +running into the Sea, sinks or falls in, +by an Earthquake or otherwise, and the Sea entring +in at the Gap passeth through, and makes +that Promontory or Country become an Island. +Thus the Island <i>Sicily</i> is suppos’d to have been +made, and all <i>Africa</i> might be an Island, if the +Isthmus between the <i>Mediterranean</i> and the red +Sea should sink down. And these Islands may +have Rocks and Mountains in them, if the Land +had so before. Lastly, There are Islands that have +been said to rise from the Bottom of the Sea; +History mentions such in both the <i>Archipelago</i>’s, +<i>Ægæan</i> and <i>Indian</i>; and this seems to argue +that there are great Fragments or Tracts of Earth +<span class='pageno' id='Page_186'>186</span>that lie loose at the Bottom of the Sea, or that +are not incorporated with the Ground; which +agrees very well with our Explication of the +Sea-Channel.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> beside these Islands, and the several Sorts +of them, there are others which I call <i>Original</i>; +because they could not be produc’d in any of +the forementioned Ways, but are of the same +Origin and Antiquity with the Channel of the +Sea; and such are the Generality of our Islands; +they were not made of Heaps of Sands, nor torn +from any Continent, but are as ancient as the +Continents themselves, namely, ever since the +Deluge, the common Parent of them both. +Nor is there any Difficulty to understand how +Islands were made at the Dissolution of the +Earth, any more than how Continents were +made; for Islands are but lesser Continents, or +Continents greater Islands; and according as +Continents were made of greater Masses of +Earth, or greater Fragments standing above the +Water, so Islands were made of less, but so big +always, and in such a Posture, as to bear their +Tops above the Water. Yet tho’ they agree thus +far, there is a particular Difference to be taken +notice of, as to their Origin; for the Continents +were made of those three or four primary Masses +into which the falling Orb of the Earth was divided, +but the Islands were made of the Fractures +of these, and broken off by the Fall, from +the Skirts and Extremities of the Continents: +We noted before, that when those great Masses +and primary Fragments came to dash upon +<span class='pageno' id='Page_187'>187</span>the Abyss in their Fall, the sudden Stop of the +Motion, and the weighty Bulk of the descending +Fragment broke off all the Edges and Extremities +of it, which Edges and Extremities +broken off made the Islands; and accordingly +we see that they generally lie scatter’d along the +Sides of the Continents, and are but Splinters, +as it were, of those greater Bodies. ’Tis true, +beside these, there were an infinite Number of +other Pieces broke off that do not appear, some +making Rocks under Water, some Shallows and +Banks in the Sea; but the greatest of them when +they fell either one upon another, or in such a +Posture as to prop up one another, their Heads +and higher Parts would stand out of the Water +and make Islands.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> I conceive the Islands of the Sea were +at first produc’d; we cannot wonder therefore +that they should be so numerous, or far more +numerous than the Continents; these are the +Parents, and those are the Children; nor can +we wonder to see along the Sides of the Continents +several Islands, or Sets of Islands, sown, +as it were, by Handfuls, or laid in Trains; for +the Manner of their Generation would lead us +to think they would be so plac’d. So the <i>American</i> +Islands lie scatter’d upon the Coast of that +Continent; the <i>Maldivian</i> and <i>Philippine</i> upon +the <i>East-India</i> Shore, and the <i>Hesperides</i> upon +the <i>Africk</i>; and there seldom happen to be +any towards the Middle of the Ocean, tho’ by +an Accident, that also might come to pass. Lastly, +It suits very well with our Explication, that +<span class='pageno' id='Page_188'>188</span>there should be Mountains and Rocks, sometimes +in Clusters, sometimes in long Chains, in +all Islands; (as we find there are in all that are +true and original) for ’tis that makes them high +enough to appear above the Water, and strong +enough to continue and preserve themselves in +that high Situation.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> thus much may suffice for a summary +Explication of the Causes of the Sea-Channel +and Islands, according to our <i>Hypothesis</i>.</p> +<h3 id='chap-1-11' class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='eleven'>XI.</abbr></span></h3> +<p class='c012'><i>Concerning the Mountains of the Earth, their +Greatness and irregular Form, their Situation, +Causes, and Origin.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have been in the Hollows of the Earth, +and the Chambers of the Deep, amongst +the Damps and Steams of those lower Regions; +let us now go air our selves on the Tops of +the Mountains, where we shall have a more free +and large Horizon, and quite another Face of +Things will present it self to our Observation.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> greatest Objects of Nature are, methinks, +the most pleasing to behold; and next to the +great Concave of the Heavens, and those boundless +Regions where the Stars inhabit, there is +nothing that I look upon with more Pleasure +than the wide Sea and the Mountains of the +Earth. There is something august and stately +in the Air of these things, that inspires the +Mind with great Thoughts and Passions; we +do naturally, upon such Occasions, think of God +<span class='pageno' id='Page_189'>189</span>and his Greatness: And whatsoever hath but +the Shadow and Appearance of <span class='sc'>Infinite</span>, as +all Things have that are too big for our Comprehension, +they fill and over-bear the Mind +with their Excess, and cast it into a pleasing kind +of Stupor and Admiration.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> yet these Mountains we are speaking of, +to confess the Truth, are nothing but great +Ruins; but such as shew a certain Magnificence +in Nature; as from old Temples and broken +Amphitheatres of the <i>Romans</i> we collect the +Greatness of that People. But the Grandeur of +a Nation is less sensible to those that never see +the Remains and Monuments they have left; +and those who never see the mountainous +Parts of the Earth scarce ever reflect upon the +Causes of them, or what Power in Nature could +be sufficient to produce them. The Truth is, the +Generality of People have not Sense and Curiosity +enough to raise a Question concerning +these things, or concerning the Original of +them. You may tell them that Mountains grow +out of the Earth like Fuzz-balls, or that there +are Monsters under Ground, that throw up +Mountains as Moles do Mole-hills; they will +scarce raise one Objection against your Doctrine. +Or if you would appear more Learned, tell +them that the Earth is a great Animal, and these +are Wens that grow upon its Body; this would +pass current for Philosophy; so much is the +World drown’d in Stupidity and sensual Pleasures, +and so little inquisitive into the Works +of God and Nature.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_190'>190</span><span class='sc'>There</span> is nothing doth more awaken our +Thoughts, or excite our Minds to enquire into +the Causes of such Things, than the actual +View of them; as I have had Experience my +self, when it was my Fortune to cross the <i>Alps</i> +and <i>Apennine</i> Mountains; for the Sight of those +wild, vast, and indigested Heaps of Stones and +Earth did so deeply strike my Fancy, that I was +not easy ’till I could give my self some tolerable +Account how that Confusion came in Nature, +’Tis true, the Height of Mountains compar’d +with the Diameter of the Earth is not +considerable, but the Extent of them and the +Ground they stand upon bears a considerable +Proportion to the Surface of the Earth; and if +from <i>Europe</i> we may take our Measures for the +rest, I easily believe, that the Mountains do at +least take up the Tenth Part of the dry Land. +The Geographers are not very careful to describe +or note in their Charts the Multitude +or Situation of Mountains; They mark the +Bounds of Countries, the Site of Cities and +Towns, and the Course of Rivers, because +these are Things of chief Use to Civil Affairs +and Commerce, and that they design to +serve, and not Philosophy or natural History. +But <i>Cluverius</i>, in his Description of <i>Ancient +Germany</i>, <i>Switzerland</i>, and <i>Italy</i>, hath +given Maps of those Countries more approaching +to the natural Face of them, and we have +drawn (at the end of this Chapter) such a Map +of either Hemisphere, without marking Countries +or Towns, or any such artificial Things; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_191'>191</span>distinguishing only Land and Sea, Islands and +Continents, Mountains and not Mountains; +and ’tis very useful to imagine the Earth in this +Manner, and to look often upon such bare +Draughts, as shew us <i>Nature</i> undrest; for then +we are best able to judge what her true Shapes +and Proportions are.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> certain that we naturally imagine the +Surface of the Earth much more regular than +it is; for unless we be in some mountainous +Parts, there seldom occur any great Inequalities +within so much Compass of Ground as we can +at once reach with our Eye; and to conceive +the rest, we multiply the same <i>Idea</i>, and extend +it to those Parts of the Earth that we do not see, +and so fancy the whole Globe much more +smooth and uniform than it is. But suppose +a Man was carried asleep out of a plain Country +amongst the <i>Alps</i>, and left there upon the +Top of one of the highest Mountains, when he +wak’d and look’d about him, he wou’d think +himself in an inchanted Country, or carried into +another World; every Thing wou’d appear +to him so different to what he had ever seen or +imagin’d before. To see on every Hand of him +a Multitude of vast Bodies thrown together in +Confusion, as those Mountains are; Rocks standing +naked round about him; and the hollow +Valleys gaping under him; and at his Feet, it +may be, an Heap of frozen Snow in the midst +of Summer. He would hear the Thunder come +from below, and see the black Clouds hanging +beneath him; upon such a Prospect it would +<span class='pageno' id='Page_192'>192</span>not be easy to him to persuade himself that he +was still upon the same Earth; but if he did, he +would be convinc’d, at least, that there are some +Regions of it strangely rude, and ruin-like, and +very different from what he had ever thought +of before. But the Inhabitants of these wild +Places are even with us; for those that live amongst +the <i>Alps</i>, and the great Mountains, +think that all the rest of the Earth is like their +Country, all broken into Mountains, and Valleys, +and Precipices; they never see other, and +most People think of nothing but what they +have seen at one time or an other.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>These</span> <i>Alps</i> we are speaking of are the greatest +Range of Mountains in <i>Europe</i>; and ’tis prodigious +to see and to consider of what extent +these Heaps of Stones and Rubbish are; one +way they over-spread <i>Savoy</i> and <i>Dauphine</i>, and +reach thro’ <i>France</i> to the <i>Pyrenean</i> Mountains, +and so to the Ocean. The other way they run +along the Skirts of <i>Germany</i>, thro’ <i>Styria</i>, <i>Pannonia</i>, +and <i>Dalmatia</i>, as far as <i>Thrace</i> and the +Black Sea. Then backwards they cover <i>Switzerland</i> +and the Parts adjacent; and that Branch of +them which we call the <i>Apennines</i> strikes thro’ +<i>Italy</i>, and is, as it were, the Back-bone of that +Country. This must needs be a large Space of +Ground which they stand upon; yet ’tis not this +Part of <i>Europe</i> only that is laden with Mountains, +the Northern Part is as rough and rude +in the Face of the Country, as in the Manners +of the People; <i>Bohemia</i>, <i>Silesia</i>, <i>Denmark</i>, <i>Norway</i>, +<i>Sweedland</i>, <i>Lapland</i>, and <i>Iseland</i>, and all +<span class='pageno' id='Page_193'>193</span>the Coasts of the <i>Baltick Sea</i>, are full of Clifts, +and Rocks, and Crags of Mountains: Besides +the <i>Riphean</i> Mountains in <i>Muscovy</i>, which the +Inhabitants there use to call the <i>Stone-girdle</i>, +and believe that it girds the Earth round about.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Nor</span> are the other Parts of our Continent +more free from Mountains than <i>Europe</i>, nor +other Parts of the Earth than our Continent; +They are in the New World as well as the Old; +and if they could discover two or three New +Worlds or Continents more, they would still +find them there. Neither is there any Original +Island upon the Earth, but is either all a Rock, +or hath Rocks of Mountains in it. And all the +dry Land, and every Continent, is but a kind +of Mountain; tho’ that Mountain hath a Multitude +of lesser ones, and Valleys, and Plains, and +Lakes, and Marshes, and all Variety of Grounds.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> <i>America</i>, the <i>Andes</i>, or a Ridge of Mountains +so call’d, are reported to be higher than +any we have, reaching above a Thousand +Leagues in Length, and Twenty in Breadth, +where they are the narrowest. In <i>Africk</i> the +Mountain <i>Atlas</i>, that for its height was said +to bear the Heavens on its Back, runs all along +from the Western Sea to the Borders of <i>Ægypt</i>, +parallel with the <i>Mediterranean</i>. There +also are the Mountains of the <i>Moon</i>, and many +more, whereof we have but an imperfect Account, +as neither indeed of that Country in the +remote and inner Parts of it. <i>Asia</i> is better +known, and the Mountains thereof better describ’d: +<i>Taurus</i>, which is the principal, was adjudg’d +<span class='pageno' id='Page_194'>194</span>by the Ancient Geographers the greatest +in the World. It divides <i>Asia</i> into two Parts, +which have their Denomination from it: And +there is an <i>Anti-Taurus</i> the greater and the less, +which accordingly divide <i>Armenia</i> into greater +and less. Then the <i>Cruciform</i> Mountains of +<i>Imaus</i>, the famous <i>Caucasus</i>, the long Chains +of <i>Tartary</i> and <i>China</i>, and the rocky and mountainous +<i>Arabia</i>. If one could at once have a Prospect +of all these together, one would be easily +satisfied, that the Globe of the Earth is a +more rude and indigested Body than ’tis commonly +imagin’d; if one could see, I say, all the +Kingdoms and Regions of the Earth at one +view, how they lie in broken Heaps; the Sea +hath overwhelmed one half of them, and what +remains are but the taller Parts of a Ruin. Look +upon those great Ranges of Mountains in <i>Europe</i> +or in <i>Asia</i>, whereof we have given a short +Survey; in what Confusion do they lie? They +have neither Form nor Beauty, nor Shape, nor +Order, no more than the Clouds in the Air. +Then how barren, how desolate, how naked are +they? How they stand neglected by Nature? +Neither the Rains can soften them, nor the +Dews from Heaven make them fruitful.</p> + +<p class='c004'>I have given this short Account of the Mountains +of the Earth, to help to remove that Prejudice +we are apt to have, or that Conceit, that +the present Earth <i>is regularly form’d</i>. And to +this Purpose I do not doubt but that it would +be of very good Use to have <i>natural</i> Maps of +the Earth, as we noted before, as well as <i>civil</i>; +and done with the same Care and Judgment.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_195'>195</span>Our common Maps I call <i>Civil</i>, which note +the Distinction of Countries and of Cities, and +represent the Artificial Earth as inhabited and +cultivated: But Natural Maps leave out all that, +and represent the Earth as it would be if there +was not an Inhabitant upon it, nor ever had +been; the Skeleton of the Earth, as I may so say, +with the sight of all its Parts. Methinks also every +Prince should have such a Draught of his own +Country and Dominions, to see how the Ground +lies in the several Parts of them, which highest, +which lowest; what respect they have to one another, +and to the Sea; how the Rivers flow, +and why; how the Mountains stand; how the +Heaths and how the Marshes are plac’d. Such a +Map or Survey would be useful both in time of +War and Peace, and many good Observations +might be made by it, not only as to natural History +and Philosophy, but also in order to the +perfect Improvement of a Country. But to return +to our Mountains.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> this View of the Multitude and Greatness +of them, may help to rectify our Mistakes +about the Form of the Earth; so before we proceed +to examine their Causes it will be good to +observe further, that these Mountains are plac’d +in no Order one with another, that can either +respect Use or Beauty; and if you consider them +singly, they do not consist of any Proportion of +Parts that is referable to any Design, or that +hath the least Footsteps of Art or Counsel. +There is nothing in Nature more shapeless and +ill-figur’d than an old Rock or a Mountain, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_196'>196</span>all that Variety that is among them, is but the +various Modes of Irregularity; so as you cannot +make a better Character of them, in short, +than to say they are of all Forms and Figures +except regular. Then if you would go within +these Mountains (for they are generally hollow) +you would find all things there more rude, if +possible, than without: And lastly, if you look +upon an Heap of them together, or a mountainous +Country, they are the greatest Examples +of Confusion that we know in Nature; no +Tempest or Earthquake puts Things into more +Disorder. ’Tis true, they cannot look so ill +now as they did at first; a Ruin that is fresh, +looks much worse than afterwards, when the +Earth grows discolour’d and skinn’d over. But +I fancy, if we had seen the Mountains when +they were new born and raw, when the Earth +was fresh broken, and the Waters of the Deluge +newly retir’d, the Fractions and Confusions of +them would have appear’d very ghastly and +frightful.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>After</span> this general Survey of the Mountains +of the Earth and their Properties, let us now +reflect upon the Causes of them. There is a +double Pleasure in Philosophy; first, that of +Admiration, whilst we contemplate Things that +are great and wonderful, and do not yet understand +their Causes; for tho’ Admiration proceeds +from Ignorance, yet there is a certain +Charm and Sweetness in that Passion. Then the +second Pleasure is greater and more intellectual, +which is that of distinct Knowledge and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_197'>197</span>Comprehension, when we come to have the +Key that unlocks those Secrets, and see the +Methods wherein those Things come to pass +that we admir’d before: The Reasons why the +World is so or so, and from what Causes Nature, +or any Part of Nature, came into such a +State; and this we are now to enquire after, +as to the Mountains of the Earth, what their +Original was, how and when the Earth came +into this strange Frame and Structure? In the +Beginning of our World, when the Earth rose +from a Chaos, ’twas impossible it should come +immediately into this mountainous Form; because +a Mass that is fluid, as a Chaos is, cannot +lie in any other Figure than what is regular; +for the constant Laws of Nature do certainly +bring all Liquors into that Form: And +a Chaos is not call’d so from any Confusion or +Brokenness in the Form of it, but from a Confusion +and Mixture of all sorts of Ingredients +in the Composition of it. So we have already +produc’d in the precedent Chapters, a double +Argument that the Earth was not originally in +this Form, both because it rose from a Chaos, +which could not of it self, or by any immediate +Concretion, settle into a Form of this Nature, +as hath been shewn in the fourth and +fifth Chapters; as also because if it had been +originally made thus, it could never have undergone +a Deluge, as hath been prov’d in the second +and third Chapters. If this be then a secondary +and succedaneous Form, the great Question is, +from what Causes it arises.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_198'>198</span><span class='sc'>Some</span> have thought that Mountains, and all +other Irregularities in the Earth, have Rise from +Earthquakes, and such like Causes; others have +thought that they came from the universal Deluge; +yet not from any Dissolution of the Earth +that was then, but only from the great Agitation +of the Waters, which broke the Ground into +this rude and unequal Form. Both these +Causes seem to me very incompetent and insufficient. +Earthquakes seldom make Mountains, +they often take them away, and sink them +down into the Caverns that lie under them; +besides, Earthquakes are not in all Countries +and Climates as Mountains are; for as we have +observ’d more than once, there is neither Island +that is Original, nor Continent any where in +the Earth, in what Latitude soever, but hath +Mountains and Rocks in it. And lastly, what +Probability is there, or how is it credible, that +those vast Tracks of Land which we see fill’d +with Mountains both in <i>Europe</i>, <i>Asia</i> and <i>Africa</i>, +were rais’d by Earthquakes, or any Eruptions +from below? In what Age of the World +was this done, and why not continu’d? As for +the Deluge, which they alledge as another Cause, +I doubt not but Mountains were made in the +Time of the general Deluge, that great Change +and Transformation of the Earth happen’d then, +but not from such Causes as are pretended, +that is, the bare rolling and agitation of the +Waters; for if the Earth was smooth and plain +before the Flood, as they seem to suppose as +well as we do, the Waters could have little or +<span class='pageno' id='Page_199'>199</span>no Power over a smooth Surface to tear it any +way in Pieces, no more than they do a Meadow +or low Ground when they lie upon it; for +that which makes Torrents and Land floods violent, +is their Fall from the Mountains and high +Lands, which our Earth is now full of; but if the +Rain fell upon even and level Ground, it would +only sodden and compress it; there is no possibility +how it should raise Mountains in it. And +if we could imagine an universal Deluge as the +Earth is now constituted, it would rather throw +down the Hills and Mountains, than raise new +ones; or by beating down their Tops and loose +Parts, help to fill the Valleys, and bring the +Earth nearer to Evenness and Plainness.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Seeing</span> then there are no Hopes of explaining +the Origin of Mountains, either from particular +Earthquakes, or from the general Deluge, +according to the common Notion and +Explication of it; these not being Causes answerable +to such vast Effects: Let us try our +<i>Hypothesis</i> again; which hath made us a Channel +large enough for the Sea, and Room for all +subterraneous Cavities, and I think will find us +Materials enough to raise all the Mountains +of the Earth. We suppose the great Arch or +Circumference of the first Earth to have fallen +into the Abyss at the Deluge, and seeing that +was larger than the Surface it fell upon, ’tis +absolutely certain, that it could not all fall flat, +or lie under the Water: Now as all those Parts +that stood above the Water made dry Land, or +the present habitable Earth, so such Parts of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_200'>200</span>dry Land as stood higher than the rest, made +Hills and Mountains; and this is the first and +general Account of them, and of all the Inequalities +of the Earth. But to consider these Things +a little more particularly: There is a double +Cause and Necessity of Mountains, first this now +mention’d, because the exterior Orb of the Earth +was greater than the interior, which it fell upon, +and therefore it could not all fall flat; and secondly, +because this exterior Orb did not fall +so flat and large as it might, or did not cover all +the Bottom of the Abyss, as it was very capable +to do; but as we shew’d before in explaining +the Channel of the Ocean, it left a gaping in +the Middle, or an <i>Abyss-channel</i>, as I should call +it; and the broader this Abyss-channel was, the +more Mountains there would be upon the dry +Land; for there would be more Earth, or more +of the falling Orb left, and less Room to place it +in, and therefore it must stand more in Heaps.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> what Parts of the Earth these Heaps would +lie, and in what particular manner, it cannot be +expected that we should tell; but all that we +have hitherto observ’d concerning Mountains, +how strange soever, and otherwise unaccountable, +may easily be explain’d and deduc’d from +this Original; we shall not wonder at their +Greatness and Vastness, seeing they are the Ruins +of a broken World; and they would take up +more or less of the dry Land, according as the +Ocean took up more or less Space of our Globe: +Then as to their Figure and Form, whether external +or internal, ’tis just such as answers our +<span class='pageno' id='Page_201'>201</span>Expectation, and no more than what the <i>Hypothesis</i> +leads us to; for you would easily believe +that these Heaps would be irregular in all +manner of ways, whether consider’d apart, or in +their Situation to one another. And they would +lie commonly in Clusters and in Ridges, for +those are two of the most general Postures of the +Parts of a Ruin, when they fall inwards. Lastly, +We cannot wonder that Mountains should +be generally hollow; for great Bodies falling together +in Confusion, or bearing and leaning against +one another, must needs make a great many +Hollownesses in them, and by their unequal +Applications empty Spaces will be intercepted. +We see also from the same Reason why mountainous +Countries are subject to Earthquakes; +and why Mountains often sink and fall down +into the Caverns that lie under them; their +Joints and Props being decayed and worn, they +become unable to bear their Weight. And all +these Properties you see hang upon one and +the same String, and are just Consequences from +our Supposition concerning the Dissolution of +the first Earth. And there is no surer Mark of +a good <i>Hypothesis</i>, than when it doth not only +hit luckily in one or two Particulars, but answers +all that it is to be apply’d to, and is adequate +to Nature in her whole Extent.</p> + +<p class='c004'>But how fully or easily soever these things may +answer Nature, you will say, it may be, that all +this is but an <i>Hypothesis</i>; that is, a kind of Fiction +or Supposition that Things were so and so +at first, and by the Coherence and Agreement +<span class='pageno' id='Page_202'>202</span>of the Effects with such a Supposition, you +would argue and prove that they were really +so. This I confess is true, this is the Method, +and if we would know any Thing in Nature +further than our Senses go, we can know it no +otherwise than by an <i>Hypothesis</i>. When Things +are either too little for our Senses, or too remote +and inaccessible, we have no Way to +know the inward Nature, and the Causes of +their sensible Properties, but by reasoning upon +an <i>Hypothesis</i>. If you would know, for Example, +of what Parts Water, or any other Liquor +consists, they are too little to be discern’d by +the Eye; you must therefore take a Supposition +concerning their invisible Figure and Form, and +if that agrees and gives the Reason of all their +sensible Qualities, you understand the Nature of +Water. In like manner, if you would know the +Nature of a Comet, or of what Matter the Sun +consists, which are Things inaccessible to us, +you can do this no otherwise than by an <i>Hypothesis</i>; +and if that <i>Hypothesis</i> be easy and intelligible, +and answers all the <i>Phænomena</i> of +those two Bodies, you have done as much as a +<i>Philosopher</i> or as <i>human Reason</i> can do. And this +is what we have attempted concerning the Earth +and concerning the Deluge. We have laid down +an <i>Hypothesis</i> that is easy and perspicuous, consisting +of a few things, and those very intelligible, +and from this we have given an Account +how the old World was destroy’d by a Deluge +of Water, and how the Earth came into this +present Form, so distinguish’d and interrupted +<span class='pageno' id='Page_203'>203</span>with Sea and Land, Mountains and Valleys, +and so broken in the Surface and inward Parts +of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> to speak the Truth, this Theory is something +more than a bare <i>Hypothesis</i>; because we +are assured that the general Ground that we go +upon is true, namely, That the Earth rose at +first from a Chaos; for besides Reason and Antiquity, +Scripture it self doth assure us of that; +and that one Point being granted, we have deduc’d +from it all the rest by a direct Chain of +Consequences, which I think cannot be broken +easily in any Part or Link of it. Besides, the +great Hinge of this Theory, upon which all +the rest turns, is the Distinction we make of +the antediluvian Earth and Heavens from the +Postdiluvian, as to their Form and Constitution. +And it will never be beaten out of my Head, +but that <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>, <i>2 Epist. chap. <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> 5, 6.</i> hath +made the same Distinction sixteen hundred +Years since, and to the very same purpose; so +that we have sure footing here again, and the +Theory riseth above the Character of a bare <i>Hypothesis</i>. +And whereas an <i>Hypothesis</i> that is clear +and proportion’d to Nature in every Respect, +is accounted morally certain, we must in Equity +give more than a moral Certitude to this Theory. +But I mean this only as to the general Parts of +it; for as to Particularities, I look upon them +only as problematical, and accordingly I affirm +nothing therein but with a Power of Revocation, +and a Liberty to change my Opinion when +I shall be better inform’d. Neither do I know +<span class='pageno' id='Page_204'>204</span>any Author that hath treated a Matter new, remote, +and consisting of a Multitude of Particulars, +who would not have had occasion, if he +had liv’d to have seen his <i>Hypothesis</i> fully examin’d, +to have chang’d his Mind and Manner of +explaining Things in many material Instances.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> conclude both this Chapter and this Section, +we have here added a Map or Draught of +the Earth, according to the natural Face of it, +as it would appear from the Moon, if we were +a little nearer to her; or as it was at first after the +Deluge, before Cities were built, Distinctions +of Countries made, or any Alterations by human +Industry. ’Tis chiefly to expose more to +view the Mountains of the Earth, and the Proportions +of Sea and Land; to shew it as it lies +in itself, and as a Naturalist ought to conceive +and consider it. ’Tis true, there are far more +Mountains upon the Earth than what are here +represented, for more could not conveniently +be plac’d in this narrow Scheme; but the best +and most effectual Way of representing the +Body of the Earth as it is by Nature, would be, +not in plain Tables, but by a <i>rough Globe</i>, expressing +all the considerable Inequalities that +are upon the Earth. The smooth Globes that +we use, do but nourish in us the Conceit of +the Earth’s Regularity; and tho’ they may be +convenient enough for geographical Purposes, +they are not so proper for natural Science, nothing +would be more useful in this Respect, +than a rough Globe of the largest Dimensions, +wherein the Channel of the Sea should be really +<span class='pageno' id='Page_205'>205</span>hollow, as it is in Nature, with all its unequal +Depths according to the best Soundings, and +the Shores express’d both according to Matter +and Form, little Rocks standing where there are +Rocks, and Sands and Beaches in the Places +where they are found; and all the Islands planted +in the Sea-channel in a due Form, and in +their solid Dimensions. Then upon the Land +should stand all the Ranges of Mountains, in +the same Order or Disorder that Nature hath +set them there: And the in-land Seas, and +great Lakes, or rather the Beds they lie in, +should be duly represented; as also the vast Desarts +of Sand as they lie upon the Earth. And +this being done with Care and due Art, would +be a true Epitome, or true Model of our Earth. +Where we should see, besides other Instructions, +what a rude Lump our World is, which +we are so apt to dote upon.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/no-1-1.jpg' alt='The Eastern Hemisphere.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 No. 1.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/no-1-2.jpg' alt='The Western Hemisphere.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 1 No. 2.</p> +</div> +</div> +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_206'>206</span> + <h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='twelve'>XII.</abbr></span></h3> +</div> +<p class='c012'><i>A short Review of what hath been already treated +of, and in what Manner. The several +Faces and Schemes under which the Earth +would appear to a Stranger, that should view +it first at a Distance, and then more closely, +and the Application of them to our Subject. +All Methods, whether Philosophical or Theological, +that have been offer’d by others for +the Explication of the Form of the Earth, +are examin’d and disprov’d. A Conjecture +concerning the other Planets, their natural +Form and State compared with ours.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have finish’d the three Sections of this +Book, and in this last Chapter we will +make a short Review and Reflexion upon what +hath been hitherto treated of, and add some +further Confirmations of it. The Explication of +the universal Deluge was the first Proposal and +Design of this Discourse, to make that a Thing +credible and intelligible to the Mind of Man: +And the full Explication of this drew in the +whole Theory of the Earth; Whose Original +we have deduc’d from its first Source, and shew’d +both what was its primæval Form, and how it +came into its present Form. The Sum of our +<i>Hypothesis</i> concerning the universal Deluge was +this; That it came not to pass, as was vulgarly +believ’d, by an Excess of Rains, or any Inundation +of the Sea, nor could ever be effected +<span class='pageno' id='Page_207'>207</span>by a meer Abundance of Waters; unless we +suppose some Dissolution of the Earth at the +same time, namely, when the <i>Great Abyss</i> was +broken open. And accordingly we shewed, that +without such a Dissolution, or if the Earth had +been always in the same Form it is in now, no +Mass of Water, any where to be found in the +World, could have equall’d the Height of the +Mountains, or made such an universal Deluge. +Secondly, We shewed that the Form of the +Earth at first, and till the Deluge, was such as +made it capable and subject to a Dissolution: +And thirdly, That such a Dissolution being suppos’d, +the Doctrine of the universal Deluge is very +reasonable and intelligible; and not only the +Doctrine of the Deluge, but the same Supposition +is a Key to all Nature besides, shewing us +how our Globe became terraqueous, what was +the Original of Mountains, of the Sea-channel, +of Islands, of subterraneous Cavities; things +which without this Supposition are as untelligible +as the universal Flood itself. And these +things reciprocally confirming one another, our +<i>Hypothesis</i> of the Deluge is arm’d, both Breast +and Back, by the Causes and by the Effects.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>It</span> remains now, that, as to confirm our Explication +of the Deluge, we shew’d all other +Accounts that had been given of it to be ineffectual +or impossible, to confirm our Doctrine +concerning the Dissolution of the Earth, +and concerning the Original of Mountains, +Seas, and all Inequalities upon it, or within +it, we must examine what Causes have been +<span class='pageno' id='Page_208'>208</span>assign’d by others, or what Accounts given of +these things: That seeing their Defectiveness, +we may have the more Assurance and Satisfaction +in our own Method.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> in order to this, let us observe first the +general Forms under which the Earth may be +consider’d, or under which it doth appear accordingly +as we view it more nearly or remotely; +and the first of these and the most general is that +of a <i>terraqueous Globe</i>. If a Philosopher should +come out of another World out of Curiosity to +see our Earth, the first Discovery or Observation +he would make would be this, that it was a +terraqueous Globe: Thus much he might observe +at a great Distance, when he came but near +the Borders of our World. This we discern in +the Moon, and most of the Planets, that they +are divided into Sea and Land, and how this Division +came would be his first Remark and +Inquiry concerning our Earth; and how also +those Subdivisions of Islands, or little Earths +which lie in the Water; how these were +form’d, and that great Channel that contains +them both.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> second Form that the Earth appears +under, is that of an uneven and <i>mountainous +Globe</i>. When our Traveller had got below +the Circle of the Moon, he would discern the +bald Tops of our Mountains, and the long +Ranges of them upon our Continents. We +cannot from the Earth discern Mountains and +Valleys in the Moon directly, but from the +Motion of the Light and Shadows which we +<span class='pageno' id='Page_209'>209</span>see there, we easily collect that there are such Inequalities: +And accordingly we suppose that +our Mountains would appear at a great Distance, +and the shady Valleys lying under them; and +that this curious Person that came to view our +Earth, would make that his second Enquiry, +how those Mountains were formed, and how +our Globe came to be so rude and irregular? +For we may justly demand how any Irregularity +came into Nature, seeing all her first Motions +and her first Forms are regular, and whatsoever +is not so, is but secondary, and the Consequence +of some Degeneracy, or of some Decay.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> third visible Form of our Earth is that +of a <i>broken Globe</i>; and broken throughout, +but in the outward Parts and Regions of it. +This, it may be, you will say, is not a visible +Form; it doth not appear to the Eye, without +reasoning, that the Surface of the Earth +is so broken. Suppose our new Visitant had +now pass’d the middle Region of the Air, and +was alighted upon the Top of <i>Pic Teneriffe</i> +for his first resting Place, and that sitting there, +he took a View of the great Rocks, the wide +Sea, and of the Shores of <i>Africk</i> and <i>Europe</i>; +for we’ll suppose his piercing Eye to reach so +far; I will not say that at first Sight he would +pronounce that the Surface of this Globe was +broken, unless he knew it to be so by Comparison +with some other Planet like to it; but +the broken Form and Figure of many Parts of +the Rocks, and the Posture in which they lay, +or great Portions of them, some inclin’d, some +<span class='pageno' id='Page_210'>210</span>prostrate, some erected, would naturally lead him +to that Thought, that they were a Ruin; he +would see also the Islands tore from the Continents, +and both the Shores of the Continents +and their Inland Parts in the same Disorder and +irregular Situation. Besides, he had this great Advantage +in viewing the Earth at a Distance, that +he could see a whole Hemisphere together, which, +as he made his Approaches thro’ the Air, would +have much what the same aspect and countenance +as ’tis represented within the great Scheme, +<i><abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> <a href='#Page_203'>203</a>.</i> And if any Man should accidentally hit +upon that Scheme, not knowing or thinking that +it was the Earth, I believe his first Thought of it +would be, that it was some great broken Body, +or ruin’d Frame of Matter; and the Original, +I am sure, is more manifestly so. But we’ll leave +our strange Philosopher to his own Observations, +and with him good Guides and Interpreters +in his Survey of the Earth, and that he +would make a favourable Report at his Return +home, of our little dirty Planet.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> the mean time let us pursue, in our own +Way, this Third <i>Idea</i> of the Earth a little further, +as it is <i>a broken Globe</i>. Nature I know +hath dissembled and cover’d this Form as much +as may be, and Time hath help’d to repair +some of the old Breaches, or fill them up; +besides, the Changes that have been made by +Art and human Industry, by Agriculture, +Planting, and Building Towns, hath made +the Face of the Earth quite another Thing +from what it was in its naked Rudeness. As +<span class='pageno' id='Page_211'>211</span>Mankind is much alter’d from its pristine State, +from what it was four thousand Years ago, or towards +the first Ages after the Flood, when the Nations +liv’d in Simplicity or Barbarousness; so is +the Earth too, and both so disguis’d and transform’d, +that if one of those primitive Fathers +should rise from the Dead, he would scarce know +this to be the same World which he liv’d in before. +But to discern the true Form of the Earth, +whether intire or broken, regular or disorder’d, +we must in the first Place take away all those Ornaments +or Additions made by Art or Nature, +and view the bare Carcass of the Earth, as it hath +nothing on it but Rocks and Mountains, Deserts +and Fields, and hollow Valleys, and a wide +Sea. Then secondly, We must in our Imagination +empty this Channel of the Sea, take +out all the Waters that hinder the Sight of it, +and look upon the dry Ditch, measure the +Depth and Breadth of it in our Mind, and observe +the Manner of its Construction, and in +what a wild Posture all the Parts of it lie; according +as it hath been formerly represented, +<i><a href='#chap-1-10'>Chap. 10</a>.</i> And lastly, we must take off the +Cover of all subterraneous Places and deep +Caverns, to see the inside of the Earth; and +lay bare the Roots of Mountains, to look into +those Holes and Vaults that are under them, +fill’d sometimes with Fire, sometimes with +Water, and sometimes with thick Air and Vapours. +The Object being thus prepar’d, we +are then to look fixedly upon it, and to pronounce +what we think of this disfigur’d Mass, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_212'>212</span>whether this exterior Frame doth not seem to +be shatter’d; and whether it doth more aptly +resemble a new-made World, or the Ruins +of one broken. I confess when this <i>Idea</i> of +the Earth is present to my Thoughts, I can +no more believe that this was the Form wherein +it was first produc’d, than if I had seen the +Temple of <i>Jerusalem</i> in its Ruins, when defac’d +and sack’d by the <i>Babylonians</i>; I could +have persuaded my self, that it had never been +in any other Posture, and that <i>Solomon</i> had +given Orders for Building it so.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>So</span> much for the Form of the Earth: It remains +now that we examine what Causes have +been assign’d by others, of these Irregularities +in the Form of the Earth, which we explain by +the Dissolution of it; what Accounts any of +the Ancients have given, or attempted to give, +how the Earth swell’d into Mountains in certain +Places, and in others was depress’d into low +Valleys, how the Body of it was so broken, +and how the Channel of the Sea was made. +The Elements naturally lie in regular Forms +one above another, and now we find them mix’d, +confounded and transpos’d, how comes this Disturbance +and Disordination in Nature? The +Explications of these Things that have been given +by others, may be reduc’d to two general +Sorts, <i>Philosophical</i> or <i>Theological</i>, and we +will try them both for our Satisfaction.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Of</span> Philosophers, none was more concern’d +to give an Account of such Things than <i>Epicurus</i>, +both because he acknowledged the Origin +<span class='pageno' id='Page_213'>213</span>of the Earth to have been from a <i>Chaos</i>, and +also admitted no Causes to act in Nature but +Matter and Motion: Yet all the Account we +have from the <i>Epicureans</i> of the Form of the +Earth, and the great Inequalities that are in it, is +so slight and trivial, that methinks it doth not +deserve the Name of a Philosophical Explication. +They say that the Earth and Water were +mix’d at first, or rather, the Earth was above the +Water, and as the Earth was condens’d by the +Heat of the Sun and the Winds, the Water was +squeez’d out in certain Places, which either it +found hollow or made so; and so was the Channel +of the Sea made. Then as for Mountains, +while some Parts of the Earth shrunk and sunk +in this Manner, others would not sink; and these +standing still while the others fell lower, made +the Mountains. How the subterraneous Cavities +were made according to them, I do not find.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> is all the Account that Monsieur <i>Gassendi</i> +(who seems to have made it his Business, +as well as his Pleasure, to embellish that +Philosophy) can help us to, out of the <i>Epicurean</i> +Authors how the Earth came into this +Form; and he that can content himself with +this, is, in my Mind, of an Humour very easy +to be pleas’d. Do the Sun and the Wind use +to squeeze Pools of Water out of the Earth, +and that in such a Quantity as to make an +Ocean? They dry the Earth, and the Waters +too, and rarify them into Vapours, but I never +knew them to be the Causes of pressing +Water out of the Earth by Condensation. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_214'>214</span>Could they compress the Earth any otherwise, +than by drying it and making it hard? And in +Proportion, as it was more dry, would it not the +more imbibe and suck up the Water? And how +were the great Mountains of the Earth made in +the North and in the South, where the Influence +of the Sun is not great? What sunk the Earth +there, and made the Flesh start from the Bones? +But ’tis no Wonder that <i>Epicurus</i> should give +such a mean Account of the Origin of the Earth, +and the Form of its Parts, who did not so much +as understand the general Figure of the Body of +it, that it was in some Manner Spherical, or +that the Heavens encompass’d it round. One +must have a blind Love for that Philosophy, and +for the Conclusions it drives at, not to see its +Lameness and Defects in those first and fundamental +Parts.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Aristotle</i>, though he was not concern’d to give +an Account how the Earth came into this present +Form, as he suppos’d it Eternal; yet upon +another Consideration he seems obliged to give +some Reason how the Elements came into this +Disorder; seeing he supposeth, that, according +to the Order of Nature, the Water should lie +above the Earth in a Sphere, as the Air doth above +the Water, and his Fire above the Air. +This he toucheth upon in his Meteors, but so +gently and fearfully, as if he was handling hot +Coals. He saith the Sea is to be consider’d as +the Element, or Body of Waters that belongs to +this Earth, and that these Waters change Places, +and the Sea is some Ages in one Part of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_215'>215</span>Globe, and some Ages in another; but that +this is at such great Distances of Time, that there +can be no Memory or Record of it. And he +seems willing to suppose that the Water was +once all over the Earth, but that it dry’d up in +certain Places, and continuing in others, it +there made the Sea.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>What</span> a miserable Account is this? As to his +Change or Removal of the Sea-channel in several +Ages, as it is without all Proof or Probability, +if he mean it of the Channel of the great +Ocean, so ’tis nothing to the Purpose here; for +the Question is not why the Channel of the Sea +is in such a Part of the Earth, rather than in another, +but why there is any such prodigious Cavity +in or upon the Earth any where. And if +we take his Supposition, that the Element of Water +was once higher than the Earth, and lay in +a Sphere about it, then let him tell us in plain +Terms how the Earth got above, or how the +Cavity of the Ocean was made, and how the +Mountains rise; for this Elementary Earth which +lay under the Water, was, I suppose, equal and +smooth when it lay there; and what reason was +there, that the Waters should be dry’d in one +Part of it, more than another, if they were every +where of an equal Depth, and the Ground equal +under them? It was not the Climates +made any Distinction, for there is Sea towards +the Poles, as well as under the Æquator; but +suppose they were dry’d up in certain Places, +that would make no Mountains, no more than +there are Mountains in our dry’d Marshes: +<span class='pageno' id='Page_216'>216</span>And the Places where they were not dry’d, +would not therefore become as deep and hollow +as the Sea-channel, and tear the Earth and +Rocks in pieces. If you would say that this very +Elementary Earth, as it lay under the Waters, +was unequal, and was so originally form’d into +Mountains and Valleys and great Cavities; besides +that the Supposition is altogether irrational +in itself, you must suppose a prodigious Mass of +Water to cover such an Earth; as much as we +found requisite for the vulgar Deluge, namely, +eight Oceans; and what then is become of the +other seven? Upon the whole, I do not see that +either in <i>Epicurus</i>’s way, who seems to suppose +that the Waters were at first within the Earth; +nor in <i>Aristotle</i>’s way, who seems to suppose them +upon the Earth, any rational or tolerable Account +can be given of the present Form of the Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Wherefore</span> some Modern Authors, +dissatisfied, as very well they might be, with +these Explications given us by the Ancients concerning +the Form of the Earth, have pitch’d +upon other Causes, more true indeed in their +kind, and in their degree, but that fall as much +short of those Effects to which they would apply +them. They say that all the Irregularities +of the Body of the Earth have risen from Earthquakes +in particular Places, and from Torrents +and Inundations, and from Eruptions of Fire, +or such like Causes, whereof we see some Instances +more or less every Age; and these have +made that havock upon the Face of the Earth, +and turn’d things upside down, raising the Earth, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_217'>217</span>in some Places, and making great Cavities or +Chasms in others, so as to have brought it at +length into that torn, broken, and disorderly +Form in which we now see it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>These</span> Authors do so far agree with us, +as to acknowledge, That the present irregular +Form of the Earth must have proceeded from +Ruins and Dissolutions of one sort or other; +but these Ruins they make to have been partial +only, in this or in that Country, by piece-meal, +and in several Ages, and from no other +Causes, but such as still continue to act in Nature, +namely, accidental Earthquakes and Eruptions +of Fires and Waters. These Causes we +acknowledge as readily as they do, but not as +capable to produce so great Effects as they would +ascribe to them; the Surface of the Earth may +be a little changed by such Accidents as these, +but for the most part, they rather sink the +Mountains, than raise new Ones: As when +Houses are blown up by Mines of Powder, +they are not set higher, but generally fall lower +and flatter: Or suppose they do sometimes +raise an Hill, or a little Mount, what’s that to +the great Mountains of our World, to those +long and vast Piles of Rocks and Stones, which +the Earth can scarce bear? What’s that to +strong-backt <i>Taurus</i> or <i>Atlas</i>, to the <i>American +Andes</i>, or to a Mountain that reacheth +from the <i>Pyreneans</i> to the <i>Euxine</i> Sea? There’s +as much Difference between these, and those +factious Mountains they speak of, as betwixt +them and Mole-hills.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_218'>218</span><span class='sc'>And</span> to answer more distinctly to this Opinion, +as before in speaking of Islands we distinguish’d +betwixt factitious and original Islands, so, +if you please, we may distinguish here betwixt +factitious and original Mountains; and allowing +some few, and those of the fifth or sixth +Magnitude, to have risen from such accidental +Causes, we enquire concerning the rest and the +greatest, what was their Original? If we should +suppose that the seven Hills upon which <i>Rome</i> +stands, came from Ruins or Eruptions, or any +such Causes, it doth not follow that the <i>Alps</i> +were made so too. And as for Mountains, so +for the Cavities of the Earth, I suppose there +may be Disruptions sometimes made by Earthquakes, +and Holes worn by subterraneous Fires +and Waters; but what’s that to the Channel of +the <i>Atlantick Ocean</i>, or of the <i>Pacifick Ocean</i>, +which is extended an hundred and fifty Degrees +under the Æquator, and towards the +Poles still further? He that should derive such +mighty Things from no greater Causes, I +should think him a very credulous Philosopher. +And we are too subject indeed to that Fault +of Credulity in Matter of Philosophizing: +Many when they have found out Causes that +are proper for certain Effects within such a +Compass, they cannot keep them there, but +they will make them do every Thing for them; +and extend them often to other Effects of a +superior Nature or Degree, which their Activity +can by no Means reach to. <i>Ætna</i> hath +been a burning Mountain ever since, and above +<span class='pageno' id='Page_219'>219</span>the Memory of Man, yet it hath not destroy’d +that Island, nor made any new Channel to the +Sea, tho’ it stands so near it. Neither is <i>Vesuvius</i> +above two or three Miles distant from the +Sea-side, to the best of my Remembrance, and +yet in so many Ages it hath made no Passage to +it, neither open nor subterraneous. ’Tis true, +some <i>Isthmus’s</i> have been thrown down by +Earthquakes, and some Lakes have been made +in that Manner, but what’s this to a Ditch nine +thousand Miles broad? Such an one we have upon +the Earth, and of a Depth that is not measurable; +what Proportion have these Causes to such +an Instance? And how many thousand Ages +must be allow’d to them to do their Work, more +than the Chronology of our Earth will bear?</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Besides</span>, When were these great Earthquakes +and Disruptions, that did such great Execution +upon the Body of the Earth? Was this +before the Flood or since? If before, then the +old Difficulty returns, how could there be a +Flood, if the Earth was in this mountainous +Form before that Time? This, I think, is demonstrated +impossible in the second and third +Chapters. If since the Flood, where were +the Waters of the Earth before these Earthquakes +made a Channel for them? Besides, +where is the History or Tradition, that speaks +of these strange Things, and of this great +Change of the Earth? Hath any writ of the +Origins of the <i>Alps</i>? In what Year of <i>Rome</i>, +or what <i>Olympiad</i> they were born? Or how +they grew from little ones? How the Earth +<span class='pageno' id='Page_220'>220</span>groan’d when it brought them forth, when its +Bowels were torn by the ragged Rocks? Do the +Chronicles of the Nations mention these things, +or ancient Fame, or ancient Fables? were they +made all at once, or in successive Ages? These +Causes continue still in Nature, we have still +Earthquakes and subterraneous Fires and Waters, +why should they not still operate and have +the same Effects? We often hear of Cities +thrown down by Earthquakes, or Countries +swallow’d up; but who ever heard of a new +Chain of Mountains made upon the Earth, or +a new Channel made for the Ocean? We do +not read that there hath been so much as a new +<i>Sinus</i> of the Sea ever since the Memory of Man: +Which is far more feasible than what they pretend. +And Things of this Nature being both +strange and feasible, excite Admiration and great +Attention when they come to pass, and would +certainly have been remembered or propagated +in some Way or other, if they had ever +happen’d since the Deluge. They have recorded +the Foundation of Cities and Monarchies, +the Appearance of Blazing Stars, the +Eruptions of fiery Mountains, the most remarkable +Earthquakes and Inundations, the great Eclipses +or Obscurations of the Sun, and any thing +that look’d strange or Prodigy-like, whether in +the Heavens or on Earth: And these, which +would have been the greatest Prodigies, and +greatest Changes that ever happen’d in Nature, +would these have escap’d all Observation and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_221'>221</span>Memory of Men? That’s as incredible as the +Things themselves are.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Lastly</span>, To comprehend all these Opinions +together, both of the Ancient and Modern +Authors, they seem all to agree with us in this, +<i>That</i> the Earth was once under another Form; +otherwise why do they go about to shew the +Causes how it came into this Form? I desire +then to know what Form they suppose the Earth +to have been under before the Mountains were +made, the Channel of the Sea, or subterraneous +Cavities? Either they must take that Form which +we have assign’d it before the Deluge, or else +they must suppose it cover’d with Water, till the +Sea-channels were made, and the Mountains +brought forth; as in <i><a href='#fig1-2'>Fig. 2.</a> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 76.</i> And no doubt +it was once in this Form, both Reason and the +Authority of <i>Moses</i> assure us of it; and this is +the Test which every Opinion must be brought +to, <i>how</i> the Earth emerg’d out of that watry +Form? And in particular, as to that Opinion +which we are now examining, the Question is, +<i>how</i> by Earthquakes, and fiery Eruptions, subterraneous +Waters, and such like Causes, the +Body of the Earth could be wrought from +that Form to this present Form? And the +Thing is impossible at first Sight; for such +Causes as these could not take place in such +an Earth. As for subterraneous Waters, there +could be none at that Time, for they were all +above Ground; and as for subterraneous Exhalations, +whether fiery or aery, there was no +Place for them neither; for the Earth, when +<span class='pageno' id='Page_222'>222</span>it lay under the Water, was a solid uniform Mass, +compact and close united in its Parts, as we have +shewn before upon several Occasions; no Mines +or hollow Vaults for the Vapours to be lodg’d in, +no Store-houses of Fire; nothing that could +make Earthquakes, nor any sort of Ruins or Eruptions: +These are Engines that cannot Play +but in an Earth already broken, hollow and cavernous. +Therefore the Authors of this Opinion +do in effect beg the Question; they assign such +Causes of the present Form of the Earth, as could +not take Place, nor have any Activity until the +Earth was in this Form: These Causes may contribute +something to increase the Rudeness and +Inequalities of the Earth in certain Places, but +they could not be the original Causes of it. +And that not only because of their Disproportion +to such Effects, but also because of their +Incapacity, or Non-existence at that time, when +these Effects were to be wrought.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much concerning the Philosophical +Opinions or the natural Causes that have been +assign’d for the irregular Form of this present +Earth. Let us now consider the Theological +Opinions, how Mountains were made at first, +and the wonderful Channel of the Sea: And +these Authors say, God Almighty made them +immediately when he made the World; and +so dispatch’d the Business in a few Words. +This is a short Account indeed, but we must +take heed that we do not derogate from the +Perfection of God, by ascribing all Things +promiscuously to his immediate Action. I +<span class='pageno' id='Page_223'>223</span>have often suggested that the first Order of +Things is regular and simple, according as the Divine +Nature is; and continues so till there is some +Degeneracy in the moral World; I have also +noted upon several Occasions, especially in the +<i>Lat. Treat. Chap. 11.</i> the deformity and Incommodiousness +of the present Earth; and from +these two Considerations we may reasonably infer, +that the present State of the Earth was not +Original, but is a State of Subjection to Vanity, +wherein it must continue till the Redemption +and Restitution of all Things.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> besides this general Consideration, there +are many others, both Natural and Theological, +against this Opinion, which the Authors +of it, I believe, will find unanswerable. As +first, <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s Distinction betwixt the present +Earth and the Antediluvian; <i>2 <abbr title='Epistle'>Ep.</abbr> Chap. <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> +5, 6.</i> and that in Opposition to certain profane +Persons, who seem to have been of the same +Opinion with these Authors, namely, That +the Heavens and the Earth were the same now +that they had been from the beginning, and +that there had been no Change in Nature, either +of late, or in former Ages; These <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> +<i>Peter</i> confutes and upbraids them with Ignorance +or Forgetfulness of the Change that was +brought upon Nature at the Deluge, or that +the Antediluvian Heavens and Earth were of +a different Form and Constitution from the +present, whereby that World was obnoxious +to a Deluge of Water, as the present is +to a Deluge of Fire. Let these Authors put +<span class='pageno' id='Page_224'>224</span>themselves in the Place of those Objectors, and +see what Answer they can make to the Apostle, +whom I leave to dispute the Case with them. I +hope they will not treat this Epistle of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s +so rudely as <i>Didymus Alexandrinus</i> did, +an ancient Christian, and one of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Jerome</i>’s +Masters; he was of the same Opinion with these +Theological Authors, and so fierce in it, that +seeing <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s Doctrine here to be contrary, +he said, this Epistle of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s was corrupted, +and was not to be receiv’d into the Canon. And +all this, because it taught, that the Heavens and +the Earth had chang’d their Form, and would do +so again at the Conflagration; so as the same +World would be triform in Success of Time. +We acknowledge his Exposition of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s +Words to be very true; but what he makes an +Argument of the Corruption of this Epistle, is +rather, in my Mind, a peculiar Argument of +its Divine Inspiration. In the second Place, +these Writers dash upon the old Rock, the +Impossibility of explaining the Deluge; if +there were Mountains from the Beginning, and +the Earth then in the same Form as it is in +now. <i>Thirdly</i>, They make the State of <i>Paradise</i> +as unintelligible as that of the Deluge; +For those Properties that are assign’d to <i>Paradise</i> +by the Ancients, are inconsistent with +the present Form of the Earth: As will appear +in the Second Book. <i>Lastly</i>, They must answer, +and give an Account of all those Marks which +we have observ’d in Nature (both in this +Chapter, and the Ninth, Tenth, and Eleventh), +<span class='pageno' id='Page_225'>225</span>of Fractions, Ruins, and Dissolutions that +have been on the Earth, and which we have +shewn to be inexplicable, unless we admit that +the Earth was once in another Form.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>These</span> Arguments being premis’d, let us now +bring their Opinion close to the Test, and see +in what manner these Mountains must have been +made according to them, and how the Channel +of the Sea, and all other Cavities of the Earth. +Let us to this Purpose consider the Earth again +in that transient, incompleat Form which it had +when the Abyss encompast the whole Body of +it, <i><a href='#fig1-2'>Fig. 2.</a> <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 77.</i> we both agree that the Earth +was once in this State, and they say, that it came +immediately out of this State into its present +Form, there being made by a supernatural Power +a great Channel or Ditch in one Part of it, +which drew off the Waters from the rest, and +the Earth which was squeez’d and forc’d out +of this Ditch, made the Mountains. So there is +the Channel of the Sea made, and the Mountains +of the Earth; how the subterraneous Cavities +were made according to these Authors, +I do not well know. This I confess seems to +me a very gross Thought, and a way of working +very un-God like; but however, let’s have +Patience to examine it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> in the first Place, if the Mountains +were taken out of the Channel of the Sea, +then they are equal to it, and would fill it up +if they were thrown in again. But these Proportions +upon Examination will not agree; for +though the Mountains of the Earth be very +<span class='pageno' id='Page_226'>226</span>great, yet they do not equal by much the great +Ocean. The Ocean extends to half the Surface +of the Earth; 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 Mountains, the Mountains ought +to cover all the dry Land to make them answer +to all the Capacity of the Ocean; whereas we +suppos’d them upon a reasonable Computation +to cover but the tenth Part of the dry Land; +and consequently neither they nor the Sea-Channel +could have been produc’d in this manner, +because of their great Disproportion to one +another. And the same thing appears, if we compare +the Mountains with the Abyss which cover’d +the Earth before this Channel was made; +for this Channel being made great enough to +contain all the Abyss, the Mountains taken +out of it must also be equal to all the Abyss; +but the Aggregate of the Mountains will not +answer this by many Degrees; for suppose the +Abyss was but half as deep as the deep Ocean, +to make this Calculus answer, all the dry Land +ought to be cover’d with Mountains, and with +Mountains as high as the Ocean is deep, or +double high to the Depth of the Abyss, because +they are but upon one half of the Globe. +And this is the first Argument against the Reciprocal +Production of Mountains and the Sea, +their Incongruency or Disproportion.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Secondly</span>, we are to consider that a great +many Mountains of the Earth are far distant +<span class='pageno' id='Page_227'>227</span>from any Seas, as the great In-land Mountains +of <i>Asia</i> and of <i>Africk</i>, and the <i>Sarmatick</i> Mountains, +and others in <i>Europe</i>; how were these +great Bodies flung thorough the Air from their +respective Seas, whence they were taken, to those +Places where they stand? What Appearance is +there in common Reason or Credibility, that +these huge Masses of Earth and Stone that +stand in the middle of Continents were dug +out of any Seas? We think it strange, and very +deservedly, that a little Chapel should be transported +from <i>Palestine</i> to <i>Italy</i> over Land and +Sea, much more the Transportation of Mount +<i>Atlas</i> or <i>Taurus</i> thorough the Air, or of a Range +of Mountains two or three thousand Miles long, +would surely upon all Accounts appear incongruous +and incredible: Besides, neither the +hollow Form of Mountains, nor the stony Matter +whereof they commonly consist, agrees with +that Supposition, that they were press’d or taken +out of the Channel of the Sea.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Lastly</span>, we are to consider, that the +Mountains are not barely laid upon the Earth, +as a Tomb-stone upon a Grave, nor stand as +Statues do upon a Pedestal, as this Opinion +seems to suppose; but they are one continued +Substance with the Body of the Earth, and their +Roots reach into the Abyss; as the Rocks by +the Sea-side go as deep as the Bottom of the +Sea in one continued Mass: And ’tis a ridiculous +Thing to imagine the Earth first a plain +Surface, then all the Mountains set upon it, as +Hay-cocks in a Field, standing upon their flat +<span class='pageno' id='Page_228'>228</span>Bottoms. There is no such common Surface in +Nature, nor consequently any such Super-additions: +’Tis all one Frame or Mass, only broken +and disjointed in the Parts of it. To conclude, +’Tis not only the Mountains that make +the Inequalities of the Earth, or the Irregularity +of its Surface, every Country, every Province, +every Field, hath an unequal and different Situation, +higher or lower inclin’d more or less, +and sometimes one way sometimes another, +you can scarce take a Mile’s Compass in any +Place where the Surface of the Ground continues +uniform; and can you imagine, that +there were Moulds or Stones brought from the +Sea-channel to make all those Inequalities? Or +that Earthquakes have been in every Country +and in every Field? The inner Veins and Lares, +the Beds or Strata of the Earth are also broken +as well as the Surface. These must proceed from +universal Causes; and all those that have been +alledg’d, whether from Philosophy or Theology, +are but particular or topical. I am fully +satisfied, in Contemplation of these Things, +and so I think every unprejudic’d Person may +be, that to such an irregular Variety of Situation +and Construction, as we see every where +in the Parts of the Earth, nothing could answer +but some universal Concussion or Dislocation, +in the Nature of a general Ruin.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> have now finish’d this first Part of our +Theory, and all that concerns the Deluge or +Dissolution of the Earth; and we have not +only establish’d our own Hypothesis by positive +<span class='pageno' id='Page_229'>229</span>Arguments, but also produc’d and examin’d all +Suppositions that have been offer’d by others, +whether Philosophical or Theological, for the Explication +of the same things; so as nothing seems +now to remain further upon this Subject. For a +Conclusion of all, we will consider, if you please, +the rest of the Earths, or of the Planets within our +Heavens, that appertain to the same common +Sun; to see, so far as we can go by rational Conjectures, +if they be not of the same Fabrick, and +have undergone the like Fate, and Forms with +our Earth. It is now acknowledged by the generality +of learned Men, that the Planets are +opake Bodies, and particularly our next Neighbour, +the Moon, is known to be a terraqueous +Globe, consisting of Mountains and Valleys +as our Earth does; and we have no Reason +to believe, but that she came into that +Form by a Dissolution, or from like Causes, +as our Earth did. <i>Mercury</i> is so near the Sun, +that we cannot well discern his Face, whether +spotted or no, nor make a Judgment of it. +But as for <i>Venus</i> and <i>Mars</i>, if the Spots that +be observ’d in them be their Waters or their +Sea, as they are in the Moon, ’tis likely they +are also terraqueous Globes, and in much +what a like Form with the Moon, and the +Earth, and, for ought we know, from like +Causes. Particularly as to <i>Venus</i>, ’tis a remarkable +Passage that <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i> (<i>De Civ. Dei, +lib. 21. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> <abbr title='eight'>viii.</abbr></i>) hath preserv’d out of <i>Varro</i>: He +saith, That <i>about the Time of the great Deluge +there was a wonderful Alteration or Catastrophe +<span class='pageno' id='Page_230'>230</span>happen’d to the Planet Venus, and that she +chang’d her Colour, Form, Figure, and Magnitude</i>. +This is a great Presumption that she suffer’d +her Dissolution about the same time that +our Earth did. I do not know that any such +Thing is recorded concerning any of the other +Planets, but the Body of <i>Mars</i> looks very rugged, +broken, and much disorder’d.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Saturn</i> and <i>Jupiter</i> deserve a distinct Consideration, +as having something particular and different +from the rest of the Planets; <i>Saturn</i> is remarkable +for his Hoop or Ring, which seems to +stand off, or higher than his Body, and would +strongly induce one to believe, that the exterior +Earth of that Planet, at its Dissolution, did +not all fall in, but the polar Parts sinking into +the Abyss, the middle or equinoctial Parts still +subsisted, and bore themselves up in the Nature +of an Arch about the Planet, or of a Bridge, as it +were, built over the Sea of <i>Saturn</i>. And as some +have observ’d concerning the Figure of <i>Jupiter</i>, +that it is not wholly Spherical, but a Spheroid, +protuberant in the Equator, and depress’d towards +the Poles: So I should suspect <i>Saturn</i> to +have been much more so, before his Disruption: +Namely, That the Body of that Planet, in its +first State, was more flat and low towards the +Poles, and also weaker and thinner; and about +the Equator higher, fuller and stronger built: +By reason of which Figure and Construction, +the Polar Parts did more easily fall in, or were +suckt in (as Cupping Glasses draw in the Flesh) +when the Abyss below grew more empty. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_231'>231</span>Whereas the middle Parts about the Equator, +being a more just Arch and strongly built, would +not yield or sink, but stood firm and unbroken, +and continues still in its first Posture. Planets +break in different ways, according to the +Quality of their Matter, the manner of their +Construction, and the Nature of the Causes +that act upon them. Their Dissolutions are +sometimes total, as in our Earth, sometimes +partial; and both of these may be under great +Variety. In partial Dissolutions, the middle +Parts sometimes stand, and the Polar are broke; +or the Polar stand and the Middle are broke. +Or one Hemisphere, or part of an Hemisphere +may be sunk, the rest standing. There may be +Causes and Occasions for all these Varieties and +many more, in diversifying the Phænomena of +an immense Universe. But to return to <i>Saturn</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>That</span> this present uncouth Form of <i>Saturn</i> +was not its Original Form, I am very well satisfied, +if that Planet rose from a Chaos, as +ours did. And if this be an adventitious Form, +I know no Account can be given of it with +more Probability, than by supposing it the Effect +of some Fraction or Disruption in the Polar +Parts. Neither do I know any Phænomenon +hitherto observ’d concerning <i>Saturn</i>, that +does disprove this <i>Hypothesis</i> or Conjecture.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>As</span> to <i>Jupiter</i>, that Planet without doubt +is also turn’d about its Axis, otherwise how +should its four Moons be carried round him? +And this is also collected from the Motion of +that permanent Spot (if it be found to be so) +<span class='pageno' id='Page_232'>232</span>that is upon its Body. Which Spot I take to be +either a Lake or a Chasm and <i>Hiatus</i> into the +Abyss of the Planet: That is, part of the Abyss +open or uncover’d, like the Aperture we made in +the Seventh Figure, <i><abbr class='spell'>C.</abbr> 6. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> <a href='#Page_184'>184</a>.</i> And this might +either have been left so by Providence, at first, for +some Reasons and Causes fitting that Earth: Or +it may have fallen in afterwards, as <i>Plato</i>’s <i>Atlantis</i>, +or as <i>Sodom</i> and <i>Gomorrah</i>, for some +Judgment upon part of that World.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> conclude, seeing all the Planets that are +plac’d in this Heaven, and are the Foster-Children +of this Sun, seem to have some Affinity +one with another, and have much what the +same Countenance, and the same general <i>Phænomena</i>; +it seems probable, that they rise much +what the same way, and after the like manner +as our Earth, each one from its respective +Chaos; and that they had the same Elementary +Regions at first, and an exteriour Orb +form’d over their Abyss: and lastly, That +every one of them hath suffer’d, or is to suffer +its Deluge, as our Earth hath done. These, +I say, are probable Conjectures according to +the Analogy of Reason and Nature, so far as +we can judge concerning Things very remote +and inaccessible.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> these things being thus, and our Theory +of the Deluge, and the Dissolution which +brought it, having such a general Agreement +both with our Heavens and our Earth, I think +there is nothing but the Uncouthness of the +Thing to some Men’s Understandings, the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_233'>233</span>Custom of thinking otherwise, and the Uneasiness +of entring into a new set of Thoughts, +that can be a Bar or Hindrance to its Reception. +But it may be improv’d, I doubt not, +in many Respects, and in some Particularities +rectified. The first Attempts in great Things +are seldom or never perfect: Such is the Weakness +of our Understandings, and the want of +a full Natural History. And in assigning Causes +of such great Effects, fair Conjectures are to +be allow’d, till they be displac’d by others more +evident and more certain. Accordingly I readily +submit to these Terms, and leave this, and +all other Parts of the Theory, to further Examination +and Enquiries.</p> +<div class='chapter'> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_235'>235</span> + <h2 class='c007'>THE THEORY OF THE EARTH. <br> BOOK <abbr title='two'>II.</abbr> <br> Concerning the Primæval Earth, and concerning <i>Paradise</i>.</h2> +</div> +<h3 class='c011'>CHAP. <abbr title='one'>I.</abbr></h3> +<p class='c012'><i>The Introduction and Contents of the Second +Book. The general State of the Primæval +Earth, and of Paradise.</i></p> +<p class='c008'>We have already seen a World begin +and perish; an Earth rais’d from +the Rudiments of a Chaos, and +dissolv’d and destroy’d in an Universal +Deluge. We have given also an imperfect +<span class='pageno' id='Page_236'>236</span>Description of that Primæval Earth, so +far as was necessary to shew the Causes and Manner +of its Dissolution. But we must not content +our selves with this; seeing that Earth was the first +Theatre upon which Mortals appear’d and acted, +and continu’d so for above sixteen hundred Years; +and that with Scenes, as both Reason and History +tell us, very extraordinary and very different +from these of our present Earth, ’tis reasonable +we should endeavour to make a more full Discovery +and Description of it; especially seeing +<i>Paradise</i> was there; that Seat of Pleasure which +our first Parents lost, and which all their Posterity +have much ado to find again.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> the First Book we so far describ’d this +new-found World, as to shew it very different +in Form and Fabrick from the present +Earth; there was no Sea there, no Mountains, +nor Rocks, nor broken Caves, ’twas all one +continued and regular Mass, smooth, simple +and compleat, as the first Works of Nature +use to be. But to know thus much only, doth +rather excite our Curiosity than satisfy it; what +were the other Properties of this World? +How were the Heavens, how the Elements? +What Accommodation for Human Life? Why +was it more proper to be the Seat of <i>Paradise</i> +than the present Earth? Unless we know +these Things, you will say, it will seem but +an easy <i>Idea</i> to us; and ’tis certain that the +more Properties and Particularities that we +know concerning any thing, the more real it +appears to be.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_237'>237</span><span class='sc'>As</span> it was our Chief Design therefore in the +precedent Book, to give an Account of the Universal +Deluge, by way of a Theory; so we +propose to our selves chiefly in this Book, from +the same Theory, to give an Account of <i>Paradise</i>; +and in performing of this, we shall be led into +a more full Examination and Display of that +first Earth, and of its Qualities. And if we be +so happy, as, by the Conduct of the same Principles +and the same Method, to give as fair an +Account, and as intelligible of the State of <i>Paradise</i> +in that Original Earth, as we have done +of the Deluge by the Dissolution of it, and of +the Form of this Earth which succeeded, one +must be very morose or melancholy to imagine, +that the Grounds we go upon, all this +while, are wholly false or fictitious. A Foundation +which will bear the Weight of two Worlds +without sinking, must surely stand upon a firm +Rock. And I am apt to promise my self that +this Theory of the Earth will find Acceptance +and Credit, more or less, with all but those +that think it a sufficient Answer to all Arguments, +to say, <i>it is a Novelty</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> to proceed in our Disquisition concerning +<i>Paradise</i>, we may note in the first Place, +two Opinions to be avoided, being both extreams; +one that placeth <i>Paradise</i> in the extra-mundane +Regions, or in the Air, or in the +Moon; and the other that makes it so inconsiderable, +as to be confin’d to a little Spot +of Ground in <i>Mesopotamia</i> or some other +Country of <i>Asia</i>, the Earth being now as it +<span class='pageno' id='Page_238'>238</span>was then. This offends as much in the Defect, +as the other in the Excess. For it is not any single +Region of the Earth that can be <i>Paradisiacal</i>, +unless all Nature conspire, and a certain Order +of Things proper and peculiar for that State. +Nor is it of less Importance to find out this peculiar +Order of Things, than to find out the +particular Seat of <i>Paradise</i>, but rather pre-requisite +to it: We will endeavour therefore to discover +and determine both, so far as a Theory can +go, beginning with that which is more general.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> certain there were some Qualities and +Conditions of <i>Paradise</i> that were not meerly +topical, but common to all the rest of the +Earth at that Time; and these we must consider +in the first Place, examine what they were, +and upon what they depended. History, both +Sacred and Profane, must tell us what they +were, and our Theory must shew us upon +what Causes they depended. I had once, I confess, +propos’d to my self another Method, independent +upon History or Effects; I thought to +have continued the Description of the Primitive +or antediluvian Earth from the Contemplation +of its Causes only, and then left it to the +Judgment of others to determine, whether +that was not the Earth where the Golden +Age was past, and where <i>Paradise</i> stood. For +I had observ’d three Conditions or Characters +of it, which I thought were sufficient to +answer all that we knew concerning that +first State of Things, viz. <i>The Regularity of +its Surface; The Situation or Posture of its +<span class='pageno' id='Page_239'>239</span>Body to the Sun; and the Figure of it</i>: From +these three general Causes I thought might be +deduc’d all the chief Differences of that Earth +from the present, and particularly those that +made it more capable of being <i>Paradisiacal</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> upon second Thoughts I judg’d it more +useful and expedient to lay aside the Causes at +present, and begin with the Effects, that we +night have some sensible Matter to work +upon. Bare <i>Ideas</i> of Things are look’d upon +as romantick till Effects be propos’d, whereof +they are to give an Account; ’Tis that +makes us value the Causes when Necessity +puts us upon Enquiry after them; and the +Reasons of Things are very acceptable, when +they ease the Mind, anxious and at a loss how +to understand Nature without their help. We +will therefore, without more ado, premise +those Things that have been taken Notice of +as extraordinary and peculiar to the first Ages +of the World, and to <i>Paradise</i>, and which +neither do, nor can, obtain in the present +Earth; whereof the first is a <i>perpetual Spring +or Equinox</i>; the second, the <i>Longævity of +Animals</i>; and the third, <i>their Production out +of the Earth</i>, and the great Fertility of the Soil +in all other Things.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>These</span> Difficulties guard the way to <i>Paradise</i> +like the flaming Sword, and must be remov’d +before we can enter; these are general +Preliminaries which we must explain before we +proceed to enquire after the particular Place +of this Garden of Pleasure. The Ancients +<span class='pageno' id='Page_240'>240</span>have taken Notice of all those in the first Ages +of the World, or in their <i>golden Age</i>, as they +call it; and I do not doubt but what they ascribe +to the golden Age, was more remarkably true of +<i>Paradise</i>; yet was not so peculiar to it, but that +it did in a good measure extend to other Parts +of the Earth at that Time. And ’tis manifest that +their golden Age was contemporary with our <i>Paradise</i>; +for they make it begin immediately after +the Production and Inhabitation of the Earth +(which they, as well as <i>Moses</i>, raise from the +Chaos) and to degenerate by degrees till the Deluge; +when the World ended, and begun again.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>That</span> this Parallel may the better appear, +we may observe, that as we say that the whole +Earth was, in some Sense, Paradisiacal in the +first Ages of the World, and that there was, +besides, one Region or Portion of it that was +peculiarly so, and bore the Denomination of +<i>Paradise</i>; So the Ancients, beside their golden +Age, which was common to all the Earth, +noted some Parts of it that were more golden, +if I may so say, than the rest, and which did more +particularly answer to <i>Paradise</i>; as their <i>Elysian</i> +Fields, Fortunate Islands, Gardens of <i>Hesperides</i>, +<i>Alcinous</i>, <i>&c.</i> these had a double Portion of +Pleasantness, and, beside the Advantages which +they had common with the rest of the Earth at +that Time, had something proper and singular, +which gave them a distinct Consideration and +Character from the rest.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Having</span> made this Observation, let us proceed, +and see what Antiquity saith, concerning +<span class='pageno' id='Page_241'>241</span>that first and Paradisiacal State of Things, upon +those three Heads forementioned; First, that +there was a perpetual Spring, and constant Serenity +of the Air. This is often repeated by the ancient +Poets, in their Description of the golden +Age.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Non alios prima crescentis origine mundi</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Iluxisse dies, aliumve habuisse tenorem,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Crediderim: Ver illud erat, Ver magnus agebat</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Orbis, & hybernis parcebant flatibus Euri.</i></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'>Virgil.</div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Such Days the new-born Earth enjoy’d of old;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And the calm Heavens in this same Tenor rowl’d:</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>All the great World had then one constant Spring;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>No cold East-winds, such as our Winters bring.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>For I interpret this in the same Sense with +<i>Ovid</i>’s Verses of the golden Age:</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Ver erat Æternum: Placidiq; tepentibus auris</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Mulcebant Zephyri natos sine semine flores.</i></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>The Spring was constant, and soft Winds that blew,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Rais’d without Seed, Flow’rs always sweet and new.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>And</span> then upon the Expiration of the golden +Age, he says,</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Jupiter antiqui contraxit tempora Veris, &c.</i></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_242'>242</span><i>When Jove begun to reign, he chang’d the Year,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And for one Spring four Seasons made appear.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>The</span> Ancients suppos’d, that in the Reign of +<i>Saturn</i>, who was an antediluvian God, as I may +so call him, Time flow’d with a more even Motion, +and there was no Diversity of Seasons in +the Year; but <i>Jupiter</i>, they say, first introduc’d +that, when he came to manage Affairs. This is +exprest after their way, who seldom give any +severe and philosophical Accounts of the Changes +of Nature. And as they suppos’d this perpetual +Spring in the Golden Age, so they did +also in their particular <i>Elysiums</i>; as I could +shew largely from their Authors, if it would +not multiply Citations too much. ’Tis true, +their <i>Elysiums</i> respected the new Heavens, and +new Earth to come, rather than the past; but +they are both fram’d upon the same Model, and +have common Properties.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Christian Authors have no less celebrated +the perpetual Spring and Serenity of +the Heavens in <i>Paradise</i>; such Expressions or +Descriptions you will find in <i>Justin Martyr</i>, +<i><abbr title='Saint'>S.</abbr> Basil</i>, <i>Damascen</i>, <i>Isidore Hispalensis</i>, <i>De +Grat. prim. hom.</i> and others, insomuch that +<i>Bellarmine</i>, I remember, reflecting upon those +Characters of <i>Paradise</i>, which many of the +Fathers have given in these Respects, saith, +Such Things could not be, unless the Sun had +then another Course from what he hath now; +or which is more easy, the Earth another Situation. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_243'>243</span>Which Conjecture will hereafter appear +to have been well grounded. In the mean Time, +let us see the Christian Poetry upon this Subject, +as we have seen the <i>Roman</i> upon the other. <i>Alcimus +Avitus</i> hath thus describ’d <i>Paradise</i> in his +Notes upon <i>Genesis</i>:</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Non hic alterni succedit temporis unquam</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Bruma, nec æstivi redeunt post frigora Soles;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Hic Ver assiduum Cæli clementia servat.</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Turbidus Auster abest, semperque sub aere sudo</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Nubila diffugiunt, jugi cessura sereno.</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Nec poscit Natura loci, quos non habet, imbres,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Sed contenta suo dotantur gerrmina rore.</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Perpetuo viret omne solum, terræque benignæ</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Blanda nitet facies: Stant semper collibus herbæ,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Arboribusque comæ, &c.</i></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>No Change of Seasons or Excess was there,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>No Winter chill’d, nor Summer scorch’d the Air,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>But with a constant Spring, Nature was fresh and fair.</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Rough Winds or Rains that Region never knew,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Water’d with Rivers and the Morning Dew;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>The Heav’ns still clear, the Fields still green and gay,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>No Clouds above, nor on the Earth decay;</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Trees kept their Leaves and Verdure all the Year,</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>And Fruits were never out of Season there.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>And as the Christian Authors, so likewise the +<i>Jewish</i> have spoken of <i>Paradise</i> in the same +manner; they tell us also that the Days there +were always of the same Length throughout +<span class='pageno' id='Page_244'>244</span>the whole Year; and that made ’em fancy <i>Paradise</i> +to lie under the Equinoctial; as we shall +see in its due Place. ’Tis true, we do not find +these Things mention’d expresly in the Sacred +Writings, but the Effects that flow’d from ’em +are recorded there, and we may reasonably suppose +Providence to have foreseen, that when those +Effects came to be scan’d and narrowly look’d into, +they would lead us to a Discovery of the +Causes, and particularly of this great and general +Cause, that <i>perpetual Equinox</i> and Unity of +Seasons in the Year, till the Deluge. The Longevity +of the Antediluvians cannot be explain’d +upon any other Supposition, as we shall have Occasion +to shew hereafter; and that you know is +recorded carefully in Scripture: As also that there +was no <i>Rainbow</i> before the Flood; which goes +upon the same Ground, that there was no Variety +of Seasons, nor any Rain: And this by many +is thought to be understood by <i>Moses</i>’s Words, +<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr> 5, 6.</i> which he speaks of the first and +Paradisiacal Earth. Lastly, Seeing the Earth +then brought forth the Principles of Life and +all living Creatures (Man excepted) according +to <i>Moses</i>, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> 24.</i> we must suppose +that the State of the Heavens was such as favour’d +these Conceptions and Births, which could +not possibly be brought to Perfection, as the +Seasons of the Year are at present. The first +time that we have mention made in Scripture +of Summer and Winter, and the Differences +of Seasons, is at the ending of the Deluge, +<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='eight'>viii.</abbr> 22.</i> <i>Henceforward all the Days +<span class='pageno' id='Page_245'>245</span>of the Earth, Seed-time and Harvest, Heat and +Cold, Summer and Winter, Day and Night shall +not cease.</i> ’Tis true these Words are so lax, +that they may be understood either of a new +Course of Nature then instituted, or of an +old one restor’d; but seeing it doth appear from +other Arguments and Considerations, that there +was at that time a new Course of Nature constituted, +it is more reasonable to interpret the +Words in that Sense; which, as it is agreeable +to Truth, according to Reason and Antiquity +so it renders that Remark of <i>Moses</i> of +far greater Importance, if it be understood as +an Indication of a new Order then settled in +Nature, which should continue henceforwards +so long as the Earth endur’d. Nor do I at all +wonder that such things should not be expresly +and positively declar’d in Scripture; for Natural +Mysteries in the Holy Writings, as well as Prophetical, +are many times, on set Purpose, incompleatly +deliver’d, so as to awaken and excite our +Thoughts rather than fully resolve them: This +being often more suitable to the Designs of Providence +in the Government of the World. But +thus much for this first common or general Character +of the Golden Age, and of <i>Paradise</i>, a +<i>perpetual Serenity and perpetual Equinox</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> second Character is the Longevity of +Men, and, as is probable, of all other Animals +in Proportion. This, methinks, is as +strange and surprising as the other, and I +know no Difference betwixt the Antediluvian +World and the present, so apt to affect us, if +<span class='pageno' id='Page_246'>246</span>we reflect upon it, as this wonderful Disproportion +in the Ages of Men; our Forefathers and +their Posterity: They liv’d seven, eight, nine hundred +Years and upwards, and ’tis a wonder now +if a Man live to one hundred. Our Oaks do not +last so long as their Bodies did; Stone and Iron +would scarce outwear them. And this Property +of the first Ages, or their Inhabitants, how strange +soever, is well attested, and beyond all Exception, +having the joint Consent of Sacred and Profane +History. The Scripture sets down the precise +Age of a Series of Antediluvian Patriarchs, +and by that measures the Time from the beginning +of the World to the Deluge; so as all +Sacred Chronology stands upon that bottom. +Yet I know some have thought this so improbable +and incongruous a Thing, that to save +the Credit of <i>Moses</i> and the Sacred History, +they interpret these Years of <i>Lunar</i> Years or +Months; and so the Ages of these Patriarchs +are reduc’d to much what the same measure +with the common Life of Man at this Time. +It may be observ’d in this, as in many other +Instances, that for want of a Theory to make +Things credible and intelligible, Men of Wit +and Parts have often deprest the Sense of Scripture; +and that not out of any ill Will to Scripture +or Religion, but because they could not +otherwise, upon the Stock of their Notions, +give themselves a rational Account of Things +recorded there. But I hope when we come to +explain the Causes of this Longevity, we shall +shew that it is altogether as strange a Thing +<span class='pageno' id='Page_247'>247</span>that Men should have such short Lives as they +have now, as that they had such long Lives in the +first Ages of the World. In the mean time there +are a great many collateral Reasons to assure us +that <i>Lunar</i> Years cannot be here understood by +<i>Moses</i>, for all Antiquity gives the same Account +of those first Ages of the World, and of the first +Men, that they were extreamly long-liv’d. We +meet with it generally in the Description of the +Golden Age; and not only so, but in their Topical +<i>Paradises</i> also they always suppos’d a great +Vivacity or Longevity in those that enjoy’d +them. And <i>Josephus</i>, speaking upon this Subject, +<i>Book <abbr title='one'>I.</abbr> <abbr class='spell'>C.</abbr> <abbr title='four'>iv.</abbr> Jew. Ant.</i> saith, the Authors +of all the learned Nations, <i>Greeks</i>, or +<i>Barbarians</i>, bare witness to <i>Moses</i>’s Doctrine +in this Particular. And in the <i>Mosaical</i> History +it self, there are several Circumstances and +Marks that discover plainly, that the Years of +the Patriarchs cannot be understood of <i>Lunar</i> +Years; as we shall have Occasion to shew in another +Place. We proceed in the mean time to +the third and last Character, The extraordinary +Fertility of the Soil, and the Production of +Animals out of the new made Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> first part of this Character is unquestionable; +All Antiquity speaks of the Plenty +of the Golden Age, and of their <i>Paradises</i>, +whether Christian or Heathen. The Fruits of +the Earth were at first spontaneous, and the +Ground, without being torn and tormented, +satisfied the Wants or Desires of Man. When +Nature was fresh and full, all things flow’d +<span class='pageno' id='Page_248'>248</span>from her more easily and more pure, like the first +running of the Grape, or the Honey-comb; but +now she must be prest and squeez’d, and her Productions +taste more of the Earth and of bitterness. +The ancient Poets have often pleas’d themselves +in making Descriptions of this happy State, and +in admiring the Riches and Liberality of Nature +at that Time; but we need not transcribe their +Poetry here, seeing this Point is not, I think, contested +by any. The second Part of this Character, +concerning the spontaneous Origin of living +Creatures out of that first Earth, is not so unquestionable; +and as to Man, <i>Moses</i> plainly implies, +that there was a particular Action or Ministry +of Providence in the Formation of his Body; +but as to other Animals, he seems to suppose +that the Earth brought them forth as it did +Herbs and Plants. (<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> 24.</i> compar’d with +the 11th Verse.) And the Truth is, there is +no such great Difference betwixt Vegetable +and Animal Eggs, or betwixt the Seeds out of +which Plants rise, and the Eggs out of which +all Animals rise, but that we may conceive +the one as well as the other in the first Earth; +And as some Warmth and Influence from the +Sun is required for the Vegetation of Seeds, so +that Influence or Impregnation, which is necessary +to make Animal Eggs fruitful, was imputed +by the Ancients to the <i>Æther</i>, or to +an active and pure Element which had the same +Effect upon our great Mother the Earth, as +the Irradiation of the Male hath upon the +Female’s Eggs.</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><span class='pageno' id='Page_249'>249</span><i>Tum Pater Omnipotens fœcundus imbribus Æther</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Conjugis in gremium lætæ descendit.</i></div> + </div> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>In fruitful Showers of Æther Jove did glide</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Into the Bosom of his joyful Bride.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> true, this Opinion of the spontaneous +Origin of Animals in the first Earth hath lain under +some <i>Odium</i>, because it was commonly reckon’d +to be <i>Epicurus</i>’s Opinion peculiarly; and +he extended it not only to all Brute Creatures, +but to Mankind also, whom he suppos’d to grow +out of the Earth in great Numbers, in several +Parts and Countries, like other Animals; which +is a Notion contrary to the Sacred Writings; for +they declare, that all Mankind, though diffus’d +now through the several Parts and Regions of +the Earth, rose at first from one Head or single +Man or Woman; which is a Conclusion of great +Importance, and that could not, I think, by the +Light of Nature, have ever been discover’d. +And this makes the <i>Epicurean</i> Opinion the more +improbable, for why should two rise only, if +they sprung from the Earth? Or how could +they rise in their full Growth and Perfection, +as <i>Adam</i> and <i>Eve</i> did? But as for the Opinion +of Animals rising out of the Earth at first, that +was not at all peculiar to <i>Epicurus</i>: The <i>Stoicks</i> +were of the same Mind, and the <i>Pythagoreans</i> +and the <i>Egyptians</i>, and I think, all that suppos’d +the Earth to rise from a Chaos. Neither do +I know any harm in that Opinion, if duly limited +<span class='pageno' id='Page_250'>250</span>and stated; for what Inconvenience is it, +or what Diminution of Providence, that there +should be the Principles of Life, as well as the +Principles of Vegetation, in the new Earth? And +unless you suppose all the first Animals, as well +as the first Man, to have been made at one Stroke, +in their full Growth and Perfection, which we +have neither Reason nor Authority sufficient to +believe; if they were made young, little, and +weak, as they come now into the World, there +seems to be no way for their Production more +proper, and decorous, than that they should +spring from their great Mother the Earth. Lastly, +considering the innumerable little Creatures that +are upon the Earth, Insects and creeping Things; +and that these were not created out of nothing, +but form’d out of the Ground; I think that +an Office most proper for Nature, that can set +so many Hands to work at once; and that hath +Hands fit for all those little Operations or Manufactures, +how small soever, that would less +become the Dignity of Superior Agents.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much for the Preliminaries, or three +general Characters of <i>Paradise</i>, which were +common to it with the rest of the Primæval +Earth; and were the chief Ingredients of the +Golden Age, so much celebrated by the Ancients. +I know there were several other Differences +betwixt that Earth and this; but these +are the Original; and such as are not necessary +to be premis’d for the general Explication of +<i>Paradise</i>, we reserve for another Place. We +may in the mean time observe, how preposterously +<span class='pageno' id='Page_251'>251</span>they go to work, that set themselves +immediately to find out some pleasant Place +of the Earth to fix <i>Paradise</i> in, before they +have consider’d, or laid any Grounds, to explain +the general Conditions of it, wheresoever +it was. These must be first known and +determin’d, and we must take our Aim and +Directions from these, how to proceed further +in out Enquiries after it; otherwise we sail +without a Compass, or seek a Port and know +not which way it lies. And as we should +think him a very unskilful Pilot that sought a +Place in the new World, or <i>America</i>, that really +was in the old; so they commit no less an +Error, that seek <i>Paradise</i> in the present Earth, +as now constituted, which could only belong +to the former, and to the State of the first +World: As will appear more plainly in the +following Chapter.</p> +<h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='two'>II.</abbr></span></h3> +<p class='c012'><i>The great Change of the World since the Flood +from what it was in the first Ages. The +Earth under its present Form could not be +Paradisiacal, nor any Part of it.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><i><span class='sc'>The</span> Scheme of this World passeth away</i>, +saith an Holy Author: the Mode +and Form both of the Natural and Civil +World changeth continually more or less, but +most remarkable at certain Periods, when all +Nature puts on another Face; as it will do at +the Conflagration, and hath done already from +<span class='pageno' id='Page_252'>252</span>the Time of the Deluge. We may imagine how +different a Prospect the first World would make +from what we see now in the present State of +Things, if we consider only those Generals, by +which we have describ’d it in the foregoing Chapter, +and what their Influence would be upon +Mankind and the rest of Nature. For every new +State of Nature doth introduce a new Civil Order, +and a new Face and Oeconomy of Human +Affairs: And I am apt to think, that some two +Planets, that are under the same State or Period, +do not so much differ from one another, as the +same Planet doth from it self in different Periods +of its Duration. We do not seem to inhabit the +same World that our first Fore-fathers did, nor +scarce to be the same Race of Men. Our Life +now is so short and vain, as if we came into the +World only to see it and leave it; by that Time +we begin to understand our selves a little, and to +know where we are, and how to act our part, +we must leave the Stage, and give Place to +others as meer Novices as we were our selves +at our first Entrance. And this short Life is +employ’d in a great Measure to preserve our +selves from Necessity, or Diseases, or Injuries +of the Air, or other Inconveniences; to make +one Man easy, ten must work and do drudgery; +The Body takes up so much Time, we have +little Leisure for Contemplation, or to cultivate +the Mind. The Earth doth not yield +us Food, but with much Labour and Industry; +and what was her free-will Offering before, or +an easy Liberality, can scarce now be extorted +<span class='pageno' id='Page_253'>253</span>from her. Neither are the Heavens more favourable, +sometimes in one Extream, sometimes in +another; The Air often impure or infectious, +and, for a great Part of the Year, Nature her self +seems to be sick or dead. To this Vanity the external +Creation is made subject as well as Mankind, +and so must continue till the Restitution +of all Things.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Can</span> we imagine, in those happy Times and +Places we are treating of, that Things stood in +this same Posture? Are these the Fruits of the +golden Age and of <i>Paradise</i>, or consistent with +their Happiness? And the Remedies of these Evils +must be so universal, you cannot give them +to one Place or Region of the Earth, but all must +participate: For these are Things that flow from +the Course of the Heavens, or such general Causes, +as extend at once to all Nature. If there was +a perpetual Spring and perpetual Equinox in <i>Paradise</i>, +there was at the same Time a perpetual Equinox +all the Earth over; unless you place <i>Paradise</i> +in the middle of the Torrid Zone. So also +the long Lives of the Antediluvians was an universal +Effect, and must have had an universal +Cause. ’Tis true, in some single Parts or Regions +of the present Earth, the Inhabitants live generally +longer than in others, but do not approach +in any Measure the Age of their antediluvian +Fore-fathers; and that degree of Longevity +which they have above the rest, they owe +to the Calmness and Tranquillity of their +Heavens and Air; which is but an imperfect +Participation of that Cause which was +<span class='pageno' id='Page_254'>254</span>once universal, and had its Effect throughout +the whole Earth. And as to the Fertility of +this Earth, though in some Spots it be eminently +more fruitful than in others, and more +delicious; yet that of the first Earth was a Fertility +of another kind, being spontaneous, and +extending to the Production of Animals, which +cannot be without a favourable Concourse +from the Heavens also.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much in general; we will now go over +those three fore-mention’d Characters more distinctly, +to shew, by their Unsuitableness to the +present State of Nature, that neither the whole +Earth, as it is now, nor any Part of it, could be +<i>Paradisiacal</i>. The perpetual Spring, which belong’d +to the golden Age, and to <i>Paradise</i>, is +an Happiness this present Earth cannot pretend +to, nor is capable of, unless we could transfer +the Sun from the Ecliptick to the Equator, or, +which is as easy, persuade the Earth to change its +Posture to the Sun. If <i>Archimedes</i> had found a +Place to plant his Machines in for removing of +the Earth, all that I should have desir’d of him, +would have been only to have given it an Heave +at one End, and set it a little to rights again with +the Sun, that we might have enjoy’d the Comfort +of a perpetual Spring, which we have lost by +its Dislocation ever since the Deluge. And there +being nothing more indispensably necessary to +a <i>Paradisiacal</i> State than this Unity and +equality of Seasons, where that cannot be, ’tis +in vain to seek for the rest of <i>Paradise</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_255'>255</span><span class='sc'>The</span> spontaneous Fruitfulness of the Ground +was a thing peculiar to the Primigenial Soil, +which was so temper’d, as made it more Luxuriant +at that time than it could ever be afterwards; +and as that rich Temperament was spent, so by +degrees it grew less fertile. The Origin or Production +of Animals out of the Earth depended +not only upon this vital Constitution of the Soil +at first, but also upon such a Posture and Aspect +of the Heavens, as favour’d, or at least permitted +Nature, to make her best Works out of this +prepar’d Matter, and better than could be made +in that manner after the Flood. <i>Noah</i>, we see, +had Orders given him to preserve the Races of +living Creatures in his Ark, when the old World +was destroy’d; which is an Argument to me, +that Providence foresaw that the Earth would +not be capable to produce them under its new +Form; and that, not only for want of Fitness +in the Soil, but because of the Diversity of Seasons +which were then to take place, whereby +Nature would be disturb’d in her Work, and the +Subject to be wrought upon would not continue +long enough in the same due Temper. +But this Part of the second Character, concerning +the Original of Animals, deserves to be further +examin’d and explain’d.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> first Principles of Life must be tender +and ductile, that they may yield to all the Motions +and gentle Touches of Nature; otherwise +it is not possible, that they should be +wrought with that Curiosity, and drawn into +all those little fine Threads and Textures, that +<span class='pageno' id='Page_256'>256</span>we see and admire in some parts of the Bodies of +Animals. And as the Matter must be so constituted +at first, so it must be kept in a due Temper +till the Work be finish’d, without any Excess of +Heat or Cold; and accordingly we see that Nature +hath made Provision in all sorts of Creatures +whether Oviparous or Viviparous, that the first +Rudiments of Life should be preserv’d from all +Injuries of the Air, and kept in a moderate +Warmth. Eggs are enclos’d in a Shell, or Film, +and must be cherished with an equal gentle heat, +to begin Formation and continue it, otherwise +the Work miscarries: And in Viviparous Creatures, +the Materials of Life are safely lodg’d in +the Female’s Womb, and conserv’d in a fit Temperature +’twixt heat and cold, while the Causes +that Providence hath employ’d are busy at work, +fashioning and placing and joining the Parts in +that due Order which so wonderful a Fabrick +requires.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Let</span> us now compare these Things with the +Birth of Animals in the new-made World, when +they first rose out of the Earth, to see what Provision +could be made there for their Safety and +Nourishment, while they were a making, and +when newly made; and though we take all Advantages +we can, and suppose both the Heavens +and the Earth favourable, a fit Soil and a warm +and constant Temper of the Air, all will be little +enough to make this way of Production feasible +or probable. But if we suppose there +was then the same Inconstancy of the Heavens +that is now, the same Vicissitude of Seasons, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_257'>257</span>the same inequality of Heat and Cold, I do not +think it at all possible that they could be so form’d, +or, being new-form’d, preserv’d and nourish’d. +’Tis true, some little Creatures that are of short +Dispatch in their Formation, and find Nourishment +enough wheresoever they are bred, might +be produc’d and brought to Perfection in this +way, notwithstanding any Inequality of Seasons; +because they are made all at a Heat, as I may so +say, begun and ended within the compass of one +Season. But the great Question is, concerning the +more perfect kinds of Animals, that require a +long stay in the Womb, to make them capable to +sustain and nourish themselves when they first +come into the World. Such Animals, being big +and strong, must have a pretty Hardness in their +Bones, and Force and Firmness in their Muscles +and Joints, before they can bear their own +weight, and exercise the common Motions of +their Body: And accordingly we see Nature hath +ordain’d for these a longer Time of Gestation, +that their Limbs and Members might have time +to acquire Strength and Solidity. Besides, the +young ones of these Animals have commonly +the Milk of the Dam to nourish them after +they are brought forth, which is a very +proper Nourishment, and like to that which +they had before in the Womb; and by this +means their Stomachs are prepar’d by degrees +for coarser Food; Whereas our Terrigenous +Animals must have been wean’d as soon as +they were born, or as soon as they were separated +from their Mother the Earth, and therefore +<span class='pageno' id='Page_258'>258</span>must be allow’d a longer Time of Continuing +there.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>These</span> Things being consider’d, we cannot +in Reason but suppose, that these Terrigenous +Animals were as long, or longer, a Perfecting, +than our Viviparous, and were not separated +from the Body of the Earth for ten, twelve, +eighteen, or more Months, according as their +Nature was; and seeing in this Space of Time +they must have suffer’d, upon the common <i>Hypothesis</i>, +all Vicissitudes and Variety of Seasons, +and great Excesses of Heat and Cold, which are +Things incompatible with the tender Principles +of Life, and the Formation of living Creatures, +as we have shewn before; we may reasonably +and safely conclude, that Nature had not, when +the World began, the same Course she hath +now, or that the Earth was not then in its present +Posture and Constitution: Seeing, I say, +these first spontaneous Births, which both the +Holy Writ, Reason and Antiquity seem to allow, +could not be finish’d and brought to Maturity, +nor afterwards preserv’d and nourish’d, +upon any other Supposition.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Longevity</span> is the last Character to be +consider’d, and as inconsistent with the present +State of the Earth as any other. There are +many Things in the Story of the first Ages +that seem strange, but nothing so prodigy-like as +the long Lives of those Men; that their Houses +of Clay should stand eight or nine hundred +Years and upwards, and those we build of the +hardest Stone, or Marble, will not now last so +<span class='pageno' id='Page_259'>259</span>long. This hath excited the Curiosity of ingenious +and learned Men in all Ages, to enquire +after the possible Causes of that Longevity; +and if it had been always in Conjunction with +Innocency of Life and Manners, and expir’d when +that expir’d, we might have thought it some peculiar +Blessing or Reward attending that; but +it was common to good and bad, and lasted +till the Deluge, whereas Mankind was degenerate +long before. Amongst Natural Causes, +some have imputed it to the Sobriety and Simplicity +of their Diet and manner of Living in +those Days, that they eat no Flesh, and had not +all those Provocations to Gluttony, which Wit +and Vice have since invented. This might have +some Effect, but not possibly to that Degree and +Measure that we speak of. There are many Monastical +Persons now, that live Abstemiously all +their Lives, and yet they think an hundred Years +a very great Age amongst them. Others have +imputed it to the Excellency of their Fruits, +and some unknown Virtue in their Herbs and +Plants in those Days; but they may as well +say nothing, as say that which can neither be +prov’d nor understood. It could not be either +the Quantity or Quality of their food that was +the Cause of their long Lives, for the Earth +was said to be curst long before the Deluge, +and probably by that time was more barren and +juiceless (for the generality) than ours is now; +yet we do not see that their Longevity decreas’d +at all, from the Beginning of the World +to the Flood. <i>Methusalah</i> was <i>Noah</i>’s Grandfather +<span class='pageno' id='Page_260'>260</span>but one intire Remove from the Deluge, +and he liv’d longer than any of his Fore-fathers. +That Food that will nourish the Parts, and keep +us in Health, is also capable to keep us in long +Life, if there be no Impediments otherwise; for +to continue Health is to continue Life; as that +Fewel that is fit to raise and nourish a Flame, +will preserve it as long as you please, if you add +fresh Fewel, and no external Causes hinder: Neither +do we observe that in those Parts of the present +Earth, where People live longer than in others, +that there is any thing extraordinary in their +Food; but that the Difference is chiefly from the +Air and the Temperateness of the Heavens; And +if the Antediluvians had not enjoy’d that Advantage +in a peculiar manner, and differently from +what any Parts of the Earth do now, they would +never have seen seven, eight, or nine hundred +Years go over their Heads, though they had +been nourish’d with <i>Nectar</i> and <i>Ambrosia</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Others</span> have thought that the long Lives of +those Men of the old World proceeded from +the Strength of their <i>Stamina</i>, or first Principles +of their Bodies; which if they were now +as strong in us, they think we should still live as +long as they did. This could not be the sole +and adequate Cause of their Longevity, as +will appear both from History and Reason. +<i>Shem</i>, who was born before the Flood, and had +in his Body all the Virtue of the antediluvian +<i>Stamina</i> and Constitution, fell three hundred +Years short of the Age of his Fore-fathers, because +the greatest part of his Life was past +<span class='pageno' id='Page_261'>261</span>after the Flood. That their <i>Stamina</i> were stronger +than ours are, I am very ready to believe, and that +their Bodies were greater; and any Race of strong +Men, living long in Health, would have Children +of a proportionable strong Constitution with +themselves; but then the Question is, how was +this interrupted? We that are their Posterity, why +do not we inherit their long Lives? How was this +Constitution broken at the Deluge, and how did +the <i>Stamina</i> fail so fast when that came? Why +was there so great a <i>Crisis</i> then and Turn of Life, +or why was that the Period of their Strength?</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> see this Longevity sunk half in half immediately +after the Flood, and after that it +sunk by gentler degrees, but was still in Motion +and Declension till it was fixt at length before +<i>David</i>’s time, <i><abbr title='Psalms'>Psal.</abbr> <abbr title='ninety'>xc.</abbr> 10.</i> (<i>call’d a Psalm +of Moses</i>,) in that which hath been the common +Standard of Man’s Age ever since: As +when some excellent Fruit is transplanted into +a worse Climate and Soil, it degenerates continually +till it comes to such a degree of Meanness +as suits that Air and Soil, and then it stands. +That the Age of Man did not fall all on a sudden +from the Antediluvian Measure to the present, +I impute it to the remaining <i>Stamina</i> of +those first Ages, and the Strength of that pristine +Constitution which could not wear off +but by degrees. We see the <i>Blacks</i> do not +quit their Complexion immediately, by removing +into another Climate, but their Posterity +changeth by little and little, and after some +Generations they become altogether like the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_262'>262</span>People of the Country where they are. Thus by +the Change of Nature that happen’d at the Flood, +the unhappy Influence of the Air and unequal +Seasons, weaken’d by degrees the innate Strength +of their Bodies, and the Vigour of their Parts, +which would have been capable to have lasted several +more hundreds of Years, if the Heavens had +continued their Course as formerly, or the Earth +its Position. To conclude this particular, if any +think that the Antediluvian Longevity proceeded +only from the <i>Stamina</i>, or the meer Strength +of their Bodies, and would have been so under +any Constitution of the Heavens, let ’em resolve +themselves these Questions: First, Why +these <i>Stamina</i>, or this Strength of Constitution +fail’d? Secondly, Why did it fail so much +and so remarkably at the Deluge? Thirdly, +Why in such Proportions as it hath done since +the Deluge? And lastly, Why it hath stood so +long immovable, and without any further Diminution? +Within the compass of five hundred +Years they sunk from nine hundred to +ninety; and in the compass of more than three +thousand Years since, they have not sunk ten +Years, or scarce any thing at all. Who considers +the Reasons of these Things, and the true Resolution +of these Questions, will be satisfied, +that to understand the Causes of that Longevity, +something more must be consider’d than +the Make and Strength of their Bodies; which +though they had been made as strong as the +<i>Behemoth</i> or <i>Leviathan</i>, could not have lasted +so many Ages, if there had not been a particular +<span class='pageno' id='Page_263'>263</span>Concurrence of external Causes, such as the +present State of Nature doth not admit of.</p> + +<p class='c004'>By this short Review of the three general +Characters of <i>Paradise</i> and the Golden Age, +we may conclude how little consistent they are +with the present Form and Order of the Earth. +Who can pretend to assign any Place or Region +in this terraqueous Globe, Island or Continent, +that is capable of these Conditions, or +that agrees either with the Descriptions given +by the ancient Heathens of their <i>Paradises</i>, +or by the Christian Fathers of Scripture <i>Paradise</i>? +But where then, will you say, must we +look for it, if not upon this Earth? This puts +us more into Despair of finding it than ever; +’tis not above nor below, in the Air or in the +subterraneous Regions; No, doubtless ’twas +upon the Surface of the Earth, but of the Primitive +Earth, whose Form and Properties, as +they were different from this, so they were +such as made it capable of being truly <i>Paradisiacal</i>, +both according to the forementioned +Characters, and all other Qualities, and Privileges +reasonably ascrib’d to <i>Paradise</i>.</p> +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_264'>264</span> + <h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='three'>III.</abbr></span></h3> +</div> +<p class='c012'><i>The Original Differences of the Primitive +Earth from the present or post-diluvian. The +three Characters of Paradise and the Golden +Age found in the Primitive Earth. A particular +Explication of each Character.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have hitherto only perplex’d the Argument +and our selves, by shewing how +inexplicable the State of <i>Paradise</i> is, according +to the present Order of Things, and the present +Condition of the Earth. We must now therefore +bring into View that Original and Antediluvian +Earth, where we pretend its Seat was, and shew +it capable of all those Privileges which we have +deny’d to the present; in virtue of which Privileges, +and of the order of Nature establish’d there, +that Primitive Earth might be truly <i>Paradisiacal</i>, +as in the Golden Age; and some Region +of it might be peculiarly so, according to the receiv’d +<i>Idea</i> of <i>Paradise</i>. And this, I think, is +all the Knowledge and Satisfaction that we +can expect, or that Providence hath allow’d us +in this Argument.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Primigenial Earth, which in the first +Book (<a href='#chap-1-5'><i>Chap. 5.</i></a>) we rais’d from a Chaos, and +set up in an habitable Form, we must now survey +again with more Care, to observe its principal +Differences from the present Earth, and +what Influence they will have upon the +Question in Hand. These Differences, as we +<span class='pageno' id='Page_265'>265</span>have said before, were chiefly three; the Form of +it, which was smooth, even, and regular; the +Posture and Situation of it to the Sun, which was +direct, and not as it is at present, inclin’d and +oblique; and the Figure of it, which was more +apparently and regularly Oval than it is now. +From these three Differences flow’d a great many +more, inferior and subordinate; and which +had a considerable Influence upon the moral +World at that Time, as well as the natural. +But we will only observe here, their more immediate +Effects, and that in reference to those general +Characters or Properties of the Golden Age +and of <i>Paradise</i>, which we have instanc’d in, +and whereof we are bound to give an Account +by our <i>Hypothesis</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> in this respect the most Fundamental +of those three Differences we mentioned, was +that of the right Posture and Situation of the +Earth to the Sun; for from this immediately +follow’d a perpetual Æquinox all the Earth +over, or, if you will, a perpetual Spring: And +that was the great Thing we found wanting in +the present Earth to make it <i>Paradisiacal</i>, or +capable of being so. Wherefore this being +now found and establish’d in the Primitive +Earth, the other two Properties of Longevity, +and of spontaneous and vital Fertility, will be +of more easy Explication. In the mean Time +let us view a little the Reasons and Causes of +that regular Situation in the first Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Truth is, one cannot so well require +a Reason of the regular Situation the Earth had +<span class='pageno' id='Page_266'>266</span>then, for that was most simple and natural; as of +the irregular Situation it hath now, standing oblique +and inclin’d to the Sun or the Ecliptick: +Whereby the Course of the Year is become unequal, +and we are cast into a great Diversity of Seasons. +But however, stating the first aright with its +Circumstances, we shall have a better Prospect +upon the second, and see from what Causes, and +in what Manner, it came to pass. Let us therefore +suppose the Earth, with the rest of its fellow Planets, +to be carried about the Sun in the Ecliptick, +by the Motion of the liquid Heavens; and being +at that time perfectly uniform and regular, having +the same Center of its Magnitude and +Gravity, it would by the Equality of its Libration +necessarily have its Axis parallel to the +Axis of the same Ecliptick, both its Poles being +equally inclin’d to the Sun. And this Posture +I call a <i>right Situation</i>, as oppos’d to oblique +or inclin’d; or a <i>parallel</i> Situation, if +you please. Now this is a Thing that needs +no Proof besides its own Evidence; for ’tis +the immediate result and common Effect of +Gravity or Libration, that a Body, freely left +to it self in a fluid <i>Medium</i>, should settle in +such a Posture as best answers to its Gravitation; +and this first Earth whereof we speak, +being uniform, and every way equally balanced, +there was no Reason why it should +incline at one End, more than at the other, +towards the Sun. As if you should suppose +a Ship to stand North and South under the +Equator, if it was equally built and equally +<span class='pageno' id='Page_267'>267</span>ballasted, it would not incline to one Pole or +other, but keep its Axis parallel to the Axis +of the Earth; but if the Ballast lay more at +one End, it would dip towards that Pole, and +rise proportionably higher towards the other. +So those great Ships that sail about the Sun +once a Year, or once in so many Years, whilst +they are uniformly built and equally pois’d, +they keep steady and even with the Axis of +their Orbit; but if they lose that Equality, +and the Center of their Gravity change, the +heavier End will incline more towards the common +Center of their Motion, and the other +End will recede from it. So particularly the +Earth, which makes one in that Aëry Fleet, +when it scap’d so narrowly from being Shipwreckt +in the great Deluge, was however so +broken and disorder’d, that it lost its equal Poise, +and thereupon the Center of its Gravity changing, +one Pole became more inclin’d towards +the Sun, and the other more remov’d from it, and +so its right and parallel Situation which it had +before, to the Axis of the Ecliptick, was chang’d +into an Oblique; in which skew Posture it hath +stood ever since, and is likely so to do for some +Ages to come. I instance in this, as the most obvious +Cause of the Change of the Situation of +the Earth, though, it may be, upon this followed +a Change in its Magnetism, and that might +also contribute to the same Effect.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>However</span>, this Change and Obliquity of +the Earth’s Posture had a long train of Consequences +depending upon it; whereof that was +<span class='pageno' id='Page_268'>268</span>the most immediate, that it alter’d the Form +of the Year, and brought in that Inequality of +Seasons, which hath since obtain’d: As, on +the contrary, while the Earth was in its first +and natural Posture, in a more easy and regular +Disposition to the Sun, that had also another +respective train of Consequences, whereof +one of the first, and that which we are +most concern’d in at present, was, that it made +a perpetual Equinox or Spring to all the World, +all the Parts of the Year had one and the same +Tenor, Face and Temper; there was no Winter +or Summer, Seed-Time or Harvest, but a +continual Temperature of the Air and Verdure +of the Earth. And this fully answers the first +and fundamental Character of the Golden +Age and of <i>Paradise</i>; and what Antiquity, +whether Heathen or Christian, hath spoken concerning +that perpetual Serenity and constant +Spring that reign’d there, which in the one +was accounted Fabulous, and in the other Hyperbolical, +we see to have been really and philosophically +true. Nor is there any Wonder in +the Thing, the wonder is rather on our side, +that the Earth should stand and continue in that +forc’d Posture wherein it is now, spinning Yearly +about an Axis, I mean that of the Equator, that +doth not belong to the Orbit of its Motion; +This, I say, is more strange than that it once +stood in a Posture that was streight and regular; +as we more justly admire the Tower at <i>Pisa</i>, +that stands crook’d, than twenty other streight +Towers that are much higher.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_269'>269</span><span class='sc'>Having</span> got this Foundation to stand upon, +the rest of our Work will go on more easily; and +the two other Characters which we mention’d, +will not be of very difficult Explication. The +spontaneous Fertility of the Earth, and its Production +of Animals at that time, we have in +some measure explain’d before, supposing it to +proceed partly from the Richness of the primigenial +Soil, and partly from this constant Spring and +Benignity of the Heavens, which we have now +establish’d: These were always ready to excite +Nature, and put her upon Action, and never +to interrupt her in any of her Motions or Attempts. +We have shew’d in the fifth Chapter +of the first Book, how this primigenial Soil was +made, and of what Ingredients; which were +such as compose the richest and fattest Soil, being +a light Earth mix’d with unctuous Juices, +and then afterwards refresh’d and diluted with +the Dews of Heaven all the Year long, and +cherish’d with a continual Warmth from the Sun. +What more hopeful Beginning of a World than +this? You will grant, I believe, that whatsoever +degree, or whatsoever kind of Fruitfulness could +be expected from a Soil and a Sun, might be reasonably +expected there. We see great Woods +and Forests of Trees rise spontaneously, and +that since the Flood (for who can imagine +that the ancient Forests, whereof some were +so vastly great, were planted by the Hand of +Man?) why should we not then believe that +Fruit-trees and Corn rose as spontaneously in +that first Earth? That which makes Husbandry +<span class='pageno' id='Page_270'>270</span>and human Arts so necessary now for the +Fruits and Productions of the Earth, is partly +indeed the Decay of the Soil, but chiefly the +Diversity of Seasons, whereby they perish, if +care be not taken of them; but when there +was neither Heat nor Cold, Winter nor Summer, +every Season was a Seed-time to Nature, +and every Season an Harvest.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span>, it may be, you will allow as to the +Fruits of the Earth, but that the same Earth +should produce Animals also, will not be thought +so intelligible. Since it hath been discover’d, +that the first Materials of all Animals are Eggs, +as Seeds are of Plants, it doth not seem so +hard to conceive, that these Eggs might be +in the first Earth, as well as those Seeds; for +there is a great Analogy and Similitude betwixt +them; especially if you compare these +Seeds first with the Eggs of Insects or Fishes, and +then with the Eggs of viviparous Animals. And +as for those Juices which the Eggs of viviparous +Animals imbibe thorough their Coats from the +Womb, they might as well imbibe them, or +something analogous to them, from a conveniently +temper’d Earth, as Plant-Eggs do; and +these Things being admitted, the Progress is +much what the same in Seeds as Eggs, and in +one sort of Eggs as in another.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> true, Animal-Eggs do not seem to be +fruitful of themselves, without the Influence +of the Male; and this is not necessary in Plant-Eggs +or vegetable Seeds. But neither doth it +seem necessary in all Animal-Eggs, if there be +<span class='pageno' id='Page_271'>271</span>any Animals <i>sponte orta</i>, as they call them, or +bred without Copulation. And, as we observ’d +before, according to the best Knowledge that +we have of this Male influence, it is reasonable +to believe, that it may be supplied by the Heavens +or <i>Æther</i>. The Ancients, both the <i>Stoicks</i> +and <i>Aristotle</i>, have suppos’d that there was something +of an æthereal Element in the Malegeniture, +from whence the Virtue of it chiefly proceeded; +and if so, why may we not suppose, at +that Time, some general Impression or Irradiation +of that purer Element to fructify the new +made Earth? <i>Moses</i> saith there was an Incubation +of the Spirit of God upon the Mass, and without +all doubt that was either to form or fructify +it, and by the Mediation of this active Principle; +but the Ancients speak more plainly with express +mention of this <i>Æther</i>, and of the Impregnation +of the Earth by it, as betwixt Male +and Female. As in the Place before cited;</p> + +<div class='lg-container-b c005'> + <div class='linegroup'> + <div class='group'> + <div class='line'><i>Tum pater omnipotens fœcundis imbribus Æther</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Conjugis in gremium lætæ descendit; & omnes</i></div> + <div class='line'><i>Magnus alit magno commixtus corpore fœtus.</i></div> + </div> + </div> +</div> + +<p class='c006'>Which Notion, I remember, <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i> saith, +<i>De Civ. <abbr class='spell'>D.</abbr> lib. <abbr title='four'>iv.</abbr> <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 10.</i> <i>Virgil</i> did not take +from the Fictions of the Poets, but out of the +Books of the Philosophers. Some of the gravest +Authors amongst the <i>Romans</i> have reported, +that this Virtue hath been convey’d into the +Wombs of some Animals by the Winds, or the +<i>Zephyri</i>; and as I easily believe that the first +<span class='pageno' id='Page_272'>272</span>fresh Air was more impregnated with this æthereal +Principle than ours is, so I see no reason +but those balmy Dews, that fell every Night +in the Primitive Earth, might be the Vehicle of +it as well as the Malegeniture is now; and +from them the teeming Earth, and those vital +Seeds which it contain’d, were actuated, and +receiv’d their first Fruitfulness.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Now</span> this Principle, howsoever convey’d to +those Rudiments of Life which we call Eggs, is +that which gives the first stroke towards Animation; +and this seems to be, by exciting a Ferment +in those little Masses, whereby the Parts +are loosen’d, and dispos’d for that Formation +which is to follow afterwards. And I see nothing +that hinders, but that we may reasonably suppose +that these Animal Productions might proceed +thus far in the Primigenial Earth. And as +to their Progress and the Formation of the Body, +by what Agents or Principles soever that great +Work is carried on in the Womb of the Female, +it might by the same be carried on there. Neither +would there be any Danger of miscarrying +by Excess of Heat or Cold, for the Air was always +of an equal Temper and moderate +Warmth; and all other Impediments were +remov’d, and all Principles ready, whether +active or passive; so as we may justly conclude, +that as <i>Eve</i> was the Mother of all living, as +to Mankind, so was the Earth the Great Mother +of all living Creatures besides.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> third Character to be explain’d, and +the most extraordinary in Appearance, is that +<span class='pageno' id='Page_273'>273</span>of Longevity. This sprung from the same Root in +my Opinion, with the other; though the Connexion, +it may be, is not so visible. We shew’d +in the foregoing Chapter, that no Advantage of +Diet, or of strong Constitutions, could have carried +their Lives, before the Flood, to that wonderful +Length, if they had been exposed to the +same Changes of Air and of Seasons that our Bodies +are: But taking a perpetual Equinox, and +fixing the Heavens, you fix the Life of Man too; +which was not then in such a rapid Flux as it is +now, but seem’d to stand still as the Sun did once +without Declension. There is no Question but +every thing upon Earth, and especially the +Animate World, would be much more permanent, +if the general Course of Nature was +more steady and uniform; a Stability in the +Heavens makes a Stability in all Things below; +and that Change and Contrariety of Qualities +that we have in these Regions, is the Fountain +of Corruption, and suffers nothing to be +long in quiet: Either by intestine Motions and +Fermentations excited within, or by outward +Impressions, Bodies are no sooner well constituted, +but they are tending again to Dissolution. +The <i>Æther</i> in their little Pores and +Chinks is unequally agitated, and differently +mov’d at different Times, and so is the Air +in their greater, and the Vapours and Atmosphere +round about them: All these shake and +unsettle both the Texture and Continuity of +Bodies. Whereas in a fix’d State of Nature, +where these Principles have always the same +<span class='pageno' id='Page_274'>274</span>constant and uniform Motion, when they are +once suited to the Forms and Compositions of +Bodies, they give them no further Disturbance; +they enjoy a long and lasting Peace, without any +Commotions or Violence within or without.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> find our selves sensible Changes in our Bodies +upon the Turn of the Year, and the Change +of Seasons; new Fermentations in the Blood and +Resolutions of the Humours; which if they do +not amount to Diseases, at least they disturb Nature, +and have a bad Effect, not only upon the fluid +Parts, but also upon the more solid, upon the +Springs and Fibres in the Organs of the Body, to +weaken them and unfit them by degrees for their +respective Functions. For though the Change +is not sensible immediately in these Parts, yet after +many repeated Impressions every Year, by unequal +Heat and Cold, Driness and Moisture, +contracting and relaxing the Fibres, their Tone +at length is in a great Measure destroy’d, and +brought to a manifest Debility; and the great +Springs falling, the lesser, that depend upon +them, fall in Proportion, and all the Symptoms +of Decay and old Age follow. We see by daily +Experience, that Bodies are kept better in the +same <i>Medium</i>, as we call it, than if they often +change their <i>Medium</i>, as sometimes in Air, sometimes +in Water, moistned and dry’d, heated and +cool’d; these different states weaken the Contexture +of the Parts: But our Bodies, in the present +State of Nature, are put into an hundred different +<i>Mediums</i> in the Course of a Year; sometimes +we are steep’d in Water, or in a misty +<span class='pageno' id='Page_275'>275</span>foggy Air, for several Days together; sometimes +we are almost frozen with Cold, then fainting +with Heat at another time of the Year; and +the Winds are of a different Nature, and the +Air of a different Weight and Pressure, according +to the Weather and the Seasons: These +Things would wear our Bodies, tho’ they were +built of Oak, and that in a very short Time, +in Comparison of what they would last, if +they were always encompass’d with one and +the same <i>Medium</i>, under one and the same +Temper, as it was in the Primitive Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Ancients seem to have been sensible of +this, and of the true Causes of those long Periods +of Life; for wheresoever they assign’d a great +Longevity, as they did not only to their golden +Age, but also to their particular and topical <i>Paradises</i>, +they also assign’d there a constant Serenity +and Equality of the Heavens, and sometimes +expresly a constant Equinox; as might be made +appear from their Authors. And some of our +christian Authors have gone farther, and connected +these two together, as Cause and Effect, for +they say that the Longevity of the Antediluvian +Patriarchs proceeded from a favourable Aspect +and Influence of the Heavens at that Time; +which <i>Aspect</i> of the Heavens, being rightly interpreted, +is the same thing that we call the position +of the Heavens, or the right Situation of the Sun +and the Earth, from whence came a perpetual Equinox. +And if we consider the present Earth, I +know no Place where they live longer than in that +little Island of the <i>Bermudas</i>, where, according +<span class='pageno' id='Page_276'>276</span>to the Proportion of Time they hold out there, +after they are arriv’d from other Parts, one may +reasonably suppose, that the Natives would live +two hundred Years, and there’s nothing appears +in that Island that should give long Life above +other Places, but the extraordinary Steadiness +of the Weather, and of the Temper of the +Air throughout the whole Year, so as there is +scarce any considerable Difference of Seasons.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> because it would take up too much +Time to shew in this Place the full and just +Reasons why, and how these long Periods of +Life depend upon the Stability of the Heavens: +And how on the contrary, from their Inconstancy +and Mutability these Periods are shorten’d, as in +the present Order of Nature; we will set apart +the next Chapter to treat upon that Subject; +yet by way of Digression only, so as those that +have a mind may pass to the following, where +the Thread of this Discourse is continued. In +the mean Time you see, we have prepar’d +an Earth for <i>Paradise</i>, and given a fair and intelligible +Account of those three general Characters, +which, according to the Rules of Method, +must be determin’d before any further Progress +can be made in this Argument. For in the +Doctrine of <i>Paradise</i> there are two things to +be consider’d, the State of it and the Place +of it; And as it is first in Order of Nature, so +it is much more material, to find out the State +of it, than the Region where it stood. We need +not follow the Windings of Rivers, and the +Interpretation of hard Names, to discover this, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_277'>277</span>we take more faithful Guides: The unanimous +Reports of Antiquity, sacred and profane, supported +by a regular Theory. Upon these Grounds +we go, and have thus far proceeded on our way; +which we hope will grow more easy and pleasant, +the nearer we come to our Journey’s End.</p> +<h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='four'>IV.</abbr></span></h3> +<p class='c012'><i>A Digression concerning the natural Causes of +Longevity. That the Machine of an Animal +consists of Springs, and which are the two +principal. The Age of the Antediluvians to +be computed by Solar, not Lunar Years.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>To</span> confirm our Opinion concerning +the Reasons of Longevity in the first +Inhabitants of the World, it will not be amiss +to deduce more at large the natural +Causes of <i>long</i>, or <i>short Periods of Life</i>. And +when we speak of <i>long</i> or <i>short Periods of +Life</i>, we do not mean those little Differences +of ten, twenty, or forty Years, which +we see amongst Men now-a-days, according as +they are of stronger or weaker Constitutions, +and govern themselves better or worse; but +those grand and famous Differences of several +hundreds of Years, which we have Examples +of in the different Ages of the World, and +particularly in those that liv’d before and since +the Flood. Neither do we think it peculiar +to this Earth to have such an Inequality in the +Lives of Men; but the other Planets, if they +<span class='pageno' id='Page_278'>278</span>be inhabited, have the same Property, and the +same Difference in their different Periods: All +Planets that are in their Antediluvian State, and in +their first and regular Situation to the Sun, have +long-liv’d Inhabitants; and those, that are in an +oblique Situation, have short-liv’d; unless there +be some counter Causes that hinder this general +Rule of Nature from taking Place.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> are now so us’d to a short Life, and to +drop away after threescore or fourscore Years, +that when we compare our Lives with those +of the Antediluvians, we think the Wonder +lies wholly on their Side, <i>why</i> they liv’d so +long; And so it doth popularly speaking; but +if we speak Philosophically, the Wonder lies +rather on our side, <i>why</i> we live so little, or +so short a Time? For seeing our Bodies are +such Machines as have a Faculty of nourishing +themselves, that is, of repairing their lost or +decay’d Parts, so long as they have good Nourishment +to make Use of, why should they not +continue in good Plight, and always the same, +as a Flame does, so long as it is supplied with +Fewel? And that we may the better see on +whether side the Wonder lies, and from what +Causes it proceeds, we will propose this Problem +to be examin’d, <i>Why the Frame or Machine +of an human Body, or of another Animal, +having that Constriction of Parts, and +those Faculties which it hath, lasts so short a +Time?</i> And tho’ it fall into no Disease, nor +have any unnatural Accident, within the Space +<span class='pageno' id='Page_279'>279</span>of eighty Years, more or less, fatally and inevitably, +decays, dies, and perisheth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>That</span> the State and Difficulty of this Question +may the better appear, let us consider a Man in +the Prime and Vigour of his Life, at the Age of +twenty or twenty four Years, of an healthful +Constitution, and all his Vitals sound; let him +be nourished with good Food, use due Exercise, +and govern himself with Moderation in all other +Things; the Question is, Why this Body should +not continue in the same Plight, and in the same +Strength, for some Ages? or at least, why it +should decay so soon and so fall as we see it does? +We do not wonder at Things that happen daily, +though the Causes of them be never so hard +to find out; we contrast a certain Familiarity +with common Events, and fancy we know +as much of them as can be known, though +in Reality we know nothing of them, but +Matter of Fact; which the vulgar know as +well as the Wise or the Learned. We see daily +Instances of the shortness of Man’s Life, how +soon his Race is run, and we do not wonder +at it, because it is common; yet if we examine +the Composition of the Body, it will be +very hard to find any good Reasons why the +Frame of it should decay so soon.</p> + +<p class='c004'>I know ’tis easy to give general and superficial +Answers and Accounts of these Things; +but they are such, as being strictly examin’d, +give no Satisfaction to an inquisitive Mind; +You would say, it may be, that the Interiour +Parts and Organs of the Body wear and decay +<span class='pageno' id='Page_280'>280</span>by Degrees, so as not performing so well their +several Offices and Functions, for the Digestion +and Distribution of the Food and its Juices, all +the other Parts suffer by it, and draws on insensibly +a Decay upon the whole Frame of the Body. +This is all true; but why, and how comes this +to pass? From what Causes? Where is the first +Failure, and what are the Consequences of it? +The inward parts do not destroy themselves, and +we suppose that there is no want of good Food, +nor any Disease, and we take the Body in its +full Strength and Vigour, why doth it not continue +thus, as a Lamp does, if you supply it +with Oil? The Causes being the same, why +doth not the same Effect still follow? Why +should not the Flame of Life, as well as any other +Flame, if you give it Fewel, continue in its +Force without Languishing or Decay.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>You</span> will say, it may be, the Case is not the +same in a simple Body, such as a Lamp or a Fire, +and in an organical Body; which being variously +compounded of Multiplicity of Parts, +and all those Parts put in Connexion and Dependance +one upon another, if any one fail, it +will disorder the whole Frame; and therefore +it must needs be more difficult for such a Body +to continue long in the same State, than for a +simple Body, that hath no Variety of Parts or +Operations. I acknowledge such a Body is +much more subject to Diseases and Accidents +than a more simple; but barring all Diseases +and Accidents, as we do, it might be of as +long a Duration as any other, if it was supply’d +<span class='pageno' id='Page_281'>281</span>with Nourishment adequately to all its +Parts: As this Lamp we speak of, if it consisted +of twenty Branches, and each of these Branches +was to be fed with a different Oil, and these +Oils could be all mix’d together in some common +Cistern, whence they were to be distributed +into the several Branches, either according to +their different Degrees of Lightness, one rising +higher than another; or according to the Capacity +and Figure of the little Pipes they were +to pass thro’; such a compounded Lamp, made +up of such Artifices, would indeed be more subject +to Accidents and to be out of Order, by the +Obstruction of some of the little Pipes, or some +unfit Qualities in the Oils; but all these Casualties +and Disorders excepted, as they are in +our Case, if it was supply’d with convenient +Liquors, it would burn as long as any other, +tho’ more plain and simple.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> instance yet, for more Plainness, in another +sort of Machine; suppose a Mill, where +the Water may represent the Nourishment and +Humours in our Body, and the Frame of Wood +and Stone, the solid Parts; if we could suppose +this Mill to have a Power of nourishing +itself by the Water it receiv’d, and of repairing +all the Parts that were worn away, whether +of the Wood-work or of the Stone, feed +it but with a constant Stream, and it would +subsist and grind for ever. And ’tis the same +Thing for all other artificial Machines of this +Nature, if they had a Faculty of nourishing +themselves, and repairing their Parts. And +<span class='pageno' id='Page_282'>282</span>seeing those natural Machines we are speaking +of, the Body of Man, and of other Animals, +have and enjoy this Faculty, why should they +not be able to preserve themselves beyond that +short Period of Time, which is now the Measure +of their Life?</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much we have said, to shew the Difficulty +propos’d, and inforce it; we must now consider +the true Answer and Resolution of it; and +to that purpose bring into View again those +Causes which we have assign’d, both of the long +Periods of Life before the Flood, and of the short +ones since. That there was a perpetual Equinox +and Stability of the Heavens before the Flood, +we have shew’d both from History and Reason; +neither was there then any thing of Clouds, +Rains, Winds, Storms, or unequal Weather, as +will appear in the following Chapter; and to +this Steadiness of Nature, and universal Calmness +of the external World, we have imputed +those long Periods of Life which Men enjoy’d at +that Time: As on the contrary, when that great +Change and Revolution happened to Nature at +the Deluge, and the Heavens and the Earth +were cast in another Mould, then was brought +in, besides many other new Scenes, that Shortness +and Vanity in the Life of Man, and a general +Instability in all sublunary Things, but +especially in the animate World.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>It</span> is not necessary to shew more than we have +done already, how that primitive State of Nature +contributed to long Life; neither is it requir’d +that it should actively contribute, but +<span class='pageno' id='Page_283'>283</span>only be permissive, and suffer our Bodies to act +their Parts; for if they be not disturb’d, nor any +Harm done them by external Nature, they are +built with Art and Strength enough to last many +hundreds of Years. And, as we observ’d before, +concerning the Posture of the Earth, that that +which it had at first, being simple and regular, +was not so much to be accounted for, as its present +Posture, which is irregular; so likewise for +the Life of Man, the Difficulty is not why they +liv’d so long in the old World; that was their +due and proper Course; but why our Bodies, being +made after the same manner, should endure so +short a Time now. This is it therefore, which we +must now make our Business to give an Account +of, namely, how that Vicissitude of Seasons, +Inconstancy of the Air, and unequal Course of +Nature, which came in at the Deluge, do shorten +<i>Life</i>; and indeed hasten the Dissolution of +all Bodies, animate or inanimate.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> our Bodies we may consider three several +Qualities or Dispositions, and according to +each whereof they suffer Decay: <i>First</i>, Their +Continuity; <i>Secondly</i>, That Disposition whereby +they are capable of receiving Nourishment, +which we may call Nutribility; and <i>Thirdly</i>, +The Tone or tonick Disposition of the Organs, +whereby they perform their several Functions. +In all these three respects they would decay +in any State of Nature, but far sooner and +faster in the present State, than in the Primæval. +As for their Continuity, we have noted +before that all consistent Bodies must be less +<span class='pageno' id='Page_284'>284</span>durable now, than under that first Order of the +World, because of the unequal and contrary Motions +of the Elements, or of the Air and Æther +that penetrate and pervade them; and ’tis Part of +that Vanity which all Things now are subject to, +to be more perishable than in their first Constitution. +If we should consider our Bodies only as +breathing Statues, consisting of those Parts they +do, and of that Tenderness, the Air which we +breathe, and wherewith we are continually incompast, +changing so often ’twixt moist and dry, +hot and cold, a slow and eager Motion, these +different Actions and restless Changes would +sooner weaken and destroy the Union of the +Parts, than if they were always in a calm and +quiet <i>Medium</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> it is not the gross and visible Continuity +of the Parts of our Body that first decays; +there are finer Textures that are spoil’d insensibly, +and draw on the Decay of the rest; +such are those other two we mention’d; that +Disposition and Temper of the Parts whereby +they are fit to receive their full Nourishment; +and especially that Construction and Texture +of the Organs that are preparatory to this Nutrition. +The Nutribility of the Body depends +upon a certain Temperament in the Parts, soft +and yielding, which makes them open to the +Blood and Juices in their Circulation and Passage +thro’ them, and mixing intimately and +universally, hold fast and retain many of their +Particles; as muddy Earth doth the Parts of +the Water that runs into it and mixeth with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_285'>285</span>it: And when these nutritious Particles retain’d +are more than the Body spends, that Body +is in its Growth; as when they are fewer, +’tis in its Decay. And as we compar’d the +Flesh and tender Parts, when they are young, +and in a growing Disposition, to a muddy Soil, +that opens to the Water, swells and incorporates +with it; so when they become hard and +dry, they are like a sandy Earth, that suffers +the Water to glide through it, without incorporating +or retaining many of its Parts; and the +sooner they come to this Temper, the sooner +follows their Decay: For the same Causes, +that set Limits to our Growth, set also Limits +to our Life; and he that can resolve that +Question, <i>why</i> the Time of our Growth is so +short, will also be able to resolve the other in +a good Measure, <i>why</i> the Time of our <i>Life</i> +is so short. In both Cases, that which stops our +Progress is external Nature, whose Course, while +it was even and steady, and the ambient Air mild +and balmy, preserv’d the Body much longer in +a fresh and fit Temper to receive its full Nourishment, +and consequently gave larger Bounds +both to our Growth and Life.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> the third thing we mention’d is the most +considerable, the Decay of the Organick Parts; +and especially of the Organs preparatory to Nutrition. +This is the Point chiefly to be examin’d +and explain’d, and therefore we will endeavour +to state it fully and distinctly. There are several +Functions in the Body of an Animal, and +several Organs for the Conduct of them; and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_286'>286</span>I am of Opinion, that all the Organs of the Body +are in the Nature of Springs, and that their Action +is tonical. The Action of the Muscles is apparently +so, and so is that of the Heart and the +Stomach; and as for those Parts, that make Secretions +only, as the <i>Glandules</i> and <i>Parenchymata</i>, +if they be any more than merely passive, +as Strainers, ’tis the Tone of the Parts, when distended, +that performs the Separation: And accordingly +in all other active Organs, the Action +proceeds from a Tone in the Parts. And this +seems to be easily prov’d, both as to our Bodies, +and all other Bodies; for no Matter that is not +fluid, hath any Motion or Action in it, but in +Virtue of some Tone; if Matter be fluid, its Parts +are actually in Motion, and consequently may +impel or give Motion to other Bodies; but if it +be solid or consistent, the Parts are not separate +or separately mov’d from one another, and therefore +cannot impel or give Motion to any other, +but in virtue of their Tone; they having no other +Motion themselves. Accordingly we see in Artificial +Machines, there are but two general Sorts, +those that move by some fluid or volatile Matter, +as Water, Wind, Air, or some active Spirit; +and those which move by Springs, or by the +Tonick Disposition of some Part that gives +Motion to the rest: For as for such Machines +as act by Weights, ’tis not the Weight that is +the active Principle, but the Air or Æther +that impels it. ’Tis true, the Body of an Animal +is a kind of mix’d Machine, and those Organs +that are the primary Parts of it, partake of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_287'>287</span>both these Principles; for there are Spirits and +Liquors that do assist in the Motions of the Muscles, +of the Heart, and of the Stomach; but +we have no occasion to consider them at present, +but only the Tone of the solid Organs.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> being observ’d in the first Place, wherein +the Force of our Organs consists, we might +here immediately subjoin, how this Force is +weaken’d and destroy’d by the unequal Course +of Nature which now obtains, and consequently +our Life shorten’d; for the whole State and +Oeconomy of the Body depends upon the Force +and Action of these Organs. But to understand +the Business more distinctly, it will be worth +our Time to examine upon which of the Organs +of the Body Life depends more immediately, +and the Prolongation of it; that so reducing +our Inquiries into a narrower Compass, we may +manage them with more Ease and more Certainty.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> the Body of Man there are several <i>Compages</i>, +or Sets of Parts, some whereof need not be +consider’d in this Question; there is that System +that serves for Sense and local Motion, which is +commonly call’d the Animal Compages; and +that which serves for Generation, which is call’d +the Genital. These have no Influence upon long +Life, being Parts nourished, not nourishing, and +that are fed from others, as Rivers from their +Fountain: Wherefore having laid these aside, +there remain two Compages more, the Natural +and Vital, which consist of the Heart and +Stomach, with their Appendages. These are +<span class='pageno' id='Page_288'>288</span>the Sources of Life, and these are all +that is absolutely necessary to the Constitution +of a living Creature; what Parts we find more, +few or many of one sort or other, according to +the several kinds of Creatures, is accidental to +our Purpose: The Form of an Animal, as we +are to consider it here, lies in this little Compass, +and what is superadded is for some new Purposes, +besides that of mere Life, as for Sense, +Motion, Generation, and such like. As in a +Watch, beside the Movement which is made to +tell you the Hour of the Day, which constitutes a +Watch; you may have a Fancy to have an Alarm +added, or a Minute-Motion, or that it should +tell you the Day of the Month; and this sometimes +will require a new Spring, sometimes only +new Wheels; however, if you would examine +the Nature of a Watch, and upon what its Motion, +or, if I may so say, its Life depends, you +must lay aside those secondary Movements, and +observe the main Spring, and the Wheels that +immediately depend upon that, for all the rest +is accidental. So for the Life of an Animal, +which is a piece of Nature’s Clock-work, if +we would examine upon what the Duration of +it depends, we must lay aside those additional +Parts or Systems of Parts, which are for other +Purposes, and consider only the first Principles +and Fountains of Life, and the Causes of their +natural and necessary Decay.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Having</span> thus reduc’d our Inquiries to these +two Organs, the Stomach and the Heart, as +the two Master-Springs in the Mechanism of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_289'>289</span>an Animal, upon which all the rest depend, let +us now see what their Action is, and how it will +be more or less durable and constant, according +to the different States of external Nature. We +determin’d before, that the Force and Action of +all Organs in the Body was tonical, and of none +more remarkably than of these two, the Heart +and Stomach; for though it be not clearly determined +what the particular Structure of these +Organs, or of their Fibres is, that makes them +tonical, yet ’tis manifest by their Actions, that +they are so. In the Stomach, besides a peculiar +Ferment that opens and dissolves the Parts of the +Meat, and melts them into a Fluor or Pulp; the +Coats of it, or Fibres whereof they consist, have +a Motion proper to them, proceeding from +their Tone, whereby they close the Stomach, +and compress the Meat when it is receiv’d, and +when turn’d into Chyle, press it forwards, and +squeeze it into the Intestines; and the Intestines +also partaking of the same Motion, push +and work it still forwards into those little +Veins that convey it towards the Heart. The +Heart hath the same general Motions with the +Stomach, of opening and shutting, and hath +also a peculiar Ferment, which rarifies the +Blood that enters into it; and that Blood, by +the Spring of the Heart, and the particular +Texture of its Fibres, is thrown out again to +make its Circulation thro’ the Body. This is, +in short, the Action of both these Organs; +and indeed the Mystery of the Body of an +Animal, and of its Operations and Oeconomy, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_290'>290</span>consists chiefly in Springs and Ferments; the one +for the solid Parts, the other in the fluid.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> to apply this Fabrick of the organick +Parts to our Purpose, we may observe and +conclude, that whatsoever weakens the Tone +or Spring of these two Organs, which are the +Bases of all Vitality, weaken the Principle of +Life, and shorten the natural Duration of it; +and if of two Orders or Courses of Nature, +the one be favourable and easy to these tonick +Principles in the Body, and the other uneasy +and prejudicial, that Course of Nature +will be attended with long Periods of Life, +and this with short. And we have shewn, +that in the Primitive Earth the Course of Nature +was even, steady, and unchangeable, without +either different Qualities of the Air, or unequal +Seasons of the Year, which must needs +be more easy to these Principles we speak of, +and permit them to continue longer in their +Strength and Vigor, than they can possibly +do under all those Changes of the Air, of the +Atmosphere, and of the Heavens, which we +now suffer yearly, monthly, and daily. And +tho’ sacred History had not acquainted us with +the Longevity of the Antediluvian Patriarchs, +nor profane History with those of the Golden-Age, +I should have concluded from the Theory +alone, and the Contemplation of that State of +Nature, that the Forms of all Things were much +more permanent in that World than in ours, +and that the Lives of Men and all other Animals +had longer Periods.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_291'>291</span>I confess, I am of Opinion that ’tis this that +makes not only these living Springs or tonick +Organs of the Body, but all artificial Springs also, +tho’ made of the hardest Metal, decay so fast. +The different Pressure of the Atmosphere, sometimes +heavier, sometimes lighter, more rare or +more dense, moist or dry, and agitated with different +Degrees of Motion, and in different Manners! +this must needs operate upon that nicer +Contexture of Bodies, which make them tonical +or elastick; altering the Figure or Minuteness +of the Pores, and the Strength and Order +of the Fibres upon which that Propriety depends; +bending and unbending, closing and opening +the Parts. There is a subtle and æthereal +Element that traverseth the Pores of all +Bodies, and when ’tis straiten’d and pent up +there, or stopt in its usual Course and Passage, +its Motion is more quick and eager, as a Current +of Water, when ’tis obstructed, or runs thro’ a +narrower Channel; and that Strife and those Attempts +which these little active Particles make to +get free, and follow the same Tracts they did before, +do still press upon the Parts of the Body +that are chang’d, to redress and reduce them to +their first and natural Posture, and in this consists +the Force of a Spring. Accordingly we may +observe, that there is no Body that is or will +be tonical or elastick, if it be left to it self, +and to that Posture it would take naturally; for +then all the Parts are at ease, and the subtle +Matter moves freely and uninterruptedly within +its Pores; but if by Distention, or by Compression, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_292'>292</span>or by Flexion or any other way, the situation +of the Parts and Pores be so alter’d, that the +Air sometimes, but for the most Part that subtiler +Element, is uneasy and compress’d too much, it +causeth that Renitency or Tendency to Restitution, +which we call the Tone, or Spring of a Body. +Now as this Disposition of Bodies doth far +more easily perish than their Continuity, so I +think, there is nothing that contributes more +to its perishing (whether in natural or artificial +Springs) than the unequal Action and different +Qualities of the Æther, Air, and Atmosphere.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>It</span> will be objected to us, it may be, that in +the beginning of the Chapter we instanc’d in +artificial Things, that would continue for ever, +if they had but the Power of nourishing themselves, +as Lamps, Mills, and such like; why +then may not natural Machines that have that +Power last for ever? The Case is not the +same as to the Bodies of Animals, and the +Things there instanc’d in, for those were springless +Machines, that act only by some external +Cause, and not in Virtue of any Tone or interior +Temper of the Parts, as our Bodies do; +and when that Tone or Temper is destroy’d, +no Nourishment can repair it. There is something, +I say, irreparable in the tonical Disposition +of Matter, which when wholly lost cannot +be restor’d by Nutrition. Nutrition may +answer to a bare Consumption of Parts; but +where the Parts are to be preserv’d in such a +Temperament, or in such a Degree of Humidity +and Driness, Warmth, Rarity or Density, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_293'>293</span>to make them capable of that Nourishment, as +well as of their other Operations, as Organs, +(which is the Case of our Bodies) there the Heavens, +the Air, and external Causes will change +the Qualities of the Matter in spite of all Nutrition; +and the Qualities of the Matter being +chang’d, (in a Course of Nature, where the +Cause cannot be taken away) that is a Fault incorrigible, +and irreparable by the Nourishment +that follows, being hindred of its Effect by the +Indisposition or Incapacity of the Recipient. +And as they say, a Fault in the first Concoction +cannot be corrected in the second; so neither +can a Fault in the Prerequisites to all the Concoctions +be corrected by any of them.</p> + +<p class='c004'>I know the Ancients made the Decay and +Term of Life to depend rather upon the Humours +of the Body, than the solid Parts, and +suppos’d an <i>Humidum radicale</i> and a <i>Calidum +innatum</i>, as they call them, a radical Moisture +and congenit Heat to be in every Body, +from its Birth and first Formation; and as these +decay’d, Life decay’d. But who’s wiser for +this Account, what doth this instruct us in? +We know there is Heat and Moisture in the +Body, and you may call the one <i>Radical</i>, and +the other <i>Innate</i> if you please; this is but a +sort of Cant, for we know no more of the +real physical Causes of that Effect we enquir’d +into, than we did before. What makes this +Heat and Moisture fail, if the Nourishment +be good, and all the Organs in their due +Strength and Temper? The first and original +<span class='pageno' id='Page_294'>294</span>Failure is not in the Fluid, but in the solid Parts, +which if they continued the same, the Humours +would do so too. Besides, What befel this radical +Moisture and Heat at the Deluge, that it should +decay so fast afterwards, and last so long before? +There is a certain Temper, no doubt, of the +Juices and Humours of the Body, which is more +fit than any other to conserve the Parts from Driness +and Decay; but the Cause of that Driness +and Decay, or other Inability in the solid Parts, +whence is that, if not from external Nature? ’Tis +thither we must come at length in our Search of +the Reasons of the natural Decay of our Bodies, +we follow the Fate and Laws of that: And I +think, by those Causes, and in that Order, that +we have already describ’d and explain’d.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> conclude this Discourse, we may collect +from it what Judgment is to be made of +those Projectors of Immortality, or Undertakers +to make Men live to the Age of <i>Methusalah</i>, +if they will use their Methods and +Medicines: There is but one Method for this, +to put the Sun into his old Course, or the +Earth into its first Posture; there is no other +Secret to prolong Life; our Bodies will sympathize +with the general Course of Nature, +nothing can guard us from it, no Elixir, no +Specific, no Philosopher’s Stone. But there +are Enthusiasts in Philosophy, as well as in Religion; +Men that go by no Principles, but +their own Conceit and Fancy, and by a Light +within, which shines very uncertainly, and +for the most Part leads them out of the Way +<span class='pageno' id='Page_295'>295</span>of Truth. And so much for this Disquisition, +concerning the <i>Causes</i> of <i>Longevity</i>, or of the +long and short Periods of Life in the different +Periods of the World.</p> +<p class='c012'><i>That the Age of the Antediluvian Patriarchs +is to be computed by Solar or common +Years, not by Lunar or Months.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Having</span> made this Discourse of the unequal +Periods of Life, only in reference to the Antediluvians +and their fam’d Longevity, lest we should +seem to have proceeded upon an ill-grounded +and mistaken Supposition, we are bound to take +Notice of, and confute that Opinion which +makes the Years of the Antediluvian Patriarchs +to have been <i>Lunar</i>, not <i>Solar</i>, and so would +bear us in Hand, that they liv’d only so many +Months, as Scripture saith they liv’d Years. +Seeing there is nothing could drive Men to this +bold Interpretation but the Incredibility of the +Thing, as they fancied; they having no Motions +or <i>Hypothesis</i> whereby it could appear intelligible +or possible to them; and seeing we have +taken away that Stumbling-Stone, and shew’d it +not only possible but necessary according to the +Constitution of that World, that the Periods of +Life should be far longer than in this; by removing +the Ground or Occasion of their Misinterpretation, +we hope we have undeceiv’d them, +and let them see that there is no need of that +Subterfuge, either to prevent an Incongruity, +or save the Credit of the Sacred Historian.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_296'>296</span><span class='sc'>But</span> as this Opinion is inconsistent with Nature, +truly understood, so is it also with common +History; for besides, what I have already mention’d +in the first Chapter of this Book, <i>Josephus</i> +tells us, (<i>Lib. <abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> Jew. Ant. Chap. <abbr title='four'>iv.</abbr></i>) that the Historians +of all Nations, both <i>Greeks</i> and <i>Barbarians</i>, +give the same account of the first Inhabitants +of the Earth; Manetho, <i>who writ the Story of +the</i> Ægyptians; Berosus, <i>who writ the Chaldæan +History, and those Authors that have given +us an Account of the Phœnician Antiquities, besides +Molus and Hestiæus, and Hieronymus the +Ægyptian; and amongst the Greeks, Hesiodus, +Hecateus, Hellanicus, Acusialus, Ephorus and +Nicolaus: We have the Suffrages of all these, +and their common Consent, that in the first Ages +of the World Men liv’d a thousand Years.</i> Now +we cannot well suppose that all these Historians +meant <i>Lunar</i> Years, or that they all conspir’d +together to make and propagate a Fable.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Lastly</span>, As Nature and profane History +do disown and confute this Opinion, so much +more doth sacred History; not indeed in profess’d +Terms, for <i>Moses</i> doth not say that he +useth <i>Solar</i> Years; but by several Marks and +Observations, or collateral Arguments, it may +be clearly collected, that he doth not use <i>Lunar</i>. +As first, because he distinguisheth <i>Months</i> +and <i>Years</i> in the History of the Deluge, and +of the Life of <i>Noah</i>; for <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='seven'>vii.</abbr> 11.</i> he saith +in the six hundredth Year of <i>Noah</i>’s Life, in +the second Month, <i>&c.</i> It cannot be imagin’d +that in the same Verse and Sentence these two +<span class='pageno' id='Page_297'>297</span>Terms of <i>Year</i> and <i>Month</i> should be so confounded +as to signify the same Thing; and therefore +<i>Noah</i>’s Years were not the same with Months, +nor consequently those of the other Patriarchs, +for we have no Reason to make any Difference. +Besides, what ground was there, or how was it +proper or pertinent to reckon, as <i>Moses</i> does +there, first, second, third Month, as so many going +to a Year, if every one of them was a Year? +And seeing the Deluge begun in the six hundredth +Year of <i>Noah</i>’s Life, and in the second +Month, and ended in the six hundredth and first +Year, (<i>Chap. <abbr title='eight'>viii.</abbr> 13.</i>) the first or second Month, +all that was betwixt these two Terms, or all the +Duration of the Deluge, made but one Year in +<i>Noah</i>’s Life, or it may be not so much; and we +know <i>Moses</i> reckons a great many Months in +the Duration of the Deluge; so as this is a Demonstration, +that <i>Noah</i>’s Years are not to be understood +of <i>Lunar</i>. And to imagine that his Years +are to be understood one way, and those of his +fellow-Patriarchs another, would be an unaccountable +Fiction. This argument therefore extends +to all the Antediluvians, and <i>Noah</i>’s Life +will take in the Postdiluvians too; for you see +Part of it runs amongst them, and ties together +the two Worlds: So that if we exclude <i>Lunar</i> +Years from his Life, we exclude them from all; +those of his Fathers, and those of his Children.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Secondly</span>, If <i>Lunar</i> Years were understood +in the Ages of the Antediluvian Patriarchs, +the Interval betwixt the Creation and the Deluge +would be too short, and in many Respects +<span class='pageno' id='Page_298'>298</span>incongruous. There would be but 1656 +Months from the Beginning of the World to the +Flood; which converted into common Years, +make but 127 Years and five Months for that Interval. +This perverts all Chronology, and besides, +makes the Number of People so small and inconsiderable +at the Time of the Deluge, that destroying +of the World then was not so much as destroying +of a Country Town would be now: +For from one Couple you cannot well imagine +there could arise above five hundred Persons in +so short a Time; but if there were a thousand, +’tis not so many as we have sometimes in a good +Country Village. And were the Flood-gates of +Heaven open’d, and the great Abyss broken up +to destroy such an handful of People, and the +Waters rais’d fifteen Cubits above the highest +Mountains throughout the Face of the Earth, +to drown a Parish or two? Is not this more +incredible than our Age of the Patriarchs? +Besides, This short Interval doth not leave +Room for ten Generations, which we find +from <i>Adam</i> to the Flood, nor allows the Patriarchs +Age enough at the Time when they +are said to have got Children. One hundred +twenty-seven Years for ten Generations is very +strait; and of these you must take off forty-six +Years for one Generation only, or for <i>Noah</i>, +for he liv’d six hundred Years before the Flood, +and if they were <i>Lunar</i>, they would come +however to forty-six of our Years; so that for +the other nine Generations you would have but +eighty one Years, that is, nine Years a-piece; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_299'>299</span>at which Age they must all be suppos’d to have +begun to get Children; which you cannot but +think a very absurd Supposition. Thus it would +be, if you divide the whole Time equally amongst +the nine Generations; but if you consider +some single Instances; as they are set down +by <i>Moses</i>, ’tis still worse; for <i>Mahaleel</i> and his +Grandchild <i>Enoch</i> are said to have got Children +at sixty five Years of Age, which if you suppose +Months, they were but five Years old at that +time; now I appeal to any one, whether it is +more incredible that Men should live to the Age +of nine hundred Years, or that they should beget +Children at the Age of five Years.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>You</span> will say, it may be, ’tis true these Inconveniences +follow, if our <i>Hebrew</i> Copies +of the Old Testament be Authentick: But if +the <i>Greek</i> Translation by the <i>Septuagint</i> be of +better Authority, as some would have it to +be, that gives a little Relief in this Case; for +the <i>Septuagint</i> makes the Distance from the +Creation to the Flood six hundred Years more +than the <i>Hebrew</i> Text does, and so give us a +little more Room for our ten Generations: +And not only so, but they have so conveniently +dispos’d those additional Years, as to salve +the other Inconvenience too, of the Patriarchs +having Children so young; for what Patriarchs +are found to have got Children sooner than +the rest, and so soon, that, upon a Computation +by <i>Lunar</i> Years, they would be but meer +Children themselves at that time? to these +more Years are added, and plac’d opportunely, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_300'>300</span>before the time of their getting Children; so +as one can scarce forbear to think, that it was +done on purpose to cure that Inconvenience, +and to favour and protect the Computation by +<i>Lunar</i> Years. The thing looks so like an Artifice, +and as done to serve a Turn, that one +cannot but have a less Opinion of that Chronology +for it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> not to enter upon that Dispute at present, +methinks they have not wrought the Cure +effectually enough; for with these six hundred +<i>Lunar</i> Years added, the Sum will be only one +hundred seventy three common Years and odd +Months; and from these deducting, as we +did before, for <i>Noah</i>, forty six Years, and for +<i>Adam</i>, or the first Generation, about eighteen, +(for he was two hundred and thirty Years old, +according to the <i>Septuagint</i> when he begot +<i>Seth</i>) there will remain but one hundred and +nine Years for eight Generations; which will be +thirteen Years a piece and odd Months; a low +Age to get Children in, and to hold for eight +Generations together. Neither is the other Inconvenience, +we mention’d, well cur’d by the +<i>Septuagint</i> Account, namely, the small Number +of People that would be in the World at +the Deluge; for the <i>Septuagint</i> Account, if understood +of <i>Lunar</i> Years, adds but forty six +common Years to the <i>Hebrew</i> Account, and to +the Age of the World at the Deluge, in which +time there could be but a very small Accesion +to the Number of Mankind. So as both these +Incongruities continue, though not in the same +<span class='pageno' id='Page_301'>301</span>degree, and stand good in either Account, if it +be understood of <i>Lunar</i> Years.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Thirdly</i>, <span class='sc'>’Tis</span> manifest from other Texts of +Scripture, and from other Considerations, that +our first Fathers liv’d very long, and considerably +longer than Men have done since, whereas +if their Years be interpreted <i>Lunar</i>, there is +not one of them that liv’d to the Age that Men +do now; <i>Methusalah</i> himself did not reach +threescore and fifteen Years, upon that Interpretation; +which doth express them not only +below those that liv’d next to the Flood, but +below all following Generations to this Day; +and those first Ages of the World which were +always celebrated for Strength and Vivacity, are +made as weak and feeble as the last Dregs of +Nature. We may observe, that after the Flood +for some Time, ’till the pristine <i>Crasis</i> of the +Body was broken by the new Course of Nature, +they liv’d five, four, three, two hundred +Years, and the Life of Men shorten’d by +Degrees; but before the Flood, when they +liv’d longer, there was no such Decrease or +gradual Declension in their Lives. For <i>Noah</i>, +who was the last, liv’d longer than <i>Adam</i>; and +<i>Methusalah</i>, who was last but two, liv’d the +longest of all: So that it was not simply their +Distance from the beginning of the World +that made them live a shorter Time, but some +Change which happen’d in Nature after such a +Period of Time; namely at the Deluge, when +the Declension begun. Let’s set down the Table +of both States.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_302'>302</span><i>A TABLE of the Ages of the Antediluvian +Fathers.</i></p> + +<table class='table1'> +<colgroup> +<col class='colwidth78'> +<col class='colwidth21'> +</colgroup> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Adam</i></td> + <td class='c015'>930</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Seth</i></td> + <td class='c015'>912</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Enos</i></td> + <td class='c015'>905</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Cainan</i></td> + <td class='c015'>910</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Mahaleel</i></td> + <td class='c015'>895</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Jared</i></td> + <td class='c015'>962</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Enoch</i></td> + <td class='c015'>365</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Methusalah</i></td> + <td class='c015'>969</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Lamech</i></td> + <td class='c015'>777</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Noah</i></td> + <td class='c015'>950</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c004'><i>A TABLE of the Ages of the Postdiluvian +Fathers, from Shem to Joseph.</i></p> + +<table class='table1'> +<colgroup> +<col class='colwidth78'> +<col class='colwidth21'> +</colgroup> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Shem</i></td> + <td class='c015'>600</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Arphaxad</i></td> + <td class='c015'>438</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Salah</i></td> + <td class='c015'>433</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Eber</i></td> + <td class='c015'>464</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Peleg</i></td> + <td class='c015'>239</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Reu</i></td> + <td class='c015'>239</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Serug</i></td> + <td class='c015'>230</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Nahor</i></td> + <td class='c015'>148</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Terah</i></td> + <td class='c015'>205</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Abraham</i></td> + <td class='c015'>175</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Isaac</i></td> + <td class='c015'>180</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Jacob</i></td> + <td class='c015'>147</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class='c014'><i>Joseph</i></td> + <td class='c015'>110</td> + </tr> +</table> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_303'>303</span>From these Tables we see that Mens Lives +were much longer before the Flood, and next after +it, than they are now; which also is confirm’d +undeniably by <i>Jacob</i>’s Complaint of the +Shortness of his Life, in Comparison of his Forefathers, +when he had liv’d one hundred and thirty +Years, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='forty-seven'>xlvii.</abbr> 9.</i> <i>The Days of the Years of +my Pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty Years; +few and evil have the Days of the Years of my +Life been, and have not attained unto the Days +of the Years of the Life of my Fathers.</i> There +were then, ’tis certain, long-liv’d Men in the +World before <i>Jacob</i>’s Time; when were they, +before the Flood or after? We say both, according +as the Tables shew it. But if you count by <i>Lunar</i> +Years, there never were any, either before +or after, and <i>Jacob</i>’s Complaint was unjust and +false; for he was the oldest Man in the World +himself, or at least there was none of his Forefathers +that liv’d so long as he.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Patrons of this Opinion must needs +find themselves at a loss, how or where to break +off the Account of <i>Lunar</i> Years in sacred History, +if they once admit it. If they say that +way of counting must only be extended to the +Flood, then they make the Postdiluvian Fathers +longer liv’d than the Antediluvian; did +the Flood bring in Longevity? How could +that be the Cause of such an Effect? Besides, +if they allow the Postdiluvians to have lived +six hundred (common) Years, that being clearly +beyond the Standard of our Lives, I should +never stick at two or three hundred Years more +<span class='pageno' id='Page_304'>304</span>for the first Ages of the World. If they extend +their <i>Lunar</i> Account to the Postdiluvians too, +they will still be intangled in worse Absurdities; +for they must make their Lives miserably short, +and their Age of getting Children altogether incongruous +and impossible. <i>Nahor</i>, for Example, +when he was but two Years and three Months +old must have begot <i>Terah</i>, <i>Abraham</i>’s Father: +And all the rest betwixt him and <i>Shem</i> must have +had Children before they were three Years old: +A pretty race of Pigmies. Then their Lives +were proportionably short, for this <i>Nahor</i> liv’d +but eleven Years and six Months at this Rate; +and his Grandchild <i>Abraham</i>, who is said to +have died <i>in a good old Age, and full of Years</i>, +(<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='twenty-five'>xxv.</abbr> 8.</i>) was not fourteen Years old. +What a ridiculous Account this gives of Scripture +Chronology and Genealogies? But you’ll +say, it may be, these <i>Lunar</i> Years are not to be +carried so far as <i>Abraham</i> neither; tell us then +where you’ll stop, and why you stop in such +a Place rather than another. If you once +take in <i>Lunar</i> Years, what Ground is there in +the Text, or in the History, that you should +change your way of computing at such a Time, +or in such a Place? All our ancient Chronology +is founded upon the Books of <i>Moses</i>, where +the Terms and Periods of Times are exprest +by Years, and often by Genealogies and the +Lives of Men; Now if these Years are sometimes +to be interpreted <i>Lunar</i>, and sometimes +<i>Solar</i>, without any Distinction made in the +Text, what Light or certain Rule have we +<span class='pageno' id='Page_305'>305</span>to go by? Let these Authors name to us the +Parts and Places where, and only where the +<i>Lunar</i> Years are to be understood, and I dare +undertake to shew, that their Method is not only +arbitrary, but absurd and incoherent.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> conclude this Discourse, we cannot but +repeat what we have partly observ’d before, How +necessary it is to understand Nature, if we would +rightly understand those Things in holy Writ +that relate to the natural World. For without this +Knowledge, as we are apt to think some Things +consistent and credible, that are really impossible +in Nature; so on the other hand, we are apt to +look upon other Things as incredible and impossible +that are really founded in Nature. And seeing +every one is willing so to expound Scripture, +as it may be to them good Sense, and consistent +with their Notions in other Things, they are +forc’d many times to go against the easy and +natural Importance of the Words, and to invent +other Interpretations more compliant +with their Principles, and, as they think, with +the Nature of Things. We have, I say, a +great Instance of this before us in the Scripture-History, +of the long Lives of the Antediluvians, +where, without any Ground or Shadow +of Ground, in the Narration, only to comply +with a mistaken Philosophy, and their Ignorance +of the primitive World, many Men would +beat down the Scripture Account of Years into +Months, and sink the Lives of those first +Fathers below the Rate of the worst of Ages. +Whereby that great Monument, which Providence +<span class='pageno' id='Page_306'>306</span>hath left us of the first World, and of +its Difference from the second, would not only +be defac’d, but wholly demolish’d. And +all this sprung only from the seeming Incredibility +of the Thing; for they cannot shew in +any Part of Scripture, new or old, that these +<i>Lunar</i> Years are made use of, or that any Computation, +literal or prophetical, proceeds upon +them: Nor that there is any Thing in the +Text or Context of that Place, that argues or +intimates any such Account. We have endeavour’d, +upon this Occasion, effectully to prevent +this Misconstruction of sacred History for +the future; both by shewing the Incongruities +that follow upon it, and also that there is no +Necessity from Nature, of any such Shift or +Evasion, as that is: But rather on the contrary, +that we have just and necessary Reasons to +conclude, That as the Forms of all Things +would be far more permanent and lasting in +that primitive State of the Heavens and the +Earth, so particularly the Lives of Men, and +of other Animals.</p> +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_307'>307</span> + <h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='five'>V.</abbr></span></h3> +</div> +<p class='c012'><i>Concerning the Waters of the primitive Earth: +What the State of the Regions of the Air +was then, and how all Waters proceeded from +them; How the Rivers arose, what was +their Course, and how they ended. Some +Things in sacred Writ that confirms this +Hydrography of the first Earth; especially +the Origin of the Rainbow.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Having</span> thus far clear’d our Way to +<i>Paradise</i>, and given a rational Account +of its general Properties; before we +proceed to discourse of the Place of it, there +is one Affair of Moment, concerning this primitive +Earth, that must first be stated and explain’d; +and that is, <i>How</i> it was water’d; +from what Causes, and in what Manner? +How could Fountains rise, or Rivers flow in +an Earth of that Form and Nature? We have +shut up the Sea with thick Walls on every +Side, and taken away all Communication +that could be ’twixt it and the external Earth; +and we have remov’d all the Hills and the +Mountains where the Springs use to rise; +and whence the Rivers descend to water the +Face of the Ground: And lastly, we have +left no Issue for these Rivers, no Ocean to receive +them, nor any other Place to disburden +themselves into. So that our new-found World +is like to be a dry and barren Wilderness, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_308'>308</span>so far from being <i>Paradisiacal</i>, that it would +scarce be habitable.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>I confess</span> there was nothing in this whole +Theory that gave such a Stop to my Thoughts, +as this Part of it, concerning the Rivers of the +first Earth; how they rose, how they flow’d, +and how they ended. It seem’d at first, that +we had wip’d away at once the Notion and +whole Doctrine of Rivers, we had turn’d the +Earth so smooth, that there was not an Hill, or +Rising, for the Head of a Spring, nor any Fall +or Descent for the Course of a River: Besides, I +had suck’d in the common Opinion of Philosophers, +That all Rivers rise from the Sea, and return +to it again, and both those Passages, I see, +were stopt up in that Earth. This gave me occasion +to reflect upon the modern and more solid +Opinion concerning the Origin of Fountains +and Rivers, That they rise chiefly from Rains and +melted Snows, and not from the Sea alone; +and as soon as I had demur’d in that Particular, +I saw it was necessary to consider and examine +how the Rains fell in that first Earth, to understand +what the State of their Waters and Rivers +would be.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> I had no sooner apply’d my self to that +Inquiry, but I easily discover’d, that the Order +of Nature in the Regions of the Air would be +then very different from what it is now, and +the Meteorology of the World was of another +sort from that of the present. The Air +was always calm and equal, there could be no +violent Meteors there, nor any that proceeded +<span class='pageno' id='Page_309'>309</span>from Extremity of Cold; as Ice, Snow, or Hail; +nor Thunder neither; for the Clouds could not +be of a Quality and Consistency fit for such an Effect, +either by falling one upon another, or by +their Disruption. And as for Winds, they could +not be either impetuous or irregular in that +Earth; seeing there were neither Mountains +nor any other Inequalities to obstruct the Course +of the Vapours; nor any unequal Seasons, or unequal +Action of the Sun, nor any contrary and +struggling Motions of the Air: Nature was then +a Stranger to all those Disorders. But as for watry +Meteors, or those that rise from watry Vapours +more immediately, as Dews and Rains, +there could not but be Plenty of these in some +Part or other of that Earth; for the Action of +the Sun in raising Vapours was very strong and +very constant, and the Earth was at first moist +and soft, and according as it grew more dry, the +Rays of the Sun would pierce more deep into +it, and reach at length the great Abyss which +lay underneath, and was an unexhausted Store-house +of new Vapours. But, ’tis true, the +same Heat, which extracted these Vapours so +copiously, would also hinder them from condensing +into Clouds or Rain in the warmer +Parts of the Earth; and there being no Mountains +at that Time, nor contrary Winds, nor +any such Causes to stop them, or compress +them, we must consider which way they would +tend, and what their Course would be, and +whether they would any where meet with +Causes capable to change or condense them; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_310'>310</span>for upon this, ’tis manifest, would depend the +Meteors of that Air, and the Waters of that +Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> as the Heat of the Sun was chiefly towards +the middle Parts of the Earth, so the copious +Vapours rais’d there, were most rarified and +agitated; and being once in the open Air, their +Course would be that Way, where they found +least Resistance to their Motion; and that would +certainly be towards the Poles, and the colder +Regions of the Earth. For East and West they +would meet with as warm an Air, and Vapours +as much agitated as themselves, which therefore +would not yield to their Progress that Way; but +towards the North and the South, they would +find a more easy Passage, the Cold of those Parts +attracting them, as we call it, that is, making +way to their Motion and Dilatation without +much Resistance, as Mountains and cold Places +usually draw Vapours from the warmer. So +as the regular and constant Course of the Vapours +of that Earth, which were rais’d chiefly +about the Equinoctial and middle Parts of it, +would be towards the extream Parts of it, or +towards the Poles.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> in consequence of this, when these +Vapours were arriv’d in those cooler Climates, +and cooler Parts of the Air, they would be +condens’d into Rain; for wanting there the +Cause of their Agitation, namely, the Heat +of the Sun, their Motion would soon begin +to languish, and they would fall closer to one +another in the Form of Water. For the Difference +<span class='pageno' id='Page_311'>311</span>betwixt Vapours and Water is only +gradual, and consists in this, that Vapours are +in a flying Motion, separate and distant each +from another; but the Parts of Water are in +a creeping Motion, close to one another; like +a Swarm of Bees when they are settled; as +Vapours resemble the same Bees in the Air, +before they settle together. Now there is nothing +puts these Vapours upon the Wing, or +keeps them so, but a strong Agitation by Heat; +and when that fails, as it must do in all colder +Places and Regions, they necessarily return to +Water again. Accordingly therefore we must +suppose they would soon, after they reach’d +these cold Regions, be condens’d, and fall down +in a continual Rain, or Dew, upon those Parts +of the Earth. I say a <i>continual</i> Rain; for seeing +the Action of the Sun, which rais’d the Vapours, +was (at that Time) always the same, and the +State of the Air always alike, nor any cross +Winds, nor any thing else that could hinder the +Course of the Vapours towards the Poles, nor +their Condensation when arriv’d there; ’tis +manifest there would be a constant Source or +Store-house of Waters in those Parts of the Air, +and in those Parts of the Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> this, I think, was the establish’d Order +of Nature in that World, this was the State +of the Antediluvian Heavens and Earth; all +their Waters came from above, and that with +a constant Supply and Circulation; for when +the Croud of Vapours rais’d about the middle +Parts of the Earth, found Vent and Issue +<span class='pageno' id='Page_312'>312</span>this Way towards the Poles, the Passage being +once open’d, and the Channel made, the Current +would be still continued without Intermission; +and as they were dissolv’d and +spent there, they would suck in more and +more of those which followed, and came in +fresh Streams from the hotter Climates. <i>Aristotle</i>, +I remember, in his <i>Meteors</i> speaking +of the Course of the Vapours, saith, there is +a River in the Air, constantly flowing betwixt +the Heavens and the Earth, made by the ascending +and descending Vapours: This was +more remarkably true in the primitive Earth, +where the State of Nature was more constant +and regular; there was indeed an uninterrupted +Flood of Vapours rising in one Region of +the Earth, and flowing to another, and there +continually distilling in Dews and Rain, which +made this aerial River. As may be easily apprehended +from this Scheme of the Earth and Air.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig2-1.jpg' alt='The Earth, with Clouds of Vapour Descending from Above.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 2 Fig. 1.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> we have found a Source for Waters in +the first Earth, which had no Communication +with the Sea; and a Source that would never +fail, neither diminish or overflow, but feed +the Earth with an equal Supply throughout all +the Parts of the Year. But there is a second +Difficulty that appears at the End of this, <i>how</i> +these Waters would flow upon the even Surface +of the Earth, or form themselves into Rivers; +there being no Descent or Declivity for +their Course. There were no Hills, nor Mountains, +nor high Lands in the first Earth, and if +these Rains fell in the Frigid Zones, or towards +the Poles, there they would stand in Lakes +<span class='pageno' id='Page_313'>313</span>and Pools, having no Descent one Way more +than another; and so the rest of the Earth would +be no better for them. This, I confess, appear’d +as great a Difficulty as the former, and would +be unanswerable for ought I know, if that +first Earth was not water’d by Dews only (as +I believe some Worlds are) or had been exactly +Spherical; but we noted before, that it was +Oval or Oblong; and in such a Figure ’tis +manifest the polar Parts are higher than the +equinoctial, that is, more remote from the +Center, as appears to the Eye in this Scheme. +This affords us a present Remedy, and sets us +free of the second Difficulty; for by this Means +the Waters, which fell about the extream Parts +of the Earth, would have a continual Descent +towards the middle Parts of it; this Figure gives +them Motion and Distribution; and many Rivers +and Rivulets would flow from those Mother-Lakes, +to refresh the Face of the Earth, bending +their Course still towards the middle Parts of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_314'>314</span><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> true, These Derivations of the Waters +at first would be very irregular and diffuse, till the +Channels were a little worn and hollow’d; and +tho’ that Earth was smooth and uniform, yet ’tis +impossible, upon an inclining Surface, but that +Waters should find a Way of creeping downwards, +as we see upon a smooth Table, or a flag’d +Pavement; if there be the least Inclination, Water +will flow from the higher to the lower Parts +of it, either directly, or winding to and fro: So +the Smoothness of that Earth would be no Hindrance +to the Course of the Rivers, provided +there was a general Declivity in the Site and +Libration of it, as ’tis plain there was from the +Poles towards the Æquator. The Current indeed +would be easy and gentle all along, and if +it chanc’d in some Places to rest, or be stopt, it +would spread it self into a pleasant Lake, till by +fresh Supplies it had rais’d its Waters so high as +to overflow and break loose again; then it +would pursue its Way, with many other Rivers +its Companions, thro’ all the temperate +Climates as far as the Torrid Zone.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> you’ll say, When they were got thither, +what would become of them then? <i>How</i> +would they end or finish their Course? This +is the third Difficulty <i>concerning</i> the Ending of +the Rivers in that Earth; what Issue could +they have when they were come to the middle +Parts of it, whither it seems they all +tended? There was no Sea to lose themselves +in, as our Rivers do; nor any subterraneous +Passages to throw themselves into; how would +<span class='pageno' id='Page_315'>315</span>they die, what would be their Fate at last? I +answer, The greater Rivers, when they were +come towards those Parts of the Earth, would +be divided into many Branches, or a Multitude +of Rivulets; and those would be partly exhal’d +by the Heat of the Sun, and partly drunk up +by the dry and sandy Earth. But how and in +what Manner this came to pass, requires a little +further Explication.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> must therefore observe in the first Place, +that those Rivers, as they drew nearer to the +æquinoctial Parts, would find a less Declivity +or Descent of Ground than in the beginning, +or former Part of their Course; that is evident +from the oval Figure of the Earth, for +near the middle Parts of an Oval, the Semi-diameters, +as I may call them, are very little +shorter one than another; and for this Reason +the Rivers, when they were advanc’d towards +the middle Parts of the Earth, would begin to +flow more slowly, and, by that Weakness of +their Current, suffer themselves easily to be divided +and distracted into several lesser Streams and +Rivulets; or else having no Force to wear a Channel, +would lie shallow upon the Ground like a +Plash of Water; and in both Cases their Waters +would be much more expos’d to the Action of +the Sun, than if they had kept together in a +deeper Channel, as they were before.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Secondly</span>, We must observe, that seeing +these Waters could not reach to the Middle of +the Torrid Zone, for want of Descent; that +Part of the Earth having the Sun always perpendicular +<span class='pageno' id='Page_316'>316</span>over it, and being refresh’d by no Rivers, +would become extreamly dry and parch’d, +and be converted at length into a kind of sandy +Desert; so as all the Waters that were carried +thus far, and were not exhaled and consum’d by +the Sun, would be suck’d up, as in a Spunge, by +these Sands of the Torrid Zone. This was the +common Grave wherein the Rivers of the first +Earth were buried; and this is nothing but what +happens still in several Parts of the present Earth; +especially in <i>Africk</i>, where many Rivers never +flow into the Sea, but expire after the same Manner +as these did, drunk up by the Sun and the +Sands. And one Arm of <i>Euphrates</i> dies, as I remember, +amongst the Sands of <i>Arabia</i>, after the +Manner of the Rivers of the first Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> we have conquer’d the greatest Difficulty, +in my Apprehension, in this whole Theory, +<i>To</i> find out the State of the Rivers in the +primitive and antediluvian Earth, their Origin, +Course, and Period. We have been forc’d to +win our Ground by Inches, and have divided +the Difficulty into Parts, that we might encounter +them single with more Ease. The Rivers +of the Earth, you see, were in most respects +different, and in some, contrary to ours; +and if you could turn our Rivers backwards, +to run from the Sea towards their Fountain-heads, +they would more resemble the Course +of those Antediluvian Rivers; for they were +greatest at their first setting out, and the Current +afterwards, when it was more weak, and +the Channel more shallow, was divided into +<span class='pageno' id='Page_317'>317</span>many Branches and little Rivers; like the Arteries +in our Body, that carry the Blood; they +are greatest at first, and the further they go +from the Heart, their Source, the less they +grow, and divided into a Multitude of little +Branches, which lose themselves insensibly in +the Habit of the Flesh, as these little Floods +did in the Sands of the Earth.</p> + +<div class='figcenter id001'> +<img src='images/fig2-2.jpg' alt='The Earth, with Zones near the Poles, and Rivers flowing from there towards the Equator.' class='ig001'> +<div class='ic002'> +<p>Book 2 Fig. 2.</p> +</div> +</div> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Because</span> it pleaseth more and makes a +greater Impression upon us, to see Things represented +to the Eye, than to read their Description +in Words, we have ventur’d to give a +Model of the Primæval Earth, with its Zones +or greater Climates, and the general Order +and Tracts of its Rivers: Not that we believe +Things to have been in the very same Form +as here exhibited; but this may serve as a general +<i>Idea</i> of that Earth, which may be wrought +into more exactness, according as we are able +to enlarge or correct our Thoughts hereafter. +And as the Zones here represented, resemble +the <i>Belts</i> or <i>Fasciæ</i> of <i>Jupiter</i>, so we suppose +them to proceed from like Causes, if that +Planet be in an Antediluvian State, as the +Earth we here represent. As for the Polar +Parts in that first Earth, I can say very little of +them, they would make a Scene by themselves, +and a very particular one; the Sun +would be perpetually in their Horizon, which +makes me think the Rains would not fall so +much there, as in the other Parts of the Frigid +Zones, where accordingly we have made their +chief Seat and Receptacle. That they flow’d +<span class='pageno' id='Page_318'>318</span>from thence in such like Manner as is here +represented, we have already prov’d; and sometimes +in their Passage swelling into Lakes, and +towards the End of their Course parting into +several Streams and Branches, they would water +those Parts of the Earth like a Garden.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> have before compar’d the Branchings of +these Rivers towards the End of their Course, to +the Ramifications of the Arteries in the Body, +when they are far from the Heart near the extream +Parts; and some, it may be, looking upon +this Scheme, would carry the Comparison further, +and suppose, that as in the Body the Blood +is not lost in the Habit of the Flesh, but strain’d +through it, and taken up again by the little +Branches of the Veins; so in that Earth the Waters +were not lost in those Sands of the Torrid +Zone, but strain’d or percolated thorough them, +and receiv’d into the Channels of the other Hemisphere. +This indeed would in some Measure +answer the Notion which several of the ancient +Fathers make use of, that the Rivers of <i>Paradise</i> +were trajected out of the other Hemisphere into +this, by subterraneous Passages. But I confess +I could never see it possible how such a +Trajection could be made, nor how they could +have any Motion, being arriv’d in another Hemisphere; +and therefore I am apt to believe +that Doctrine amongst the Ancients arose from +an Entanglement in their Principles: They +suppos’d generally, that <i>Paradise</i> was in the +other Hemisphere, as we shall have occasion +to shew hereafter; and yet they believ’d that +<span class='pageno' id='Page_319'>319</span><i>Tygris</i>, <i>Euphrates</i>, <i>Nile</i>, and <i>Ganges</i>, were the +Rivers of <i>Paradise</i>, or came out of it; and these +two Opinions they could not reconcile, or make +out, but by supposing that these four Rivers had +their Fountain-heads in the other Hemisphere, +and by some wonderful Trajection broke out again +here. This was the Expedient they found +out to make their Opinions consistent one with +another; but this is a Method to me altogether +unconceivable; and, for my part, I do not love +to be led out of my Depth, leaning only upon +Antiquity. How there could be any such Communication, +either above Ground, or under +Ground, betwixt the two Hemispheres, does not +appear; and therefore we must still suppose the +Torrid Zone to have been the Barrier betwixt +them, which nothing could pass either Way.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> have now examin’d and determin’d the +State of the Air, and of the Waters in the +Primitive Earth, by the Light and Consequences +of Reason; and we must not wonder +to find them different from the present +Order of Nature; what things are said of +them, or relating to them in Holy Writ, do +testify or imply as much; and it will be worth +our time to make some Reflection upon those +Passages for our further Confirmation. <i>Moses</i> +tells us, that the <i>Rainbow</i> was set in the +Clouds after the Deluge; those Heavens then, +that never had a Rainbow before, were certainly +of a Constitution very different from +ours. And <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>, <i>2 Epist. chap. <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> <abbr title='verse'>v.</abbr> 5.</i> +doth formally and expresly tell us, that the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_320'>320</span><i>Old Heavens</i>, or the Antediluvian Heavens +had a different Constitution from ours, and +particularly, that they were compos’d or constituted +of Water, which Philosophy of the +Apostle’s may be easily understood, if we attend +to two things, first, that the Heavens he +speaks of were not the Starry Heavens, but the +aerial Heavens, or the Regions of our Air, +where the Meteors are: Secondly, that there +were no Meteors in those Regions, or in those +Heavens, till the Deluge, but watry Meteors, +and therefore, he says, they consisted of Water. +And this shews the Foundation upon which +that Description is made, how coherently the +Apostle argues, and answers the Objection there +propos’d: How justly also he distinguisheth the +first Heavens from the present Heavens, or rather +opposeth them one to another; because as those +were constituted of Water, and watry Meteors +only, so the present Heavens, he saith, have +Treasures of Fire, fiery Exhalations and Meteors, +and a Disposition to become the Executioners +of the Divine Wrath and Decrees in the +final Conflagration of the Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> minds me also of the <i>Celestial Waters</i>, +or the Waters above the Firmaments, which, +Scripture sometimes mentions, and which, +methinks, cannot be explain’d so fitly and +emphatically upon any Supposition as this of +ours. Those who place them above the Starry +Heavens, seem neither to understand Astronomy +nor Philosophy; and, on the other hand, +if nothing be understood by them, but the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_321'>321</span>Clouds and the middle Region of the Air, as it +is at present, methinks that was no such eminent +and remarkable Thing, as to deserve a particular +Commemoration by <i>Moses</i> in his six Days +Work; but if we understand them, not as they +are now, but as they were then, the only Source +of Waters, or the only Source of Waters upon +that Earth, (for they had not one Drop of Water +but what was Celestial,) this gives it a new +Force and Emphasis: Besides the whole middle +Region having no other sort of Meteors but +them, that made it still the greater Singularity, +and more worthy Commemoration. As for +the Rivers of <i>Paradise</i>, there is nothing said +concerning their Source, or their Issue, that is +either contrary to this, or that is not agreeable +to the general Account we have given of the +Waters and Rivers of the first Earth. They are +not said to rise from any Mountain, but from a +great River or a kind of a Lake in <i>Eden</i>, according +to the Custom of the Rivers of that +Earth. And as for their End and Issue, <i>Moses</i> +doth not say, that they disburthen themselves +into this or that Sea, as they usually do in the +Description of great Rivers, but rather implies +that they spent themselves in compassing and +watering certain Countries, which falls in +again very easily with our <i>Hypothesis</i>. But I +say this rather to comply with the Opinions of +others, than of my <i>own</i> Judgment: For I think, +that Suggestion about the Supercelestial Waters +made by <i>Moses</i>, was not so much according +to the strict Nature and Speciality of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_322'>322</span>Causes, as for the Ease and Profit of the People, +in their Belief and Acknowledgment of Providence +for so great a Benefit, by what Causes soever +it was brought to pass.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> to return to the Rainbow which we +mentioned before, and is not to be past over so +slightly. This we say is a Creature of the modern +World, and was not seen nor known before +the Flood. <i>Moses</i> (<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='nine'>ix.</abbr> 12, 13.</i>) plainly +intimates as much, or rather directly affirms it; +for he says, the Bow was set in the Clouds after +the Deluge, as a Confirmation of the Promise, +or Covenant, which God made with <i>Noah</i>, that +he would drown the World no more with Water. +And how could it be a Sign of this, or given +as a Pledge and Confirmation of such a Promise, +if it was in the Clouds before, and with +no Regard to this Promise; and stood there, +it may be, when the World was going to be +drown’d? This would have been but cold Comfort +to <i>Noah</i>, to have had such a Pledge of the +Divine Veracity. You’ll say, it may be, that it +was not a Sign or Pledge, that signified naturally, +but voluntarily only, and by Divine Institution: +I am of Opinion, I confess, that it signify’d +naturally, and by Connexion with the +Effect, importing thus much, that the State +of Nature was chang’d from what it was before, +and so chang’d, that the Earth was no +more in a Condition to perish by Water. But +however, let us grant that it signifieth only by +Institution, to make it significant in this Sense, +it must be something new, otherwise it could +<span class='pageno' id='Page_323'>323</span>not signify any new thing, or be the Confirmation +of a new Promise. If God Almighty had +said to <i>Noah</i>, I make a Promise to you, and to +all living Creatures, that the World shall never +be destroy’d by Water again, and for Confirmation +of this, Behold, <i>I set the Sun in the Firmament</i>: +Would this have been any strengthening +of <i>Noah</i>’s Faith or any Satisfaction to his Mind? +Why says <i>Noah</i>, the Sun was in the Firmament +when the Deluge came, and was a Spectator of +that sad Tragedy; why may it not be so again? +What Sign or Assurance is this against a second +Deluge? When God gives a Sign in the Heavens, +or on the Earth, of any Prophecy or Promise +to be fulfill’d, it must be by something new, or +by some Change wrought in Nature; whereby +God doth testify to us, that he is able and +willing to stand to his Promise. God says to +<i>Ahaz</i>, <abbr title='Isaiah'>Isai.</abbr> <abbr title='seven'>vii.</abbr> <i>Ask a Sign of the Lord; ask +it either in the Depth, or in the Height above</i>: +And when <i>Ahaz</i> would ask no Sign, God gives +one unask’d, <i>Behold a Virgin shall conceive +and bear a Son</i>. So when <i>Zachary</i>, <i>Luke 1.</i> was +promis’d a Son, he asketh for a Sign, <i>Whereby +shall I know this? for I am old, and my Wife +well stricken in Years</i>, and the Sign given him +was, that he became dumb, and continued +so till the Promise was fulfilled. Accordingly, +when <i>Abraham</i> ask’d a Sign whereby he might +be assured of God’s Promise that his Seed +should inherit the Land of <i>Canaan</i>, <i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr title='fifteen'>xv.</abbr> +8.</i> ’Tis said (<i>ver. 17.</i>) <i>When the Sun went +down and it was dark, behold a smoaking Furnace +<span class='pageno' id='Page_324'>324</span>and a burning Lamp passed betwixt the +Pieces</i> of the Beasts that he had cut asunder. +So in other Instances of Signs given in external +Nature, as the Sign given to King <i>Hezekiah</i>, +<i><abbr title='Isaiah'>Isai.</abbr> <abbr title='thirty-eight'>xxxviii.</abbr></i> for his Recovery, and to <i>Gideon</i> +for his Victory; to confirm the Promise made to +<i>Hezekiah</i>, <i>Judge <abbr title='seven'>vii.</abbr></i> the Shadow went back +ten Degrees in <i>Ahaz</i> Dial. And for <i>Gideon</i>, +<i>his Fleece was wet, and all the Ground about it +dry</i>; and then to change the Trial, <i>it was dry, +and all the Ground about it wet</i>. These were +all Signs very proper, significant, and satisfactory, +having something surprising and extraordinary, +yet these were Signs by Institution only; and +to be such they must have something new and +strange, as a Mark of the Hand of God, otherwise +they can have no Force or Significancy. +Accordingly we see, <i>Moses</i> himself in another +Place, speaks this very Sense, when in the Mutiny +or Rebellion of <i>Corah</i> and <i>Dathan</i>, he speaks +thus to the People, <i>If these Men die the common +Death of Men, then the Lord hath not sent +me. But if the Lord make a new Thing and the +Earth open her Mouth and swallow them up, &c. +then you shall understand that these Men have +provoked the Lord, Numb. <abbr title='twenty-six'>xxvi.</abbr> 29, 30.</i> So in +the Case of <i>Noah</i>, if God <i>created a new Creature</i> +(which are <i>Moses</i>’s Words in the forecited +Place) the Sign was effectual: But where every +thing continues to be as it was before, and the +Face of Nature, in all its Parts, the very same, +it cannot signify any thing new, nor any new +Intention in the Author of Nature; and consequently, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_325'>325</span>cannot be a Sign or Pledge, a Token +or Assurance of the Accomplishment of +any new Covenant or Promise made by him.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span>, methinks, is plain to common Sense, +and to every Man’s Reason; but because it is a +Thing of Importance, to prove that there was +no Rainbow before the Flood, and will confirm a +considerable Part of this Theory, by discovering +what the state of the Air was in the old World, +give me leave to argue it a little further, and to +remove some Prejudices that may keep others +from assenting to clear Reason. I know ’tis usually +said, that Signs like Words, signify any +Thing by Institution, or may be apply’d to any +Thing by the Will of the Imposer; as hanging +out a white Flag is calling for Mercy; a Bush at +the Door a Sign of Wine to be sold, and such +like. But these are Instances nothing to our +Purpose, these are Signs of something present, +and that signify only by Use and repeated Experience; +we are speaking of Signs of another +Nature given in Confirmation of a Promise, +or Threatning, or Prophecy, and given with +Design to cure our Unbelief, or to excite and +beget in us faith in God, in the Prophet, or +in the Promiser; such Signs, I say, when they +are wrought in external Nature, must be some +new Appearance, and must thereby induce us +to believe the Effect, or more to believe it, +than if there had been no Sign, but only the +Affirmation of the Promiser; for otherwise the +pretended Sign is a mere Cypher and Superfluity. +But a Thing that obtain’d before, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_326'>326</span>in the same Manner, (even when that came to +pass, which we are now promis’d shall not come +to pass again) signifies no more, than if there had +been no Sign at all: It can neither signify another +Course in Nature, nor another Purpose in +God; and therefore is perfectly insignificant. +Some instance in the Sacraments, Jewish or +Christian, and make them Signs in such a Sense +as the Rainbow is: But those are rather Symbolical +Representations or Commemorations; and +some of them Marks of Distinction and Consecration +of our selves to God in such a Religion; +they were also new, and very particular when +first instituted; but all such Instances fall short, +and do not reach the Case before us; we are +speaking of Signs confirmatory of a Promise; +when there is something affirm’d <i>de futuro</i>, and +to give us a further Argument of the Certainty +of it, and of the Power and Veracity of the +Promiser, a Sign is given. This, we say, must +indispensably be something new, otherwise it +cannot have the Nature, Virtue, and influence +of a Sign.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> have seen how incongruous it would be +to admit, that the Rainbow appear’d before the +Deluge, and how dead a Sign that would make +it, how forc’d, fruitless and ineffectual, as to the +Promise it was to confirm: Let us now on the +other hand suppose, that it first appear’d to the +Inhabitants of the Earth after the Deluge, how +proper, and how apposite a Sign would this be +for Providence to pitch upon, to confirm the +Promise made to <i>Noah</i> and his Posterity, <i>That</i> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_327'>327</span>the World should be no more destroy’d by Water? +It hath a secret Connexion with the Effect +it self, and was so far a natural Sign; but however, +appearing first after the Deluge, and in a +watery Cloud, there was, methinks, a great Easiness +and Propriety of Application for such a +purpose. And if we suppose, that while God Almighty +was declaring his Promise to <i>Noah</i>, and +the Sign of it, there appeared at the same Time +in the Clouds a fair Rainbow, that marvellous +and beautiful Meteor, which <i>Noah</i> had never +seen before; it could not but make a most lively +Impression upon him, quickning his Faith, +and giving him Comfort and Assurance, that +God would be stedfast to his Promise.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Nor</span> ought we to wonder that Interpreters +have commonly gone the other Way, and suppos’d +that the Rainbow was before the Flood: +this, I say, was no wonder in them, for they had +no <i>Hypothesis</i> that could answer to any other +Interpretation: And in the Interpretation of the +Texts of Scripture that concern natural Things, +they commonly bring them down to their own +Philosophy and Notions: As we have a great +Instance in that Discourse of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s (<i>2 Epist. +<abbr title='chapter'>c.</abbr> <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> 5.</i>) concerning the Deluge and the Antediluvian +Heavens and Earth, which, for want of +a Theory, they have been scarce able to make +Sense of; for they have forcedly apply’d to the +present Earth, or the present Form of the Earth, +what plainly respected another. A like Instance +we have in the <i>Mosaical</i> Abyss, or <i>Tehom-Rabba</i>, +by whose Disruption the Deluge was made; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_328'>328</span>this they knew not well what to make of, and so +have generally interpreted it of the Sea, or of +our subterraneous Waters; without any Propriety +either as to the Word, or as to the Sense. +A third Instance is this of the Rainbow, where +their Philosophy hath misguided them again; for +to give them their due, they do not alledge, nor +pretend to alledge any Thing from the Text, +that should make them interpret thus, or think +the Rainbow was before the Flood; but they +pretend to go by certain Reasons, as that the +Clouds were before the Flood, therefore the +Rainbow; and if the Rainbow was not before +the Flood, then all things were not made within +the six Days Creation: To whom these Reasons +are convictive, they must be led into the same +Belief with them, but not by any Thing in the +Text, nor in the true Theory, at least if ours be +so; for by that you see, that the Vapours were +never condens’d into Drops, nor into Rain, in +the temperate and inhabited Climates of that +Earth, and consequently there could never be the +Production or Appearance of this Bow in the +Clouds. Thus much concerning the Rainbow.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> recollect our selves and conclude this +Chapter, and the whole Disquisition concerning the +Waters of the primitive Earth; we seem +to have so well satisfied the Difficulties propos’d +in the beginning of the Chapter, that +they have rather given us an Advantage; a better +Discovery, and such a new Prospect of that +Earth, as makes it not only habitable, but more +fit to be <i>Paradisiacal</i>. The Pleasantness of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_329'>329</span>Site of <i>Paradise</i> is made to consist chiefly in +two Things, its Waters, and its Trees, (<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> +<abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr></i> and <i>Chap. <abbr title='thirteen'>xiii.</abbr> 10.</i> <i>Ezek. <abbr title='thirty-one'>xxxi.</abbr> 8.</i>) and considering +the Richness of that first Soil in the primitive +Earth, it could not but abound in Trees, +as it did in Rivers and Rivulets; and be wooded +like a Grove, as it was water’d like a Garden, +in the temperate Climates of it; so as it would +not be, methinks, so difficult to find one <i>Paradise</i> +there, as not to find more than one.</p> +<h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='six'>VI.</abbr></span></h3> +<p class='c012'><i>A Recollection and Review of what hath been +said concerning the Primitive Earth: with a +more full Survey of the State of the first World +Natural and Civil, and the Comparison of it +with the present World.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have now, in a good Measure, finish’d +our Description of the first and +antediluvian Earth: And as Travellers, +when they see strange Countries, make it +part of their Pleasure and Improvement to +compare them with their own, to observe the +Differences, and wherein they excel, or come +short of one another: So it will not be unpleasant, +nor unuseful, it may be, having made +a Discovery, not of a new Country, but of a +new World, and travell’d it over in our +Thoughts and Fancy, now to sit down and +compare it with our own: And ’twill be no +<span class='pageno' id='Page_330'>330</span>hard Task, from the general Differences which +we have taken Notice of already, to observe +what lesser would arise, and what the whole +Face of Nature would be.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> also one Fruit of travelling, that by +seeing Variety of Places, and People, of Humours, +Fashions, and Forms of Living, it frees +us by degrees, from that Pedantry and Littleness +of Spirit, whereby we are apt to censure +every thing for absurd and ridiculous, that is +not according to our own Way, and the Mode +of our own Country: But if, instead of crossing +the Seas, we could waft our selves over to +our neighbouring Planets, we should meet with +such Varieties there, both in Nature and Mankind, +as would very much enlarge our Thoughts +and Souls, and help to cure those Diseases of little +Minds, that make them troublesome to +others, as well as uneasy to themselves.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> seeing our heavy Bodies are not made +for such Voyages, the best and greatest thing +we can do in this kind, is to make a Survey +and Reflection upon the antediluvian Earth, +which in some Sense was another World from +this, and, it may be, as different as some two +Planets are from one another. We have declar’d +already the general Grounds upon which +we must proceed, and must now trace the +Consequences of them, and drive them down +into Particulars, which will shew us in most +things, wherein that Earth, or that World, +differed from the present. The Form of that +Earth, and its Situation to the Sun, were two +<span class='pageno' id='Page_331'>331</span>of its most fundamental Differences from ours: +As to the Form of it, ’twas all one smooth +Continent, one continued Surface of Earth, +without any Sea, any Mountains, or Rocks; +any Holes, Dens, or Caverns: And the Situation +of it to the Sun was such as made a perpetual +Æquinox. These two join’d together, +lay the Foundation of a new Astronomy, Meteorology, +Hydrography and Geography; such +as were proper and peculiar to that World. +The Earth by this means having its Axis parallel +to the Axis of the Ecliptick, the Heavens +would appear in another Posture; and +their diurnal Motion, which is imputed to the +<i>Primum Mobile</i>, and supposed to be upon the +Poles of the Æquator, would then be upon +the same Poles with the second and periodical +Motions of the Orbs and Planets, namely, upon +the Poles of the Ecliptick, by which Means +the <i>Phænomena</i> of the Heavens would be more +simple and regular, and much of that Entangledness +and Perplexity, which we find now in +Astronomy, would be taken away. Whether +the Sun and Moon would suffer any Eclipses +then, cannot well be determin’d, unless one +knew what the Course of the Moon was at +that time, or whether she was then come into +our Neighbourhood: Her Presence seems +to have been less needful when there were +no long Winter Nights, nor the great Pool +of the Sea to move or govern.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>As</span> for the Regions of the Air and the Meteors, +we have in the preceding Chapter set +<span class='pageno' id='Page_332'>332</span>down what the State of them would be, and in +how much a better Order, and more peaceable, +that Kingdom was, till the Earth was broken +and displac’d, and the Course of Nature chang’d: +Nothing violent, nothing frightful, nothing +troublesome or incommodious to Mankind, +came from above, but the Countenance of the +Heavens was always smooth and serene. I have +often thought it a very desirable Piece of Power, +if a Man could but command a fair Day, +when he had occasion for it, for himself, or for +his Friends; ’tis more than the greatest Prince +or Potentate upon Earth can do; yet they never +wanted one in that World, nor ever saw a +foul one. Besides they had constant Breezes from +the Motion of the Earth, and the Course of the +Vapours, which cool’d the open Plains, and +made the Weather temperate, as well as fair. +But we have spoken enough in other Places +upon this Subject of the Air and the Heavens, +let us now descend to the Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Earth was divided into two Hemispheres, +separated by the Torrid Zone, which +at that time was uninhabitable, and utterly +unpassable; so as the two Hemispheres made +two distinct Worlds, which, so far as we can +judge, had no manner of Commerce or Communication +one with another. The Southern +Hemisphere the Antients call’d <i>Antichthon</i>, <i>the +opposite Earth</i>, or the <i>Other World</i>. And this +Name and Notion remain’d long after the +Reason of it had ceas’d. Just as the Torrid +Zone was generally accounted uninhabitable +<span class='pageno' id='Page_333'>333</span>by the Ancients, even in their Time, because it +really had been so once, and the Tradition +remain’d uncorrected, when the Causes were taken +away; namely, when the Earth had chang’d +its Posture to the Sun, after the Deluge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> may be look’d upon as the first Division +of that primæval Earth, into two Hemispheres, +naturally sever’d and disunited: But +it was also divided into five Zones, two Frigid, +two Temperate, and the Torrid betwixt +them. And this Distinction of the Globe into +five Zones, I think, did properly belong to that +original Earth, and primitive Geography, and +improperly, and by Translation only, to the +present. For all the Zones of our Earth are +habitable, and their Distinctions are in a manner +but imaginary, not fixed by Nature; whereas +in that Earth where the Rivers fail’d, and +the Regions became uninhabitable, by reason +of Driness and Heat, there begun the +Torrid Zone; and where the Regions became +uninhabitable by reason of Cold and Moisture, +there begun the Frigid Zone; and these +being determin’d, they became Bounds on either +side to the Temperate. But all this was +alter’d when the Posture of the Earth was +chang’d, and chang’d for that very purpose, +as some of the Ancients have said, <i>That the +uninhabitable Parts of the Earth might become +habitable.</i> Yet though there was so much of +the first Earth uninhabitable, there remain’d +as much to be inhabited, as we have now; for +the Sea, since the breaking up of the Abyss, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_334'>334</span>hath taken away half of the Earth from us, a +great part whereof was to them good Land. Besides, +we are not to suppose, that the Torrid +Zone was of that Extent we make it now, +twenty three Degrees and more on either side +of the Æquator: These Bounds are set only +by the Tropicks, and the Tropicks by the Obliquity +of the Course of the Sun, or of the Posture +of the Earth, which was not in that +World. Where the Rivers stop’d, there the Torrid +Zone would begin, but the Sun was directly +perpendicular to no part of it but the middle.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>How</span> the Rivers flow’d in the first Earth, +we have before explain’d sufficiently, and +what Parts the Rivers did not reach, were +turn’d into Sands and Deserts by the Heat of +the Sun; for I cannot easily imagine, that the +sandy Desarts of the Earth were made so at +first, immediately and from the beginning of +the World; from what Causes should that +be, and to what purpose in that Age? But +in those Tracks of the Earth that were not +refreshed with Rivers and Moisture, which +cement the Parts, the Ground would moulder +and crumble into little Pieces, and then +those Pieces by the Heat of the Sun were +bak’d into Stone. And this would come to +pass chiefly in the hot and scorch’d Regions +of the Earth, though it might happen sometimes +where there was not that Extremity of +Heat, if by any Chance a Place wanted Rivers +and Water to keep the Earth in due Temper; +but those Sands would not be so early +<span class='pageno' id='Page_335'>335</span>or ancient as the other. As for greater loose +Stones, and rough Pebbles, there were none in +that Earth; <i>Deucalion</i> and <i>Pyrrah</i>, when the +Deluge was over, found new made Stones to +cast behind their Backs; the Bones of their Mother +Earth, which then were broken in Pieces, +in that great Ruine.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>As</span> for Plants and Trees, we cannot imagine +but that they must needs abound in the Primitive +Earth, seeing it was so well water’d, and had +a Soil so fruitful; a new unlaboured Soil, replenish’d +with the Seeds of all Vegetables; and +a warm Sun that would call upon Nature early +for her First-fruits, to be offer’d up at the beginning +of her Course. Nature had a wild Luxuriancy +at first, which humane Industry by degrees +gave Form and Order to: The Waters flow’d +with a constant and gentle Current, and were +easily led which way the Inhabitants had a Mind, +for their Use, or for their Pleasure; and shady +Trees, which grow best in moist and warm +Countries, grac’d the Banks of their Rivers +or Canals. But that which was the Beauty +and Crown of all, was their perpetual Spring, +the Fields always green, the Flowers always +fresh, and the Trees always covered with +Leaves and Fruit: But we have occasionally +spoken of these things in several Places, and +may do again hereafter, and therefore need +not enlarge upon them here.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>As</span> for Subterraneous Things, Metals and +Minerals, I believe they had none in the first +Earth; and the happier they; no Gold, nor +<span class='pageno' id='Page_336'>336</span>Silver, nor coarser Metals. The Use of these +is either imaginary, or in such Works, as, by +the Constitution of their World, they had little +Occasion for. And Minerals are either for Medicine, +which they had no need of further than +Herbs; or for Materials to certain Arts, which +were not then in use, or were supplied by other +ways. These subterraneous things, Metals +and metallick Minerals, are fictitious, not original +Bodies, coæval with the Earth; but are +made in Process of Time, after long Preparations +and Concoctions, by the Action of the Sun +within the Bowels of the Earth. And if the <i>Stamina</i>, +or Principles of them rise from the lower +Regions that lie under the Abyss, as I am apt +to think they do, it doth not seem probable that +they could be drawn thro’ such a Mass of Waters, +or that the Heat of the Sun could on a +sudden penetrate so deep, and be able to +loosen them, and raise them into the exterior +Earth. And as the first Age of the World +was call’d <i>Golden</i>, though it knew not what +Gold was; so the following Ages had their +Names from several Metals, which lay then +asleep in the dark and deep Womb of Nature, +and saw not the Sun till many Years and +Ages afterwards.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Having</span> run through the several Regions +of Nature, from Top to Bottom, from the +Heavens to the lower Parts of the Earth, and +made some Observations upon their Order in +the antediluvian World; let us now look upon +Man and other living Creatures, that make +<span class='pageno' id='Page_337'>337</span>up the superior and animate Part of Nature. We +have observed, and sufficiently spoken to that +Difference betwixt the Men of the old World, +and those of the present, in Point of Longevity, +and given the Reasons of it; but we must not +imagine that this long Life was peculiar to Man, +all other Animals had their Share of it, and were +in their Proportion longer-liv’d than they are +now. Nay, not only Animals, but also Vegetables; +and the Forms of all living Things were far +more permanent: The Trees of the Field and +of the Forest, in all Probability, out-lasted the +Lives of Men; and I do not know but the first +Groves of Pines and Cedars that grew out of the +Earth, or that were planted in the Garden of +God, might be standing when the Deluge came, +(<i><abbr title='Ezekiel'>Ezek.</abbr> <abbr title='thirty-one'>xxxi.</abbr> 8.</i>) and see from first to last, the +entire Course and Period of a World.</p> + +<p class='c004'>We might add here, with <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i>, (<i>Civ. +Dei, lib. 15. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 9.</i>) another Observation, both +concerning Men and other living Creatures in +the first World, that they were greater as well +as longer-liv’d, than they are at present: This +seems to be a very reasonable Conjecture; for +the State of every Thing that hath Life is divided +into the Time of its Growth, its Consistency +and its Decay; and when the whole Duration +is longer, every one of these Parts, though not +always in like Proportions, will be longer. We +must suppose then, that the Growth both in +Men and other Animals lasted longer in that +World than it doth now, and consequently +carried their Bodies both to a greater Height +<span class='pageno' id='Page_338'>338</span>and Bulk. And in like Manner, their Trees +would be both taller, and every Way bigger +than ours; neither were they in any Danger +there, to be blown down by Winds and Storms, +or struck with Thunder, tho’ they had been as +high as the <i>Ægyptian</i> Pyramids; and whatsoever +their Height was, if they had Roots and +Trunks proportionable, and were streight and +well pois’d, they would stand firm, and with a +greater Majesty. <i>The Fowls of Heaven making +their Nests in their Boughs, and under their +Shadow the Beasts of the Field bringing forth +their Young.</i> When Things are fairly possible +in their Causes, and possible in several Degrees, +higher or lower, ’tis Weakness of Spirit in us, +to think there is nothing in Nature, but in +that one Way, or in that one Degree, that we +are us’d to. And whosoever believes those +Accounts given us, both by the Ancients (<i>Plin. +<abbr class='spell'>l.</abbr> 7. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 2.</i> <i>Strab. <abbr class='spell'>l.</abbr> 17.</i>) and Moderns, (<i>Hort. +Malabar, vol. 3.</i>) of the <i>Indian</i> Trees, will +not think it strange that those of the first Earth +should much exceed any that we now see in +this World. That allegorical Description of +the Glory of <i>Assyria</i> in <i>Ezekiel</i>, <i>Chap.</i> <abbr title='thirty-one'>xxxi.</abbr> +by Allusion to Trees, and particularly to the +Trees of <i>Paradise</i>, was chiefly for the Greatness +and Stateliness of them; and there is all +Fairness of Reason to believe, that in that first +Earth, both the Birds of the Air, and the Beasts +of the Field, and the Trees and their Fruit, were +all in their several Kinds more large and goodly +than Nature produces any now.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_339'>339</span><span class='sc'>So</span> much in short, concerning the natural +World, inanimate or animate; we should now +take a Prospect of the moral World of that time, +or of the civil and artificial World; what the Order +and Oeconomy of these was, what the Manner +of Living, and how the Scenes of humane +Life were different from ours at present. The +Ancients, especially the Poets, in their Description +of the golden Age, exhibit to us an Order of +Things, and a Form of Life, very remote from +any Thing we see in our Days; but they are not +to be trusted in all Particulars; many times they +exaggerate Matters on purpose, that they may +seem more strange, or more great, and by that +Means move and please us more. A <i>Moral</i> or +<i>Philosophick History</i> of the World, well writ, +would certainly be a very useful Work, to observe +and relate how the Scenes of humane Life +have chang’d in several Ages, the Modes and +Forms of Living, in what Simplicity Men begun +at first, and by what Degrees they came +out of that Way, by Luxury, Ambition, Improvement, +or Changes in Nature; then what +new Forms and Modifications were superadded +by the Invention of Arts, what by Religion, +what by Superstition. This would be a +View of Things more instructive, and more +satisfactory, than to know what Kings reign’d +in such an Age, and what Battles were fought, +which common History teacheth, and teacheth +little more. Such Affairs are but the little +Under-plots in the Tragi comedy of the World; +the main Design is of another Nature, and of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_340'>340</span>far greater Extent and Consequence. But to +return to the Subject.</p> + +<p class='c004'>As the animate World depends upon the inanimate, +so the civil World depends upon them +both, and takes its Measures from them; Nature +is the Foundation still, and the Affairs of Mankind +are a Superstructure that will be always proportion’d +to it. Therefore we must look back +upon the Model, or Picture, of their natural +World, which we have drawn before, to make +our Conjectures, or Judgment, of the civil and +artificial, that were to accompany it. We observ’d +from their perpetual Æquinox, and the +Smoothness of the Earth, that the Air would be +always calm, and the Heavens fair, no cold or +violent Winds, Rains, or Storms, no Extremity +of Weather in any kind, and therefore they +would need little Protection from the Injuries +of the Air, in that State; whereas now, one +great Part of the Affairs of Life is to preserve +our selves from those Inconveniencies, by +Building and Cloathing. How many Hands, and +how many Trades are employ’d about these two +Things? Which then were in a manner needless, +or at least in such Plainness and Simplicity, +that every Man might be his own Workman. +Tents and Bowers would keep them +from all Incommodities of the Air and Weather, +better than Stone Walls and strong Roofs +defend us now; and Men are apt to take the +easiest Ways of Living, till Necessity or Vice +put them upon others that are more laborious, +and more artificial. We also observ’d and prov’d, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_341'>341</span>that they had no Sea in the primitive and antediluvian +World, which makes a vast difference +’twixt us and them. This takes up half of our +Globe, and a good part of Mankind is busied with +Sea Affairs and Navigation. They had little need +of merchandizing then, Nature supply’d them +at Home with all Necessaries, which were few, +and they were not so greedy of Superfluities +as we are. We may add to these, what concern’d +their Food and Diet; Antiquity doth generally +suppose, that Men were not carnivorous +in those Ages of the World, or did not feed +upon Flesh, but only upon Fruit and Herbs. +And this seems to be plainly confirm’d by Scripture; +for after the Deluge, God Almighty gives +<i>Noah</i> and his Posterity a Licence to eat Flesh, +(<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr></i> <abbr title='nine'>ix.</abbr> 2, 3.) <i>Every moving Thing that liveth +shall be Meat for you.</i> Whereas before, in the +new-made Earth, God had prescrib’d them +Herbs and Fruit for their Diet, (<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr></i> <abbr title='one'>i.</abbr> 29.) <i>Behold +I have given you every Herb bearing Seed, +which is upon the Face of all the Earth; and +every Tree, in the which is the Fruit of a Tree +yielding Seed, to you it shall be for Meat.</i> And +of this natural Diet they would be provided to +their Hands, without further Preparation, as +the Birds and the Beasts are.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Upon</span> these general Grounds we may infer +and conclude, that the civil World then as +well as the natural, had a very different Face +and Aspect from what it hath now; for of +these Heads, Food and Cloathing, Building +and Traffick, with that Train of Arts, Trades +<span class='pageno' id='Page_342'>342</span>and Manufactures that attend them, the civil +Order of Things is in a great Measure constituted +and compounded; These make the Business +of Life, the several Occupations of Men, +the Noise and Hurry of the World; these fill +our Cities, and our Fairs, and our Havens +and Ports; yet all these fine Things are but +the Effects of Indigency and Necessitousness, +and were, for the most part, needless and unknown +in that first State of Nature. The Ancients +have told us the same Things in Effect; +but telling us them without their Grounds, +which they themselves did not know, they +look’d like poetical Stories, and pleasant Fictions, +and with most Men past for no better. +We have shewn them in another Light, with +their Reasons and Causes, deduc’d from the State +of the natural World, which is the Basis upon +which they stand; and this doth not only give +them a just and full Credibility, but also lays a +Foundation for After-thoughts, and further Deductions, +when they meet with Minds dispos’d +to pursue Speculations of this Nature.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>As</span> for Laws, Government, natural Religion, +Military and Judicial Affairs, with all +their Equipage, which make an higher Order +of Things in the civil and moral World, to +calculate these upon the Grounds given, would +be more difficult, and more uncertain; neither +do they at all belong to the present Theory. +But from what we have already observ’d, +we may be able to make a better Judgment of +those traditional Accounts which the Ancients +<span class='pageno' id='Page_343'>343</span>have left us concerning these Things, in the +early Ages of the World, and the primitive +State of Nature. No doubt in these, as in all +other Particulars, there was a great Easiness +and Simplicity, in Comparison of what is now; +we are in a more pompous, forc’d, and artificial +Method, which partly the Change of Nature, +and partly the Vices and Vanities of Men have +introduc’d and establish’d. But these things, +with many more, ought to be the Subject of a +<i>Philosophick History</i> of the World, which we +mentioned before.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> is a short and general Scheme of the primæval +World, compared with the modern; yet +these things did not equally run thro’ all the Parts +and Ages of it; there was a Declension and Degeneracy, +both natural and moral, by Degrees, and +especially towards the latter End; but the principal +Form of Nature remaining till the Deluge +and the Dissolution of the Heavens and Earth, +till then also this civil Frame of Things would +stand in a great Measure. And tho’ such a State +of Nature, and of Mankind, when ’tis propos’d +crudely, and without its Grounds, appear fabulous +or imaginary, yet ’tis really in itself a State, +not only possible, but more easy and natural, +than what the World is in at present. And if one +of the old antediluvian Patriarchs should rise +from the Dead, he would be more surpriz’d to +see our World in that Posture it is, than we can +be by the Story and Description of his. As an +<i>Indian</i> hath more Reason to wonder at the <i>European</i> +Modes, than we have to wonder at +<span class='pageno' id='Page_344'>344</span>their plain Manner of Living. ’Tis we that +have left the Track of Nature, that are wrought +and screw’d up into Artifices, that have disguis’d +ourselves; and ’tis in our World that the +Scenes are chang’d, and become more strange +and fantastical.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>I will</span> conclude this Discourse with an easy +Remark, and without any particular Application +of it. ’Tis a strange Power that Custom +hath upon weak and little Spirits, whose +Thoughts reach no further than their Senses; +and what they have seen and been us’d to, +they make the Standard and Measure of Nature, +of Reason, and of all <i>Decorum</i>. Neither are +there any Sort of Men more positive and tenacious +of their petty Opinions, than they are; +nor more censorious, even to Bitterness and +Malice. And ’tis generally so, that those that +have the least Evidence for the Truth of their +beloved Opinions, are most peevish and impatient +in the Defence of them. This sort of +Men are the last that will be made wise Men, +if ever they be, for they have the worst of Diseases +that accompany Ignorance, and do not +so much as know themselves to be sick.</p> +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_345'>345</span> + <h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='seven'>VII.</abbr></span></h3> +</div> +<p class='c012'><i>The Place of Paradise cannot be determined from +the Theory only, nor from Scripture only. What +the Sense of Antiquity was concerning it, both +as to the Jews and Heathens, and especially +as to the Christian Fathers. That they generally +plac’d it out of this Continent, in the +southern Hemisphere.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have now prepared our Work for the +last finishing Strokes; described the first +Earth, and compar’d it with the present; and +not only the two Earths, but in a good Measure +the whole State and Oeconomy of those two +Worlds. It remains only to determine the Place +of <i>Paradise</i> in that primæval Earth; I say, in +that primæval Earth, for we have driven the Point +so far already, that the Seat of it could not be in +the present Earth, whose Form, Site, and Air, +are so dispos’d, as could not consist with the first +and most indispensible Properties of <i>Paradise</i>: +And accordingly, we see with what ill Success +our modern Authors have rang’d over the +Earth, to find a fit Spot of Ground to plant <i>Paradise</i> +in; some would set it on the Top of an +high Mountain, that it might have good Air +and fair Weather, as being above the Clouds, +and the middle Region; but then they were +at a Loss for Water, which made a great Part +of the Pleasure and Beauty of that Place. Others +therefore would seat it in a Plain, or in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_346'>346</span>a River-Island, that they might have Water enough; +but then it would be subject to the Injuries +of the Air, and foul Weather at the Seasons +of the Year; from which, both Reason and +all Authority have exempted <i>Paradise</i>. ’Tis like +seeking a perfect Beauty in a mortal Body, there +are so many Things required to it, as to Complexion, +Features, Proportions and Air, that they +never meet all together in one Person; neither +can all the Properties of a terrestrial <i>Paradise</i> +ever meet together in one Place, tho’ never so +well chosen, in this present Earth.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> in the primæval Earth, which we have +described, ’tis easy to find a Seat that had all +those Beauties and Conveniencies. We have +every where thro’ the temperate Climates, a +clear and constant Air, a fruitful Soil, pleasant +Waters, and all the general Characters of +<i>Paradise</i>; so that the Trouble will be rather +in that Competition, what Part or Region to +pitch upon in particular. But to come as near +it as we can, we must remember in the first +Place, how that Earth was divided into two +Hemispheres, distant and separated from one +another, not by an imaginary Line, but by a +real Boundary that could not be past; so as the +first Inquiry will be, in whether of these Hemispheres +was the Seat of <i>Paradise</i>. To answer +this only according to our Theory, I confess, I +see no natural Reason or Occasion to place it in +one Hemisphere more than in another; I see +no Ground of Difference or Pre-eminence, that +one had above the other; and I am apt to +<span class='pageno' id='Page_347'>347</span>think, that depended rather upon the Will of +God, and the Series of Providence that was to +follow in this Earth, than upon any natural Incapacity +in one of these two Regions more than in +the other, for planting in it the Garden of God. +Neither doth Scripture determine, with any Certainty, +either Hemisphere for the Place of it; for +when ’tis said to be in <i>Eden</i>, or to be the Garden +of <i>Eden</i>, ’tis no more than the Garden of <i>Pleasure</i> +or <i>Delight</i>, as the Word signifies: And even +the <i>Septuagint</i>, who render this Word <i>Eden</i>, +as a proper Name twice, (<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr></i> <abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr> <i>ver.</i> 8, & 10.) +do in the same Story render it twice as a common +Name, signifying τρυφὴ <i>Pleasure</i>, (<i>Chap.</i> <abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr> +15. and <i>Chap.</i> <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> 24.) and so they do accordingly +render it in <i>Ezekiel</i>, (<i>Chap.</i> <abbr title='thirty-one'>xxxi.</abbr> 9, 16, 18.) +where this Garden of <i>Eden</i> is spoken of again. +Some have thought that the Word <i>Mekiddim</i>, +(<i><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr></i> <abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr> 8.) was to be render’d <i>in the East</i>, or +<i>Eastward</i>, as we read it, and therefore determin’d +the Site of <i>Paradise</i>; but ’tis only the +<i>Septuagint</i> translate it so; all the other <i>Greek</i> +Versions, and <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Jerome</i>, the <i>Vulgate</i>, the +<i>Chaldee</i> Paraphrase, and the <i>Syriack</i> render it +<i>from the Beginning</i>, or <i>in the Beginning</i>, or to +that Effect. And we that do not believe the +<i>Septuagint</i> to have been infallible, or inspir’d, +have no Reason to prefer their single Authority +above all the rest. Some also think the +Place of <i>Paradise</i> may be determined by the +four Rivers that are named, as belonging to it, +and the Countries they ran through; but the +Names of those Rivers are to me uncertain, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_348'>348</span>and two of them altogether unintelligible. +Where are there four Rivers in our Continent +that come from one Head, as these are said to +have done, either at the Entrance or Issue of +the Garden? ’Tis true, if you admit our <i>Hypothesis</i>, +concerning the Fraction and Disruption +of the Earth at the Deluge, then we cannot +expect to find Rivers now as they were +before; the general Source is chang’d, and their +Channels are all broke up; but if you do not +admit such a Dissolution of the Earth, but suppose +the Deluge to have been only like a standing +Pool, after it had once cover’d the Surface +of the Earth, I do not see why it should make +any great Havock or Confusion in it; and they +that go that Way, are therefore the more oblig’d +to shew us still, the Rivers of <i>Paradise</i>. Several +of the Ancients, as we shall shew hereafter, suppos’d +these four Rivers to have their heads in the +other Hemisphere; and if so, the Seat of <i>Paradise</i> +might be there too. But let them first agree +among themselves concerning these Rivers, +and the Countries they run thro’, and we will +undertake to shew that there cannot be any +such in this Continent.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Seeing</span> then neither the Theory doth determine, +nor Scripture, where the Place of <i>Paradise</i> +was, nor in whether Hemisphere, we +must appeal to Antiquity, or the Opinions of +the Ancients; for I know no other Guide but +one of these three, Scripture, Reason, and ancient +Tradition; and where the two former +are silent, it seems very reasonable to consult +<span class='pageno' id='Page_349'>349</span>the third. And that our Inquiries may be comprehensive +enough, we will consider what the +<i>Jews</i>, what the <i>Heathens</i>, and what the <i>Christian</i> +Fathers have said, or determin’d, concerning +the Seat of <i>Paradise</i>. The <i>Jews</i> and <i>Hebrew</i> +Doctors place it in neither Hemisphere, but betwixt +both, under the Æquinoctial, as you may +see plainly in <i>Abravanel</i>, <i>Manasses</i>, <i>Ben-Israel</i>, +<i>Maimonides</i>, <i>Eben Ezra</i>, and others. But the +Reason why they carried it no further than the +Line, is, because they suppos’d it certain, as <i>Eben +Ezra</i> tells us, that the Days and Nights were always +equal in <i>Paradise</i>, and they did not know +how that could be, unless it stood under the Æquinoctial. +But we have shewn another Method, +wherein that perpetual Equinox came to pass, +and how it was common to all the Parts and Climates +of that Earth, which if they had been aware +of, and that the Torrid Zone at that time was +utterly uninhabitable, having remov’d their <i>Paradise</i> +thus far from Home, they would probably +have remov’d it a little further into the temperate +Climates of the other Hemisphere.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> ancient Heathens, Poets and Philosophers, +had the Notion of <i>Paradise</i>, or rather +of several <i>Paradises</i> in the Earth; and ’tis remarkable, +that they plac’d them generally, if +not all of them, out of this Continent; in +the Ocean, or beyond it, or in another Orb or +Hemisphere. The Garden of the <i>Hesperides</i>, +the fortunate <i>Islands</i>, the <i>Elysian Fields</i>, <i>Ogygia</i> +and <i>Toprabane</i>, as it is describ’d by <i>Diodorus +Siculus</i>, with others such like; which as +<span class='pageno' id='Page_350'>350</span>they were all characteriz’d like so many <i>Paradises</i>, +so they were all seated out of our Continent, +by their Geography and Descriptions of them.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> far Antiquity seems to incline to the +other Hemisphere, or to some Place beyond +the Bounds of our Continent for the Seat of +<i>Paradise</i>: But that which we are most to depend +upon in this Affair, is Christian Antiquity, +the Judgment and Tradition of the Fathers +upon this Argument. And we may safely +say in the first Place, negatively, that none +of the Christian Fathers, <i>Latin</i> or <i>Greek</i>, ever +plac’d <i>Paradise</i> in <i>Mesopotamia</i>; that is a Conceit +and Invention of some modern Authors, +which have been much encourag’d of late, +because it gave Men Ease and Rest, as to further +Enquiries, in an Argument they could +not well manage. <i>Secondly</i>, We may affirm, +that none of the Christian Fathers have plac’d +<i>Paradise</i> in any determinate Region of our +Continent, <i>Asia</i>, <i>Africk</i>, or <i>Europe</i>. I have +read of one or two Authors, I think, that fancied +<i>Paradise</i> to have been at <i>Jerusalem</i>; but +’twas a mere Fancy, that no Body regarded or +pursu’d. The Controversy amongst the Fathers +concerning <i>Paradise</i> was quite another +Thing from what it is now of late: They +disputed and controverted, whether <i>Paradise</i> +was corporeal or intellectual only, and allegorical; +this was the grand Point amongst them. +Then of those that thought it corporeal, some +plac’d it high in the Air, some inaccessible, by +Desarts or Mountains, and many beyond the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_351'>351</span>Ocean, or in another World; and in these chiefly +consisted the Differences and Diversity of Opinions +amongst them; nor do we find that they +nam’d any particular Place or Country in the +known Parts of the Earth for the Seat of <i>Paradise</i>, +or that one contested for one Spot of +Ground, and another for another, which is the +vain Temerity of modern Authors; as if they +could tell to an Acre of Land where <i>Paradise</i> +stood, or could set their Foot upon the Centre of +the Garden. These have corrupted and misrepresented +the Notion of our <i>Paradise</i>, just as +some Modern Poets have the Notion of the <i>Elysian</i> +Fields, which <i>Homer</i> and the Ancients plac’d +remote, on the Extremities of the Earth, and +these would make a little green Meadow in +<i>Campania Felix</i> to be the fam’d <i>Elysium</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'>Thus much concerning the Fathers, negatively; +but to discover as far as we can, what +their positive Assertions were in this Argument, +we may observe, that tho’ their Opinions be differently +exprest, they generally concenter in this, +that the <i>Southern Hemisphere</i> was the Seat of +<i>Paradise</i>. This, I say, seems manifestly to be the +Sense of Christian Antiquity and Tradition, so +far as there is anything definitive in the Remains +we have upon that Subject. Some of the Fathers +did not believe <i>Paradise</i> to be corporeal and local, +and those are to be laid aside in the first Place, +as to this Point; others that thought it local, did +not determine any thing (as most of them indeed +did not) concerning the particular Place +of it; but the rest that did, tho’ they have exprest +<span class='pageno' id='Page_352'>352</span>themselves in various Ways, and under various +Forms; yet, upon a due Interpretation, +they all meet in one common and general Conclusion, +that <i>Paradise</i> was seated beyond the +Æquinoctial, or in the other Hemisphere.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> to understand this aright, we must reflect +in the first Place, upon the Form of the primæval +Earth, and of the two Hemispheres of +which it consisted, altogether incommunicable +one with another, by reason of the Torrid Zone +betwixt them; so as those two Hemispheres were +then as two distinct Worlds, or distinct Earths, +that had no Commerce with one another. And +this Notion, or Tradition, we find among Heathen +Authors, as well as Christian; this opposite +Earth being called by them <i>Antichthon</i>, and its +Inhabitants <i>Antichthones</i>: For those Words +comprehend both the <i>Antepodes</i> and <i>Anœci</i>, +or all beyond the Line, as is manifest from their +best Authors, as <i>Achilles</i>, <i>Tatius</i>, and <i>Cæsar Germanicus</i>, +upon <i>Aratus</i>, <i>Probus Grammaticus</i>, <i>Censorinus</i>, +<i>Pomponius Mela</i>, and <i>Pliny</i>. And these +were called another World, and look’d upon as +another Stock and Race of Mankind, as appears +from <i>Cicero</i> and <i>Macrobius</i>, (<i>Somn. Scip.</i>) But +as the latter Part was their Mistake, so the former +is acknowledged by Christian Authors, as +well as others; and particularly <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Clement</i>, +in his Epistle to the <i>Corinthians</i>, mentions a +<i>World</i>, or <i>Worlds beyond the Ocean subject to +divine Providence, and the great Lord of Nature +as well as ours</i>. This Passage of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Clement</i> +is also cited by <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Jerome</i>, in his Commentary +upon <i><abbr title='Ephesians'>Eph.</abbr> <abbr title='two'>ii.</abbr> 2.</i> and by <i>Origen Periarchon</i>, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_353'>353</span>(<i>Lib. 2. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 3.</i>) where the Inhabitants +of that other World are call’d <i>Antichthones</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>I Make</span> this Remark in the first Place, that +we may understand the true Sense and Importance +of those Phrases and Expressions amongst +the Ancients, when they say <i>Paradise</i> was in +<i>another World</i>. Which are not to be so understood, +as if they thought <i>Paradise</i> was in the +Moon, or in <i>Jupiter</i>, or hung above like a Cloud +or a Meteor, they were not so extravagant; but +that <i>Paradise</i> was in another Hemisphere, which +was call’d <i>Antichthon</i>, another <i>Earth</i>, or another +<i>World</i> from ours; and justly reputed so, +because of an Impossibility of Commerce or Intercourse +betwixt their respective Inhabitants. +And this Remark being premis’d, we will now +distribute the Christian Authors and Fathers, that +have deliver’d their Opinion concerning the +Place of <i>Paradise</i>, into three or four Ranks or +Orders; and tho’ they express themselves differently, +you will see, when duly examin’d and +expounded, they all conspire and concur in +the foremention’d Conclusion, <i>That</i> the Seat +of <i>Paradise</i> was in the other Hemisphere.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> the first Rank then we will place and +reckon those that have set <i>Paradise</i> in another +<i>World</i>, or in another <i>Earth</i>; seeing, according +to the foregoing Explication, that is the same +thing as to affirm it seated beyond the Torrid +Zone in the other Hemisphere. In this Number +are <i>Ephrem Syrus</i>, <i>Moses Bar Cepha</i>, <i>Tatianus</i>, +and of latter Date, <i>Jacobus de Valentia</i>. To +these are to be added again such Authors as say, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_354'>354</span>that <i>Adam</i>, when he was turn’d out of <i>Paradise</i>, +was brought into <i>our Earth</i>, or into our Region +of the Earth; for this is tantamount with the +former; and this seems to be the Sense of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Jerome</i> +in several Places against <i>Joviniam</i>, as also +of <i>Constantine</i>, in his <i>Oration</i> in <i>Eusebius</i>, and +is positively asserted by <i>Sulpitius Severus</i>. And +lastly, Those Authors that represent <i>Paradise</i> +as remote from our World, and inaccessible; so +<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i>, <i>Procopius Gazæus</i>, <i>Beda</i>, <i>Strabus +Fuldensis</i>, <i>Historia Scholiastica</i>, and others; these, +I say, pursue the same Notion of Antiquity; for +what is remote from our World, (that is, from +our Continent, as we before explain’d it) is to +be understood to be that <i>Antichthon</i>, (Οἱκουμένη) +or Anti-hemisphere, which the Ancients oppos’d +to ours.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Another</span> Set of Authors, that interpret the +<i>Flaming Sword</i> that guarded <i>Paradise</i> to be the +<i>Torrid Zone</i>, do plainly intimate, that <i>Paradise</i> +in their Opinion lay beyond the Torrid Zone, +or in the Anti-hemisphere; and thus <i>Tertullian</i> +interprets the Flaming Sword, and in such Words +as fully confirm our Sense: <i>Paradise</i>, he says, +<i>by the Torrid Zone, as by a Wall of Fire, was sever’d +from the Communication and Knowledge of +our World</i>. It lay then on the other Side of this +Zone. And <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Cyprian</i>, or the ancient Author +that passeth under his Name, in his Comment +upon <i>Genesis</i>, expresseth himself to the same +Effect; so also <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i> and <i>Isidore Hispalensis</i> +are thought to interpret it: And <i>Aquinas</i>, who +makes <i>Paradise</i> inaccessible, gives this Reason +<span class='pageno' id='Page_355'>355</span>for it, <i>Propter vehementiam æstus in locis intermediis +ex propinquitate Solis, & hoc significatur +per Flammeum Gladium</i>: <i>Because of that vehement +Heat in the Parts betwixt us and that, arising +from the Nearness of the Sun, and this is +signified by the Flaming Sword</i>. And this Interpretation +of the <i>Flaming Sword</i> receives a +remarkable Force and Emphasis from our Theory +and Description of the primæval Earth, for +there the Torrid Zone was as a Wall of Fire indeed, +or a Region of Flame, which none could +pass or subsist in, no more than in a Furnace.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>There</span> is another Form of Expression amongst +the Ancients concerning <i>Paradise</i>, +which if decyphered, is of the same Force +and Signification with this we have already +instanc’d in: They say sometimes, <i>Paradise</i> +was <i>beyond the Ocean</i>, or that the Rivers of +<i>Paradise</i> came from beyond the Ocean. This +is of the same Import with the former Head, +and points still at the other Hemisphere; for, +as we noted before, some of them fixt their +<i>Antichthon</i> and <i>Antichthones</i> beyond the Ocean; +that is, since there was an Ocean; since the +Form of the Earth was chang’d, and the Torrid +Zone became habitable, and consequently +could not be a Boundary or Separation, betwixt +the two Worlds. Wherefore, as some run +still upon the old Division by the Torrid Zone, +others took the new Division by the Ocean. +Which Ocean they suppos’d to lie from East to +West betwixt the Tropicks; as may be seen in +ancient Authors, <i>Geminus</i>, <i>Herodotus</i>, <i>Cicero +<span class='pageno' id='Page_356'>356</span>de republica</i>, and <i>Clemens Romanus</i>, whom we +cited before. <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i> (<i>De Civ. Dei, lib. +16. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 9.</i>) also speaks upon the same Supposition, +when he would confute the Doctrine of +the <i>Antipodes</i>, or <i>Antichthones</i>; and <i>Macrobius</i>, +I remember, makes it an Argument of Providence, +that the Sun and the Planets, in what +Part of their Course soever they are betwixt the +two Tropicks, have still the Ocean under them, +that they may be cool’d and nourish’d by its Moisture. +They thought the Sea, like a Girdle, went +round the Earth, and the temperate Zones on either +Side were the habitable Regions, whereof +this was called the <i>Oicoumene</i>, and the other +<i>Antichthon</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> being observ’d, ’tis not material whether +their Notion was true or false, it shews us +what their Meaning was, and what Part of the +Earth they design’d, when they spoke of any +Thing beyond the Ocean; namely, that they +meant beyond the Line, in the other Hemisphere +or in the <i>Antichthon</i>; and accordingly, when +they say <i>Paradise</i>, or the Fountains of its Rivers +were beyond the Ocean, they say the same +Thing in other Terms with the rest of those Authors +we have cited. In <i>Moses Bar Cepha</i> above-mention’d, +we find a Chapter upon this Subject, +<i>Quomodo trajecerint Mortales inde ex Paradisi +terra in hanc terram.</i> <i>How Mankind past out of +that Earth or Continent, where Paradise was, +into that where we are</i>. Namely how they past +the Ocean, <i>that lay betwixt them</i>, as the Answer +there given explains it. And so <i>Ephrem Syrus</i> is +<span class='pageno' id='Page_357'>357</span>cited often in that Treatise, placing <i>Paradise</i> +beyond the Ocean. The <i>Essenes</i> also, who were +the most Philosophick Sect of the <i>Jews</i>, plac’d +<i>Paradise</i>, according to <i>Josephus</i>, beyond the Ocean, +under a perfect Temperature of Air. And +that Passage in <i>Eusebius</i>, in the Oration of <i>Constantine</i>, +being corrected and restor’d to the true +reading, represents <i>Paradise</i>, in like manner, as +in another Continent, from whence <i>Adam</i> was +brought after his Transgression, into this. And +lastly, there are some Authors, whose Testimony +and Authority may deserve to be consider’d, +not for their own Antiquity, but because they +are professedly Transcribers of Antiquity and +Traditions; such as <i>Strabus</i>, <i>Comestor</i>, and the +like, who are known to give this Account or Report +of <i>Paradise</i> from the Ancients, that it was +<i>interposito Oceano ab Orbe nostro vel a Zona +nostra habitabili secretus</i>, <i>separated from our +Orb or Hemisphere, by the Interposition of +the Ocean</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>It</span> is also observable, that many of the Ancients +that took <i>Tigris</i>, <i>Euphrates</i>, <i>Nile</i> and <i>Ganges</i>, +for the Rivers of <i>Paradise</i>, said that those +Heads or Fountains of them, which we have in +our Continent, are but their <i>capita secunda</i>, their +second Sources, and that their first Sources were +in another Orb where <i>Paradise</i> was; and thus +<i>Hugo de Sancto Victore</i> says, <i>Sanctos communiter +sensisse</i>, That the Holy Men of old were generally +of that Opinion. To this Sense also <i>Moses +Bar Cepha</i> often expresseth himself; as also +<i>Epiphanius</i>, <i>Procopius Gazæus</i>, and <i>Severianus</i> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_358'>358</span>in <i>Catena</i>. Which Notion amongst the Ancients, +concerning the Trajection or Passage of +the paradisiacal Rivers under Ground, or under +Sea, from one Continent into another, is to +me, I confess, unintelligible, either in the first or +second Earth; but however it discovers their +Sense and Opinion of the Seat of <i>Paradise</i>, that +it was not to be sought for in <i>Asia</i> or in <i>Africa</i>, +where those Rivers rise to us; but in some remoter +Parts of the World, where they suppos’d +their first Sources to be.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> is a short Account of what the Christian +Fathers have left us concerning the Seat +of <i>Paradise</i>; and the Truth is, ’tis but a short +and broken account; yet ’tis no wonder it +should be so, if we consider, as we noted before, +that several of them did not believe <i>Paradise</i> +to be local and corporeal; others that did believe +it so, yet did not offer to determine the +Place of it, but left that Matter wholly untouch’d +and undecided: and the rest that did speak to +that Point, did it commonly both in general +Terms, and in Expressions that were disguis’d, +and needed Interpretation; but all these Differences +and Obscurities of Expression, you see, +when duly stated and expounded, may signify +one and the same Thing, and terminate all in +this common Conclusion, <i>That Paradise</i> was +without our Continent, according to the general +Opinion and Tradition of Antiquity. And I +do not doubt but the Tradition would have been +both more express and more universal, if the +Ancients had understood Geography better; for +<span class='pageno' id='Page_359'>359</span>those of the Ancients that did not admit or believe +that there were <i>Antipodes</i> or <i>Antichthones</i>, +as <i>Lactantius</i>, <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i>, and some others; these +could not join in the common Opinion about +the Place of <i>Paradise</i>, because they thought there +was no Land, nor any thing habitable ἔξω τὴς οἱκουμένες, +or beside this Continent. And yet <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> +<i>Austin</i> was so cautious, that as he was bounded +on the one Hand by his false <i>Idea</i> of the Earth, +that he could not join with Antiquity as to the +Place of <i>Paradise</i>; so on the other Hand, he had +that Respect for it, that he would not say any +thing to the contrary; therefore being to give his +Opinion, he says only, <i>Terrestrem esse Paradisum, +& locum ejus ab hominum cognitione esse remotissimum</i>: +<i>That it is somewhere upon the Earth, +but the Place of it very remote from the Knowledge +of Men</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> as their Ignorance of the Globe of the +Earth was one Reason why the Doctrine of <i>Paradise</i> +was so broken and obscure, so another +Reason why it is much more so at present is, because +the chief ancient Books writ upon that Subject +are lost. <i>Ephrem Syrus</i> who liv’d in the fourth +Century, writ a Commentary <i>in Genesin sine de +Ortu rerum</i>, concerning the Origin of the Earth; +and by those Remains that are cited from it, we +have reason to believe that it contained many +Things remarkable concerning the first Earth, and +concerning <i>Paradise</i>. <i>Tertullian</i> also writ a Book +<i>de Paradiso</i>, which is wholly lost; and we see to +what Effect it would have been, by his making +the Torrid Zone to be the <i>Flaming Sword</i>, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_360'>360</span>the Partition betwixt this Earth and <i>Paradise</i>, +which two Earths he more than once distinguisheth +as very different from one another, (<i>Cont. +Marc. lib. 2. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 2. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 5.</i>) The most ancient Author +that I know upon this Subject, at least of those +that writ of it literally, is <i>Moses Bar Cepha</i> a <i>Syrian</i> +Bishop, who liv’d about 700 Years since, +and his Book is translated into <i>Latin</i> by that +learned and judicious Man <i>Andreas Masius</i>. <i>Bar +Cepha</i> writes upon the same Views of <i>Paradise</i> +that we have here presented, that it was beyond +the Ocean, in another Track of Land, or another +Continent from that which we inhabit: As appears +from the very Titles of his 8th, 10th, and +14th Chapters. But we must allow him for his +mistaken Notions about the Form of the Earth; +for he seems to have fancied the Earth plain, (not +only as oppos’d to rough and mountainous, for so +it was plain; but as oppos’d to spherical) and the +Ocean to have divided it in two Parts, an interior, +and an exterior, and in that exterior Part was <i>Paradise</i>. +Such Allowances must often be made for +Geographical Mistakes, in examining and understanding +the Writings of the Ancients. The rest +of the <i>Syrian</i> Fathers, as well as <i>Ephrem</i> and <i>Bar +Cepha</i>, incline to the same Doctrine of <i>Paradise</i>, +and seem to have retain’d more of the ancient notions +concerning it, than the <i>Greek</i> and <i>Latin</i> Fathers +have; and yet there is in all some Fragments +of this Doctrine, and but Fragments in the best.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> might add in the last Place, that as the +most ancient Treatises concerning <i>Paradise</i> are +lost, so also the ancient <i>Glosses</i> and <i>Catenae</i> upon +<span class='pageno' id='Page_361'>361</span>Scripture, where we might have found the +Traditions and Opinions of the Ancients upon +this Subject, are many of them either lost or unpublish’d; +and upon this Consideration, we did +not think it improper to cite some Authors of +small Antiquity, but such as have transcrib’d several +Things out of ancient Manuscript-glosses +into their Commentaries. They living however +before Printing was invented, or Learning well +restor’d, and before the Reformation. I add that +also, <i>before the Reformation</i>, for since that Time +the Protestant Authors having lessen’d the Authority +of Traditions, the pontifical Doctors content +themselves to insist only upon such as they +thought were useful or necessary, left by multiplying others +that were but Matter of Curiosity, +they should bring the first into Question, and +render the whole Doctrine of Traditions more +dubious and exceptionable; and upon this Account, +there are some Authors that writ an Age +or two before the Reformation, that have with +more Freedom told us the Tenets and Traditions +of the Ancients in these Speculations, that are but +collateral to Religion, than any have done since.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> I must confess I am apt to think, that +what remains concerning the Doctrine of <i>Paradise</i>, +and the primæval Earth, is in a good +Measure traditional; for one may observe, +that those that treat upon these Subjects, quote +the true Opinions, and tell you some of the +Ancients held so and so; as that <i>Paradise</i> was +in another Earth, or higher than this Earth; +that there were no Mountains before the Flood, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_362'>362</span>nor any Rain, and such like; yet they do not +name those ancient Authors that held these Opinions; +which makes me apt to believe, either +that they were convey’d by traditional Communication +from one to another, or that there were +other Books extant upon those Subjects, or other +Glosses, than what are now known.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Finally</span>, To conclude this Discourse concerning +the Seat of <i>Paradise</i>, we must mind you +again upon what Basis it stands. We declar’d +freely, that we could not by our Theory alone +determine the particular Place of it, only by +that we are assur’d, that it was in the primæval +Earth, and not in the present; but in what Region, +or in whether Hemisphere of that Earth +it was seated, we cannot define from Speculation +only. ’Tis true, if we hold fast to that +Scripture-conclusion, That all Mankind rose +from one Head, and from one and the same +Stock and Lineage, (which doth not seem to +be according to the Sentiments of the Heathens) +we must suppose they were born in one +Hemisphere, and after some Time translated +into the other, or a Colony of them: But this +still doth not determine in whether of the two +they begun, and were first seated before their +Translation; and I am apt to think that depended +rather, as we noted before, upon the +Divine Pleasure, and the Train of Affairs that +was to succeed, than upon natural Causes and +Differences. Some of the Ancients, I know, +made both the Soil and the Stars more noble +in the southern Hemisphere, than in ours; but +<span class='pageno' id='Page_363'>363</span>I do not see any Proof or Warrant for it; +wherefore, laying aside all natural Topicks, we +are willing, in this Particular, to refer our selves +wholly to the Report and Majority of Votes among +the Ancients; who yet do not seem to me +to lay much Stress upon the Notion of a particular +and topical Paradise, and therefore use general +and remote Expressions concerning it. +And finding no Place for it in this Continent, +they are willing to quit their Hands of it, by placing +it in a Region somewhere far off, and inaccessible. +This, together with the old Tradition, +that Paradise was in another Earth, seems to +me to give an Account of most of their Opinions +concerning the Seat of Paradise, and that they +were generally very uncertain where to fix it.</p> +<h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='eight'>VIII.</abbr></span></h3> +<p class='c012'><i>The Uses of this Theory for the Illustration of +Antiquity; The ancient Chaos explain’d; +The Inhabitability of the Torrid Zone; The +Change of the Poles of the World; The +Doctrine of the Mundane Egg; How America +was first peopled; How Paradise within +the Circle of the Moon.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have now dispatch’d the Theory of the +primæval Earth, and reviv’d a forgotten +World. ’Tis pity the first and fairest Works of +Nature should be lost out of the Memory of Man, +and that we should so much dote upon the Ruins, +as never to think upon the Original Structure. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_364'>364</span>As the Modern Artists, from some broken +Pieces of an ancient Statue, make out all the +other Parts and Proportions; so from the broken +and scatter’d Limbs of the first World, we +have shewn you how to raise the whole Fabrick +again; and renew the Prospect of those +pleasant Scenes that first saw the Light, and first +entertain’d Man, when he came to act upon +this new-erected Stage.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> have drawn this Theory chiefly to give +an Account of the universal Deluge, and of +<i>Paradise</i>; but as when one lights a Candle to +look for one or two Things which they want, +the Light will not confine it self to those two +Objects, but shews all the other in the Room; +so, methinks, we have unexpectedly cast a +Light upon all Antiquity, in seeking after +these two Things, or in retrieving the Notion +and Doctrine of the primæval Earth, upon +which they depended. For in ancient Learning, +there are many Discourses, and many Conclusions +deliver’d to us, that are so obscure and +confus’d, and so remote from the present State +of Things, that one cannot well distinguish +whether they are Fictions or Realities: And +there is no way to distinguish with Certainty, +but by a clear Theory upon the same Subject; +which shewing us the Truth directly and independently +upon them, shews us also by Reflection, +how far they are true or false, and in +what Sense they are to be interpreted and understood. +And the present Theory being of +great extent, we shall find it serviceable in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_365'>365</span>many Things, for the Illustration of such dubious +and obscure Doctrines in Antiquity.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> begin with their ancient CHAOS, +what a dark Story have they made of it, both +their Philosophers and Poets; and how fabulous +in Appearance? ’Tis deliver’d as confusedly +as the Mass it self could be, and hath not +been reduc’d to Order, nor indeed made intelligible +by any. They tell us of <i>moral</i> Principles +in the Chaos, instead of <i>natural</i>, of <i>Strife</i> and +<i>Discord</i>, and <i>Division</i> on the one Hand, and +<i>Love</i>, <i>Friendship</i>, and <i>Venus</i> on the other; and, +after a long Contest, Love got the better of Discord, +and united the disagreeing Principles: +This is one Part of their Story. Then they make +the Forming of the World out of the Chaos a +kind of <i>Genealogy</i> or Pedigree; <i>Chaos</i> was the +common Parent of all, and from Chaos sprung +first <i>Night</i>, and <i>Tartarus</i>, or <i>Oceanus</i>; Night +was a teeming Mother, and of her were born +<i>Æther</i> and the <i>Earth</i>; The Earth conceiv’d +by the Influences of Æther, and brought forth +Man and all Animals.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> seems to be a poetical Fiction rather +than Philosophy; yet when ’tis set in a true +Light, and compar’d with our Theory of the +Chaos, ’twill appear a pretty regular Account, +how the World was form’d at first, or how the +Chaos divided it self successively into several +Regions, rising one after another, and propagated +one from another, as Children and Posterity +from a common Parent. We shew’d +in the first Book, <a href='#chap-1-5'><i>Chap. 5.</i></a> how the Chaos, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_366'>366</span>from an uniform Mass, wrought it self into +several Regions or Elements; the grossest Part +sinking to the Center; upon this lay the Mass +of Water, and over the Water was a Region +of dark, impure, caliginous Air; this impure +caliginous Air is that which the Ancients call +<i>Night</i>, and the Mass of Water <i>Oceanus</i> or <i>Tartarus</i>; +for those two Terms with them are often +of the like Force, <i>Tartarus</i> being <i>Oceanus</i> +inclos’d and lock’d up: Thus we have the first +Offspring of the Chaos, or its first born Twins, +<i>Nox</i> and <i>Oceanus</i>. Now this turbid Air purifying +it self by degrees, as the more subtle +Parts flew upwards, and compos’d the Æther; so +the earthy Parts that were mix’d with it drop’d +down upon the Surface of the Water, or the liquid +Mass; and that Mass on the other Hand sending +up its lighter and more oily Parts towards its +Surface, these two incorporate there, and by their +Mixture and Union compose a Body of Earth +quite round the Mass of Waters: And this was +the first habitable Earth, which, as it was, you see, +the Daughter of <i>Nox</i> and <i>Oceanus</i>, so it was +the Mother of all other Things, and all living +Creatures, which at the Beginning of the +World sprung out of its fruitful Womb.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>This</span> Doctrine of the Chaos, for the greater +Pomp of the Business, the Ancients call’d +their <i>Theogonia</i>, or the Genealogy of the Gods; +for they gave their Gods, at least their terrestrial +Gods, an Original and Beginning; and all the +Elements and greater Portions of Nature they +made Gods and Goddesses, or their Deities presided +<span class='pageno' id='Page_367'>367</span>over them in such a Manner, that the Names +were us’d promiscuously for one another. We +also mention’d before some moral Principles +which they plac’d in the Chaos, <i>Eris</i> and <i>Eros</i>; +Strife, Discord, and Dissatisfaction, which prevail’d +at first; and afterward <i>Love</i>, <i>Kindness</i> and +<i>Union</i> got the upper Hand, and in spite of those +factious and dividing Principles, gather’d together +the separated Elements, and united them into +an habitable World. This is all easily understood, +if we do but look upon the Schemes of the +rising World, as we have set them down in that +fifth Chapter; for in the first Commotion of +the Chaos, after an intestine Struggle of all the +Parts, the Elements separated from one another +into so many distinct Bodies or Masses; +and in this State and Posture Things continu’d +a good while, which the Ancients, after their +poetick or moral Way, call’d the Reign of <i>Eris</i> +or Contention, of Hatred, Slight, and Disaffection; +and if Things had always continued +in that System, we should never have had an habitable +World. But Love and good Nature conquer’d +at length; <i>Venus</i> rose out of the Sea, and +receiv’d into her Bosom, and intangled into her +Embraces, the falling Æther, <i>viz.</i> the Parts of lighter +Earth, which were mix’d with the Air in that +first Separation, and gave it the Name of <i>Night</i>: +These, I say, fell down upon the oily Parts of the +Sea-mass, which lay floating upon the Surface of +it, and by that Union and Conjunction a new +Body, and a new World was produc’d, which +was the first habitable Earth. This is the Interpretation +<span class='pageno' id='Page_368'>368</span>of their mystical Philosophy of the Chaos, +and the Resolution of it into plain natural History: +Which you may see more fully discuss’d +in the <i>Latin</i> Treatise, <i>Lib. 2. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 7.</i></p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> consequence of this, we have already explain’d, +in several Places, the <i>Golden Age</i> of +the Ancients, and laid down such Grounds as +will enable us to discern what is real, and +what poetical, in the Reports and Characters +that Antiquity hath given of those first Ages of +the World. And if there be any Thing amongst +the Ancients that refers to another +Earth, as <i>Plato</i>’s <i>Atlantis</i>, which, he says, was +absorpt by an Earthquake, and an Inundation, +as the primæval Earth was; or his <i>Æthereal</i> +Earth, mention’d in his <i>Phædo</i>, which he opposeth +to this broken hollow Earth; makes it +to have long-liv’d Inhabitants, and to be without +Rains and Storms, as that first Earth was +also; or the pendulous <i>Gardens</i> of <i>Alcinous</i>, or +such like; to which nothing answers in present +Nature, by reflecting upon the State of the +first Earth, we find an easy Explication of them. +We have also explain’d what the <i>Antichthon</i> +and <i>Antichthones</i> of the Ancients were, and +what the true Ground of that Distinction was. +But nothing seems more remarkable, than the +<i>Inhabitability of the Torrid Zone</i>, if we consider +what a general Fame and Belief it had amongst +the Ancients, and yet in the present Form of +the Earth, we find no such Thing, nor any +Foundation for it. I cannot believe that this +was so universally receiv’d upon a slight Presumption +<span class='pageno' id='Page_369'>369</span>only, because it lay under the Course +of the Sun, if the Sun had then the same Latitude +from the Æquator, in his Course and Motion, +that he hath now, and made the same Variety +of Seasons; whereby even the hottest Parts +of the Earth have a Winter, or something +equivalent to it. But if we apply this to the primæval +Earth, whose Posture was direct to the +Sun, standing always fixt in its Equinoctial, we +shall easily believe, that the Torrid Zone was +then uninhabitable by Extremity of Heat, there +being no Difference of Seasons, nor any Change +of Weather, the Sun hanging always over Head +at the same Distance, and in the same Direction. +Besides this, the Descent of the Rivers in that +first Earth was such, that they could never reach +the Equinoctial Parts, as we have shewn before; +by which Means, and the want of Rain, that +Region must necessarily be turn’d into a dry +Desart. Now this being really the State of +the first Earth, the Fame and general Belief +that the Torrid Zone was uninhabitable had +this true Original, and continued still with Posterity +after the Deluge, though the Causes then +were taken away; for they being ignorant of +the Change that was made in Nature at that +Time, kept up still the same Tradition and +Opinion current, till Observation and Experience +taught later Ages to correct it. As the +true Miracles that were in the Christian Church +at first, occasioned a Fame and Belief of their +Continuance long after they had really ceas’d.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_370'>370</span><span class='sc'>This</span> gives an easy Account, and, I think, the +true Cause of that Opinion, amongst the Ancients +generally receiv’d, <i>That the Torrid Zone +was uninhabitable</i>. I say, generally receiv’d; for +not only the Poets, both <i>Greek</i> and <i>Latin</i>, but +their Philosophers, Astronomers and Geographers, +had the same Notion, and deliver’d the +same Doctrine; as <i>Aristotle</i>, <i>Cleomedes</i>, <i>Achilles</i>, +<i>Tatius</i>, <i>Ptolomy</i>, <i>Cicero</i>, <i>Strabo</i>, <i>Mela</i>, <i>Pliny</i>, +<i>Macrobius</i>, <i>&c.</i> And to speak Truth, the whole +Doctrine of the Zones is calculated more properly +for the first Earth, than for the present; for the +Divisions and Bounds of them now are but arbitrary, +being habitable all over, and having no +visible Distinction; whereas they were then determin’d +by Nature, and the Globe of the Earth +was really divided into so many Regions of a very +different Aspect and Quality; which would +have appear’d at a Distance, if they had been +look’d upon from the Clouds, or from the +Moon, as <i>Jupiter</i>’s Belts, or as so many Girdles +or Swathing-bands about the Body of the +Earth: And so the Word imports, and so the +Ancients use to call them <i>Cinguli</i> and <i>Fasciæ</i>. +But in the present Form of the Earth, if it +was seen at a Distance, no such Distinction +would appear in the Parts of it, nor scarce any +other but that of Land and Water, and of +Mountains and Valleys, which are nothing to +the purpose of Zones. And to add this Note +further, When the Earth lay in this regular +Form, divided into Regions or Walks, if I +may so call them, as this gave Occasion of its +<span class='pageno' id='Page_371'>371</span>Distinction by Zones; so if we might consider all +that Earth as a <i>Paradise</i>, and <i>Paradise</i> as a Garden; +(for it is always call’d so in Scripture, and +in <i>Jewish</i> Authors.) And, as this Torrid Zone, +bare of Grass and Trees, made a kind of Gravel-walk +in the Middle, so there was a green Walk +on either Hand of it, made by the temperate +Zones; and beyond those lay a Canal, which water’d +the Garden from either Side. (<i>See <a href='#fig1-3'>Fig. 3. c. 5.</a></i>)</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> to return to Antiquity; We may add +under this Head another Observation or Doctrine +amongst the Ancients, strange enough in +Appearance, which yet receives an easy Explication +from the preceding Theory; They say, +<i>The Poles</i> of the World did once change their +Situation, and were at first in another Posture +from what they are in now, till that Inclination +happen’d: This the ancient Philosophers +often make mention of, as <i>Anaxagoras</i>, <i>Empedocles</i>, +<i>Diogenes</i>, <i>Leucippus</i>, <i>Democritus</i>; (<i>See +the Lat. Treat. 2. lib. 2. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 10.</i>) as may be seen in +<i>Laertius</i>, and in <i>Plutarch</i>; and the Stars, they +say, at first were carried about the Earth in a +more uniform Manner. This is no more than +what we have observ’d and told you in other +Words, namely, That the Earth chang’d its +Posture at the Deluge, and thereby made +these seeming Changes in the Heavens; its +Poles before pointed to the Poles of the Ecliptick, +which now point to the Poles of the +Equator, and its Axis is become parallel with +that Axis; and this is the Mystery and Interpretation +of what they say in other Terms; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_372'>372</span>this makes the different Aspect of the Heavens +and of its Poles: And I am apt to think, that +those Changes in the Course of the Stars, which +the Ancients sometimes speak of, and especially +the <i>Egyptians</i>, if they did not proceed from +Defects in their Calendar, had no other physical +Account than this.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> as they say the Poles of the World were +in another Situation at first, so at first they say, +there was no Variety of Seasons in the Year, as +in their Golden Age. Which is very coherent +with all the rest, and still runs along with the +Theory. And you may observe, that all these +Things we have instanc’d in hitherto, are but +Links of the same Chain, in Connexion and +Dependance upon one another. When the primæval +Earth was made out of the Chaos, its +Form and Posture was such, as of Course +brought on all those Scenes which Antiquity +hath kept the Remembrance of; tho’ now in another +State of Nature they seem very strange; +especially being disguis’d, as some of them are, +by their odd Manner of representing them, +<i>That</i> the Poles of the World stood once in another +Posture; That the Year had no Diversity +of Seasons: That the Torrid Zone was uninhabitable; +That the two Hemispheres had no +possibility of Intercourse, and such like: These +all hang upon the same String; or lean one +upon another as Stones in the same Building; +whereof we have, by this Theory, laid the very +Foundation bare, that you may see what +they all stand upon, and in what Order.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_373'>373</span><span class='sc'>There</span> is still one remarkable Notion or +Doctrine among the Ancients which we have +not spoken to; ’tis partly symbolical, and the +Propriety of the Symbol, or of the Application +of it, hath been little understood; ’tis their Doctrine +of the <i>Mundane Egg</i>, or their comparing +the World to an Egg, and especially in the original +Composition of it. This seems to be a mean +Comparison, the World and an Egg; what Proportion, +or what Resemblance betwixt these two +Things? And yet I do not know any symbolical +Doctrine, or Conclusion, that hath been so universally +entertain’d by the <i>Mystæ</i>, or wise and +learned of all Nations; as hath been noted before +in the fifth Chapter of the first Book, and at +large in the <i>Latin</i> Treatise. (<i>Lib. 2. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 10.</i>) ’Tis +certain, that by the World in this Similitude, +they do not mean the Great Universe, for that +hath neither Figure, nor any determinate Form +of Composition, and it would be a great Vanity +and Rashness in any one to compare this to +an Egg: The Works of God are immense, as +his Nature is infinite, and we cannot make any +Image or Resemblance of either of them; but +this Comparison is to be understood of the +<i>Sublunary World</i>, or of the <i>Earth</i>: And for a +general Key to Antiquity upon this Argument, +we may lay this down as a Maxim or Canon, +<i>That what the Ancients have said concerning +the Form and Figure of the World, or concerning +the Original of it from a Chaos, or about its Periods +and Dissolution, are never to be understood +of the great Universe, but of our Earth, or of this +<span class='pageno' id='Page_374'>374</span>sublunary and terrestrial World</i>. And this Observation +being made, do but reflect upon our Theory +of the Earth, the Manner of its Composition +at first, and the Figure of it, being compleated, +and you will need no other Interpreter to understand +this Mystery. We have shew’d there, (<a href='#chap-1-5'><i>Book 1. c. 5.</i></a>) that +the Figure of it, when finish’d, was +Oval, and the inward Form of it was a Frame of +four Regions, encompassing one another, where +that of Fire lay in the Middle like the Yolk, and +a Shell of Earth inclos’d them all. This gives a +Solution so easy and natural, and shews such +an Aptness and Elegancy in the Representation, +that one cannot doubt upon a View and Compare +of Circumstances, but that we have truly +found out the Riddle of the Mundane Egg.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Amongst</span> other Difficulties arising from the +Form of this present Earth, that is one, How +<i>America</i> could be peopled, or any other Continent, +or Island remote from all Continents +the Sea interposing. This Difficulty does not +hold in our Theory of the first Earth, where +there was no Sea. And after the Flood, when +the Earth was broken and the Sea laid open, +the same Race of Men might continue there, +if settled there before. For I do not see any +Necessity of deducing all Mankind from <i>Noah</i> +after the Flood. If <i>America</i> was peopled before, +it might continue so; not but that the +Flood was universal. But when the great +Frame of the Earth broke at the Deluge, Providence +foresaw into how many Continents it +would be divided after the ceasing of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_375'>375</span>Flood; and accordingly, as we may reasonably +suppose, made Provision to save a Remnant in +every Continent, that the Race of Mankind +might not be quite extinct in any of them. What +Provision he made in our Continent we know +from sacred History; but as that takes Notice of +no other Continent but ours, so neither could it +take Notice of any Method that was us’d there +for saving of a Remnant of Men; but ’twere great +Presumption, methinks, to imagine, that Providence +had a Care of none but us, or could not +find out Ways of Preservation in other Places, as +well as in that where our Habitations were to be. +<i>Asia</i>, <i>Africa</i> and <i>Europe</i>, were repeopled by +the Sons of <i>Noah</i>, <i>Shem</i>, <i>Ham</i>, and <i>Japhet</i>; +but we read nothing of their going over into +<i>America</i>, or sending any Colonies thither; and +that World, which is near as big as ours, must +have stood long without People, or any thing +of humane Race in it, after the Flood, if it +stood so till this was full, or till Men navigated +the Ocean, and by chance discover’d it: +It seems more reasonable to suppose, that there +was a Stock providentially reserv’d there, as +well as here, out of which they sprung again; +but we do not pretend in an Argument of this +Nature to define or determine any Thing positively. +To conclude, As this is but a secondary +Difficulty, and of no great Force, so neither +is it any Thing peculiar to us, or to our +<i>Hypothesis</i>, but alike common to both; and if +they can propose any reasonable Way whereby +the Sons of <i>Noah</i> might be transplanted into +<span class='pageno' id='Page_376'>376</span><i>America</i>, with all my Heart; but all the Ways +that I have met with hitherto, have seem’d to +me mere Fictions, or mere Presumptions. Besides, +finding Birds and Beasts there, which are +no where upon our Continent, nor would live +in our Countries if brought hither; ’tis a fair +Conjecture that they were not carried from us, +but originally bred and preserv’d there.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much for the Illustration of Antiquity +in some Points of human Literature, by our Theory +of the primæval Earth; there is also in <i>Christian +Antiquity</i> a Tradition or Doctrine, that appears +as obscure and as much a Paradox as any of +these, and better deserves an Illustration, because +it relates more closely and expresly to our present +Subject: ’Tis that Notion or Opinion amongst +the Ancients concerning <i>Paradise</i>, that it was +seated as high as the Sphere of the Moon, or +<i>within the lunar Circle</i>. This looks very strange, +and indeed extravagantly at first Sight; but the +Wonder will cease, if we understand this not +of <i>Paradise</i> taken apart from the rest of the +Earth, but of the whole primæval Earth, wherein +the Seat of <i>Paradise</i> was; That was really +seated much higher than the present Earth, and +may be reasonably suppos’d to have been as much +elevated as the Tops of our Mountains are now. +And that Phrase of reaching to <i>the Sphere of the +Moon</i>, signifies no more than those other Expressions +of <i>reaching to Heaven</i>, or <i>reaching +above the Clouds</i>; which are Phrases commonly +us’d to express the Height of Buildings, or +of Mountains, and such like Things: So the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_377'>377</span>Builders of <i>Babel</i> said, they would make a +Tower should reach to Heaven; <i>Olympus</i> and +<i>Parnassus</i> are said by the Poets to reach to +Heaven, or to rise above the Clouds; and +<i>Pliny</i> and <i>Solinus</i> use this very Expression of the +<i>Lunar Circle</i>, when they describe the Height +of Mount <i>Atlas</i>, <i>Eductus in viciniam Lunaris +Circuli</i>, (<i>Solin. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 17.</i>) The Ancients, I believe, +aim’d particularly by this Phrase, to express +an Height above the middle Region, or +above our Atmosphere, that <i>Paradise</i> might +be serene; and where our Atmosphere ended, +they reckon’d the Sphere of the Moon begun, +and therefore said it reach’d to the Sphere of the +Moon. Many of the Christian Fathers exprest +their Opinion concerning the high Situation +of <i>Paradise</i> in plain and formal Terms, +as <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Basil</i>, <i>Damascen</i>, <i>Moses Bar Cepha</i>, <i>&c.</i> +but this Phrase of reaching to the <i>Lunar Circle</i> +is repeated by several of them, and said to +be of great Antiquity. <i>Aquinas</i>, <i>Albertus</i>, +and others, ascribe it to <i>Bede</i>, but many to +<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i>; and therefore <i>Ambrosius Catharinus</i>, +(<i>Com. in <abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 2.</i>) is angry with their great +Schoolman, that he should derive it from +<i>Bede</i>, seeing <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i> writing to <i>Orosius</i>, deliver’d +this Doctrine, which surely, says he, +<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i> <i>neither feign’d nor dream’d only, but +had receiv’d it from Antiquity</i>: And from so +great Antiquity, that it was no less than Apostolical, +if we credit <i>Albertus Magnus</i>, and +the ancient Books he appeals to; (<i>Sum. Theol. +par. 2. tract. 13. <abbr class='spell'>q.</abbr> 79.</i>) for he says this Tradition +<span class='pageno' id='Page_378'>378</span>was deriv’d as high as from <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Thomas</i> +the Apostle. His Words are these, after he had +deliver’d his own Opinion, <i>Hoc tamen dico, &c.</i> +<i>But this I say without Prejudice to the better +Opinion, for I have found it in some most ancient +Books, that Thomas the Apostle was the +Author of that Opinion, which is usually attributed +to Bede and Strabus, namely, That Paradise +was so high as to reach to the Lunar Circle.</i> +But thus much concerning this Opinion, +and concerning Antiquity.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> conclude all, we see this Theory, which +was drawn only by a Thread of Reason, and +the Laws of Nature, abstractedly from all Antiquity, +notwithstanding casts a Light upon many +Passages there, which were otherwise accounted +Fictions, or unintelligible Truths; and tho’ we +do not alledge these as Proofs of the Theory, +for it carries its own Light and Proof with +it; yet, whether we will or no, they do mutually +confirm, as well as illustrate one another; +and ’tis a Pleasure also, when one hath wrought +out Truth by a meer Dint of thinking, and +Examination of Causes, and propos’d it plainly +and openly, to meet with it again among +the Ancients, disguis’d, and in an old fashion’d +Dress; scarce to be known or discover’d, but +by those that beforehand knew it very well. +And it would be a further Pleasure and Satisfaction +to have render’d those Doctrines and Notions +for the future, intelligible and useful to others, +as well as delightful to our selves.</p> +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_379'>379</span> + <h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='nine'>IX.</abbr></span></h3> +</div> +<p class='c012'><i>A general Objection against this Theory, viz. +That if there had been such a Primitive Earth, +as we pretend, the Fame of it would have +sounded throughout all Antiquity. The Eastern +and Western Learning consider’d. The most considerable +Records of both are lost. What Footsteps +remain relating to this Subject. The Jewish +and Christian Learning consider’d; how far +lost as to this Argument, and what Notes or +Traditions remain. Lastly, how far the sacred +Writings bear witness to it. The providential +Conduct of Knowledge in the World. A Recapitulation +and State of the Theory.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Having</span> gone through the two first +Parts, and the two first Books of this +Theory that concern the primitive World, +the universal Deluge, and the State of <i>Paradise</i>, +we have leisure now to reflect a little, +and consider what may probably be objected +against a Theory of this Nature. I do not +mean single Objections against single Parts, for +those may be many, and such as I cannot foresee; +but what may be said against the Body +and Substance of the Theory, and the Credibility +of it appearing new and surprizing, and +yet of great Extent and Importance. This, I +fancy, will induce many to say, surely this +cannot be a Reality; for if there had been +such a primitive Earth, and such a primitive +<span class='pageno' id='Page_380'>380</span>World as is here represented, and so remarkably +different from the present, it could not have been +so utterly forgotten, or lain hid for so many Ages; +all Antiquity would have rung of it; the +Memory of it would have been kept fresh by +Books or Traditions. Can we imagine that it +should lie buried for some thousands of Years in +deep Silence and Oblivion? And now only +when the second World is drawing to an End, +we begin to discover that there was a first, and +that of another Make and Order from this.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> satisfy this Objection, or Surmise rather, +it will be convenient to take a good large +Scope and Compass in our Discourse; we must +not suppose that this primitive World hath +been wholly lost out of the Memory of Man, +or out of History, for we have some History +and Chronology of it preserv’d by <i>Moses</i>, and +likewise in the Monuments of the Ancients, +more or less; for they all suppos’d a World +before the Deluge. But ’tis the Philosophy of +this primitive World that hath been lost in a +great Measure; what the State of Nature was +then, and wherein it differ’d from the present +or postdiluvian order of Things. This, I confess, +hath been little taken notice of; it hath been +generally thought or presum’d, that the World +before the Flood was of the same Form and +Constitution with the present World: This +we do not deny, but rather think it design’d +and providential, that there should not remain +a clear and full Knowledge of that first State of +Things; and we may easily suppose how it +<span class='pageno' id='Page_381'>381</span>might decay and perish, if we consider how little +of the remote Antiquities of the World have ever +been brought down to our Knowledge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> <i>Greeks</i> and <i>Romans</i> divided the Ages of +the World into three Periods or Intervals, +whereof they call’d the first the <i>Obscure</i> Period, +the second the <i>Fabulous</i>, and the third <i>Historical</i>. +The dark and obscure Period was from +the Beginning of the World to the Deluge; +what pass’d then, either in Nature, or amongst +Men, they have no Records, no Account, by +their own Confession; all that Space of Time +was cover’d with Darkness and Oblivion; so +that we ought rather to wonder at those Remains +they have, and those broken Notions of +the Golden Age, and the Conditions of it, +how they were sav’d out of the common Ship-wrack, +than to expect from them the Philosophy +of that World, and all its Differences from +the present. And as for the other Nations that +pretend to greater Antiquities, to more ancient +History and Chronology, from what is +left of their Monuments, many will allow only +this Difference, that their fabulous Age begun +more high, or that they had more ancient +Fables.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> besides that our Expectations cannot be +great from the Learning of the <i>Gentiles</i>, we +have not the Means or Opportunity to inform +our selves well what Notions they did leave us +concerning the primitive World; for their +Books and Monuments are generally lost, or +lie hid unknown to us. The Learning of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_382'>382</span>World may be divided into the Eastern Learning +and the Western; and I look upon the Eastern as +far more considerable for philosophical Antiquities, +and philosophical Conclusions; I say <i>Conclusions</i>, +for I do not believe either of them had +any considerable Theory, or Contexture of Principles +and Conclusions together: But ’tis certain +that in the East, from what Source soever it came, +humane or divine, they had some extraordinary +Doctrines and Notions disperst amongst them. +Now as by the western Learning we understand +that of the <i>Greeks</i> and <i>Romans</i>; so by the eastern +that which was amongst the <i>Egyptians</i>, <i>Phœnicians</i>, +<i>Chaldæans</i>, <i>Assyrians</i>, <i>Indians</i>, <i>Ethiopians</i>, +and <i>Persians</i>; and of the Learning of +these Nations, how little have we now left? +Except some Fragments and Citations in <i>Greek</i> +Authors, what do we know of them? The +modern <i>Brackmans</i>, and the <i>Persees</i>, or <i>Pagan +Persians</i>, have some broken Remains of Traditions +relating to the Origin and Changes of +the World: But if we had not only those +Books entire, whereof we have now the Gleanings +and Reversions only; but all that have +perish’d besides, especially in that famous Library +at <i>Alexandria</i>; if these, I say, were all +restor’d to the World again, we might promise +our selves the Satisfaction of seeing more +of the Antiquities, and natural History of the +first World, than we have now left, or can +reasonably expect. That Library we speak of +at <i>Alexandria</i>, was a Collection, beside <i>Greek</i> +Books, of <i>Egyptian</i>, <i>Chaldæan</i>, and all the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_383'>383</span>Eastern Learning; and <i>Cedrenus</i> makes it to consist +of an hundred thousand Volumes: But <i>Josephus</i> +saith, when the Translation of the Bible +by the <i>Septuagint</i> was to be added to it, <i>Demetrius +Phalerius</i>, (who was Keeper or Governor +of it) told the King then, that he had already two +hundred thousand Volumes, and that he hop’d +to make them five hundred thousand; and he +was better than his Word, or his Successors for +him; for <i>Ammianus Marcellinus</i>, and other +Authors, report them to have increas’d to seven +hundred thousand. This Library was unfortunately +burnt in the sacking of <i>Alexandria</i> by +<i>Cæsar</i>, and considering that all these were ancient +Books, and generally of the eastern Wisdom, +’twas an inestimable and irreparable Loss to the +Commonwealth of Learning. In like manner +we are told of a vast Library of Books of all Arts +and Sciences in <i>China</i>, burnt by the Command +or Caprice of one of their Kings. Wherein the +<i>Chineses</i>, according to their Vanity, were us’d +to say, greater Riches were lost, than will be +in the last Conflagration.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> are told also of the <i>Abyssine</i>, or <i>Ethiopick</i> +Library, as something very extraordinary. +’Twas formerly in great Reputation, but is +now, I suppose, embezzled and lost. But I +was extreamly surpriz’d by a Treatise brought +to me some few Months since, wherein are +mention’d some <i>Ethiopick</i> Antiquities relating +to the primæval Earth and the Deluge: To +both which they give such Characters and +Properties as are in Effect the very same with +<span class='pageno' id='Page_384'>384</span>those assign’d them in this Theory. They say +the first Earth was much greater than the present, +higher and more advanc’d into the Air: +That it was smooth and regular in its Surface, +without Mountains or Valleys, but hollow +within; and was spontaneously fruitful, without +plowing or sowing. This was its first State: +but when Mankind became degenerate and +outragious with Pride and Violence, the angry +Gods, as they say, by Earthquakes and +Concussions, broke the habitable Orb of the +Earth, and thereupon the subterraneous Waters +gushing out, drown’d it in a Deluge, and destroy’d +Mankind. Upon this Fraction it came +into another Form, with a Sea, Lakes and Rivers, +as we now have. And those Parts of +the broken Earth that stood above the Waters +became Mountains, Rocks, Islands, and so much +of the Land as we now inhabit. This Account +is given us by <i>Barnardinus Ramazzinus</i>, (in his +Treatise <i>De Fontium Mutinensium Scaturigine</i>.<a id='r2'></a><a href='#f2' class='c009'><sup>[2]</sup></a>) +Taken from a Book writ by <i>Fransisco Patricio</i>, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_385'>385</span>to whom this wonderful Tradition was deliver’d +by Persons of Credit, from an <i>Æthiopian</i> Philosoper +then in <i>Spain</i>. I have not yet had the +good Fortune to see that Book of <i>Francisco Patricio</i>; +’twas writ in <i>Italian</i> with this Title, <i>Della +Rhetorica degli Antichi</i>: Printed at <i>Venice</i>, +1562. This Story indeed deserves to be enquired +after, for we do not any where amongst the +Ancients, meet with such a full and explicit Narration +of the State of the first and second Earth. +That which comes nearest to it are those Accounts +we find in <i>Plato</i>, from the <i>Ægyptian</i> +Antiquities, in his <i>Timæus</i>, <i>Politicus</i>, and <i>Phœdo</i>, +of another Earth, and another State of Nature +and Mankind. But none of them are so full +and distinct as this <i>Æthiopian</i> Doctrine.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>As</span> for the Western Learning, we may remember +what the <i>Ægyptian</i> Priest says to <i>Solon</i>, +in <i>Plato</i>’s <i>Timæus</i>, <i>You Greeks are always +Children</i>, and know nothing of Antiquity; and +if the <i>Greeks</i> were so, much more the <i>Romans</i>, +who came after them in time; and for so great +a People, and so much civiliz’d, never any +had less Philosophy, and less of the Sciences +amongst them than the <i>Romans</i> had: They +<span class='pageno' id='Page_386'>386</span>studied only the Art of Speaking, of Governing, +and of Fighting; and left the rest to the <i>Greeks</i> +and eastern Nations, as unprofitable. Yet we have +Reason to believe, that the best philosophical +Antiquities that the <i>Romans</i> had, perish’d with +the Books of <i>Varro</i>, of <i>Numa Pompilius</i>, and of +the ancient <i>Sibyls</i>, (<i>De Civ. Dei, lib. 6. Dion. +Halic. Ant. Rom. lib. 4.</i>) <i>Varro</i> writ, as <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Austin</i> +tells us, a Multitude of Volumes, and of various +Sorts, and I had rather retrieve his Works, +than the Works of any other <i>Roman</i> Author; +not his Etymologies and Criticisms, where we see +nothing admirable, but his <i>Theologia Physica</i>, +and his <i>Antiquitates</i>; which in all Probability +would have given us more Light into remote +Times, and the natural History of the past World, +than all the <i>Latin</i> Authors besides have done. +He has left the foremention’d Distinction of three +Periods of Time; He had the Doctrine of the +<i>Mundane Egg</i>, as we see in <i>Probus Grammaticus</i>; +and he gave us that Observation of the +Star <i>Venus</i>, concerning the great Change she +suffered about the Time of our Deluge.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>Numa Pompilius</i> was doubtless a contemplative +Man, and ’tis thought that he understood +the true System of the World, and represented +the Sun by his <i>Vestal Fire</i>; tho’, methinks, +<i>Vesta</i> does not so properly refer to the Sun, as +to the Earth, which hath a sacred Fire too, +that is not to be extinguish’d. He order’d his +Books to be buried with him, which were +found in a Stone Chest by him, four hundred +Years after his Death: They were in all twenty-four, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_387'>387</span>whereof twelve contain’d sacred Rites and +Ceremonies, and the other twelve the Philosophy +and Wisdom of the <i>Greeks</i>; the <i>Romans</i> +gave them to the <i>Prætor Petilius</i> to peruse; +and to make his Report to the Senate, whether +they were fit to be publish’d or no: The <i>Prætor</i> +made a wise politick Report, that the Contents +of them might be of dangerous Consequence to +the establish’d Laws and Religion; and thereupon +they were condemn’d to be burnt, and Posterity +was depriv’d of that ancient Treasure, whatsoever +it was. What the nine Books of the <i>Sibyl</i> +contain’d, that were offer’d to King <i>Tarquin</i>, +we little know; she valued them high, and the +higher still, the more they seem’d to slight or +neglect them; which is a Piece of very natural +Indignation or Contempt, when one is satisfied +of the Worth of what they offer. ’Tis likely +they respected, besides the Fate of <i>Rome</i>, the +Fate and several Periods of the World, both +past and to come, and the most mystical Passages +of them. And in these Authors and Monuments +are lost the greatest Hopes of natural +and philosophick Antiquities, that we could +have had from the <i>Romans</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> as to the <i>Greeks</i>, their best and sacred +Learning was not originally their own; they +enrich’d themselves with the Spoils of the East, +and the Remains we have of that eastern Learning, +is what we pick out of the <i>Greeks</i>; whose +Works, I believe, if they were intirely extant, +we should not need to go any further +for Witnesses to confirm all the principal Parts +<span class='pageno' id='Page_388'>388</span>of this Theory. With what Regret does one read +in <i>Laertius</i>, <i>Suidas</i>, and others, the promising +Titles of Books writ by the <i>Greek</i> Philosophers, +Hundreds or Thousands, whereof there is not one +now extant; and those that are extant are generally +but Fragments? Those Authors also that +have writ their Lives, or collected their Opinions, +have done it confusedly and injudiciously. +I should hope for as much Light and Instruction, +as to the Original of the World, from <i>Orpheus</i> +alone, if his Works had been preserv’d, as from +all that is extant now of the other <i>Greek</i> Philosophers. +We may see from what remains of him, +that he understood in a good Measure how the +Earth rose from a Chaos, what was its external +Figure, and what the Form of its inward Structure: +The Opinion of the <i>Oval</i> Figure of the +Earth is ascrib’d to <i>Orpheus</i> and his Disciples; and +the Doctrine of the <i>Mundane Egg</i> is so peculiarly +his, that ’tis call’d by <i>Proclus</i>, the <i>Orphick Egg</i>; +not that he was the first Author of that Doctrine, +but the first that brought it into <i>Greece</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much concerning the Heathen Learning, +Eastern and Western, and the small Remains +of it in Things Philosophical; ’tis no +Wonder then if the Account we have left us +from them of the primitive Earth, and the Antiquities +of the natural World be very imperfect. +And yet we have trac’d, (in the precedent +Chapter, and more largely in our <i>Latin</i> +Treatise) the Footsteps of several Parts of this +Theory amongst the Writings and Traditions +of the Ancients, and even of those Parts that +<span class='pageno' id='Page_389'>389</span>seem the most strange and singular, and that are +the Basis upon which the rest stand. We have +shewn there, that their Account of the Chaos, +tho’ it seem’d to many but a poetical Rhapsody, +contain’d the true Mystery of the Formation of +the primitive Earth, (<i>Tell. Theor. lib. 2. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 7.</i>) We +have also shewn upon the same Occasion, that +both the external Figure and internal Form of +that Earth were compriz’d and signified in their +ancient Doctrine of the Mundane Egg, which +hath been propagated through all the learned Nations, +(<i>Ibid.</i> <i>cap. 10.</i>) And lastly, as to the Situation +of that Earth, and the Change of its Posture +since, that the Memory of that has been kept up, +we have brought several Testimonies and Indications +from the <i>Greek</i> Philosophers, (<i>Ibid.</i>) +And these were the three great and fundamental +Properties of the primitive Earth, upon which +all the other depend, and all its Differences +from the present Order of Nature. You see then, +tho’ Providence hath suffer’d the ancient Heathen +Learning and their Monuments, in a great +Part, to perish, yet we are not left wholly without +Witnesses amongst them, in a Speculation +of this great Importance.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>You</span> will say, it may be, tho’ this Account, +as to the Books and Learning of the Heathen, +may be look’d upon as reasonable, yet we +might expect however, from the <i>Jewish</i> and +<i>Christian</i> Authors, a more full and satisfactory +Account of that primitive Earth, and of the +old World. First, as to the <i>Jews</i>, ’tis well +known that they have no ancient Learning, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_390'>390</span>unless by Way of Tradition, amongst them. +There is not a Book extant in their Language excepting +the Canon of the Old Testament, that +hath not been writ since our Saviour’s Time. +They are very bad Masters of Antiquity, and +they may in some Measure be excus’d, because +of their several Captivities, Dispersions, and Desolations. +In the <i>Babylonish</i> Captivity their Temple +was ransack’d, and they did not preserve, as +is thought, so much as the Autograph, or original +Manuscript of the Law, nor the Books of +those of their Prophets that were then extant, +and kept in the Temple; and at their Return +from the Captivity after seventy Years, they +seem to have forgot their native Language so +much, that the Law was to be interpreted to +them in <i>Chaldee</i>, after it was read in <i>Hebrew</i>; +for so I understand that Interpretation in <i>Nehemiah</i>, +(<i>Chap. <abbr title='eight'>viii.</abbr> 7, 8.</i>) ’Twas a great Providence, +methinks, that they should any Way +preserve their Law, and other Books of Scripture, +in the Captivity, for so long a Time; +for ’tis likely they had not the Liberty of using +them in any publick Worship, seeing they return’d +so ignorant of their own Language, and, +as ’tis thought, of their Alphabet and Character +too. And if their sacred Books were hardly +preserv’d, we may easily believe all others perish’d +in that publick Desolation.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Yet</span> there was another Destruction of that +Nation, and their Temple, greater than this, +by the <i>Romans</i>; and if there were any Remains +of Learning preserv’d in the former Ruin, or any +<span class='pageno' id='Page_391'>391</span>Recruits made since that Time, this second Desolation +would sweep them all away. And accordingly +we see they have nothing left in their +Tongue, beside the Bible, so ancient as the Destruction +of <i>Jerusalem</i>. These and other publick +Calamities of the <i>Jewish</i> Nation may reasonably +be thought to have wasted their Records of +ancient Learning, <i>if they had any</i>; for to speak +Truth, the <i>Jews</i> are a People of little Curiosity, +as to Sciences and philosophical Enquiries: +They were very tenacious of their own Customs, +and careful of those Traditions that did +respect them, but were not remarkable, that +I know of, or thought great Proficients in +any other sort of Learning. There has been +a great Fame, ’tis true, of the <i>Jewish Cabala</i>, +and of great Mysteries contain’d in it; and, I +believe, there was once a traditional Doctrine +amongst some of them, that had extraordinary +Notions and Conclusions: But where is +this now to be found? The <i>Essenes</i> were the +likeliest Sect, one would think, to retain such +Doctrines; but ’tis probable they are now so +mixt with Things fabulous and fantastical, that +what one should alledge from thence would +be of little or no Authority. One Head in +this <i>Cabala</i> was the Doctrine of the <i>Sephiroth</i>, +(<i>Vide Men. ben Isr. de Creat. prob. 28.</i>) +and tho’ the Explication of them be uncertain, +the inferior <i>Sephiroth</i> in the corporeal +World cannot so well be apply’d to any Thing, +as to those several Orbs and Regions, infolding +one another, whereof the primigenial Earth +<span class='pageno' id='Page_392'>392</span>was compos’d. Yet such Conjectures and Applications, +I know, are of no Validity, but in Consort +with better Arguments. I have often thought +also, that their first and second Temple represented +the first and second Earth or World; +and that of <i>Ezekiel</i>’s, which is the third, is still +to be erected, the most beautiful of all, when +this second Temple of the World shall be burn’d +down. If the Prophecies of <i>Enoch</i> had been preserv’d, +and taken into the Canon by <i>Ezra</i>, after +their Return from <i>Babylon</i>, when the Collection +of their sacred Books is suppos’d to have +been made, we might probably have had a considerable +Account there, both of Times past +and to come, of Antiquities and Futuritions; +for those Prophecies are generally suppos’d to +have contain’d both the first and second Fate of +this Earth, and all the Periods of it. But as +this Book is lost to us, so I look upon all others +that pretend to be Ante-mosaical or Patriarchal, +as spurious and fabulous.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much concerning the <i>Jews</i>. As for +<i>Christian</i> Authors, their Knowledge must be +from some of these foremention’d <i>Jews</i> or +<i>Heathens</i>; or else by Apostolical Tradition: +For the <i>Christian</i> Fathers were not very speculative, +so as to raise a Theory from their own +Thoughts and Contemplations, concerning +the Origin of the Earth. We have instanc’d, +in the last Chapter, in a <i>Christian</i> Tradition +concerning <i>Paradise</i>, and the high Situation +of it, which is fully consonant to the Scite of +the Primitive Earth, where <i>Paradise</i> stood, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_393'>393</span>doth seem plainly to refer to it, being unintelligible +upon any other Supposition. And ’twas, I +believe, this Elevation of <i>Paradise</i>, and the Pencil +Structure of that <i>Paradisiacal</i> Earth, that gave +Occasion to <i>Celsus</i>, as we see by <i>Origen</i>’s Answer, +to say, that the <i>Christian Paradise</i> was +taken from the pensile Gardens of <i>Alcinous:</i> +But we may see now what was the Ground of +such Expressions or Traditions amongst the Ancients, +which Providence left to keep Men’s +Minds awake; not fully to instruct them, but to +confirm them in the Truth, when it should come +to be made known in other Methods. We have +noted also above, that the ancient Books and +Authors amongst the <i>Christians</i>, that were most +likely to inform us in this Argument, have perish’d, +and are lost out of the World, such as +<i>Ephrem Syrus de ortu rerum</i>, and <i>Tertullian de +Paradiso</i>; and that Piece, which is extant of +<i>Moses Bar Cepha</i>’s upon this Subject, receives +more Light from our <i>Hypothesis</i>, than from any +other I know; for, correcting some Mistakes about +the Figure of the Earth, which the Ancients +were often guilty of, the Obscurity or Confusion +of that Discourse in other Things may be +easily rectified, if compar’d with this Theory.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Of</span> this Nature also is that Tradition that is +common both to <i>Jews</i> and <i>Christians</i>, and which +we have often mentioned before, that there +was a perpetual Serenity, and perpetual Equinox +in <i>Paradise</i>; which cannot be upon this +Earth, not so much as under the Equinoctial; +for they have a Sort of Winter and Summer, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_394'>394</span>there, a Course of Rains at certain times of the +Year, and great Inequalities of the Air, as to +Heat and Cold, Moisture and Drought. They had +also Traditions amongst them, <i>That there was +no Rain from the Beginning of the World till the +Deluge</i>, and <i>that there were no Mountains till +the Flood</i>, (Lat. Treat. Lib. 2. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 10.) and such +like. These, you see, point directly at such an +Earth, as we have describ’d. And I call these +<i>Traditions</i>, because we cannot find the Original +Authors of them; the ancient <i>ordinary Gloss</i> +(upon <i>Genesis</i>) which some make eight hundred +Years old, mentions both these Opinions; so +does <i>Historia Scholastica</i>, <i>Alcuinus</i>, <i>Rabanus +Maurus</i>, <i>Lyranus</i>, and such Collectors of Antiquity. +<i>Bede</i> also relates that of the <i>Plainness</i> or +Smoothness of the <i>Antediluvian</i> Earth. Yet +these are reported Traditionally, as it were, naming +no Authors or Books from whence they +were taken: Nor can it be imagin’d that they +feign’d them themselves; to what End or Purpose? +It serv’d no Interest; or upon what Ground? +Seeing they had no Theory that could lead them +to such Notions as these, or that could be strengthen’d +and confirm’d by them. Those Opinions +also of the Fathers, which we recited in the +seventh Chapter, placing <i>Paradise</i> beyond the +Torrid Zone, and making it therefore inaccessible, +suit very well to the Form, Qualities, and +Bipartition of the Primæval Earth, and seem to +be grounded upon them.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much may serve for a short Survey of +the ancient Learning, to give us a reasonable +<span class='pageno' id='Page_395'>395</span>Account, why the Memory and Knowledge of +the Primitive Earth should be so much lost out +of the World; and what we retain of it still; +which would be far more, I do not doubt, if all +Manuscripts were brought to light, that are yet +extant in publick or private Libraries. The Truth +is, one cannot judge with Certainty, neither +what things have been recorded and preserv’d in +the Monuments of Learning, nor what are still; +nor what have been, because so many of those +Monuments are lost: The <i>Alexandrian</i> Library, +which we spoke of before, seems to have +been the greatest Collection that ever was made +before Christianity, and the <i>Constantinopolitan</i> +(begun by <i>Constantine</i>, and destroy’d in the fifth +Century, when it was rais’d to the Number, as is +said, of one hundred twenty thousand Volumes) +the most valuable that was ever since, and +both these have been permitted by Providence +to perish in the merciless Flames. Beside those +Devastations of Books and Libraries that have +been made in Christendom, by the <i>Northern</i> +barbarous Nations overflowing <i>Europe</i>, and the +<i>Saracens</i> and <i>Turks</i>, great Parts of <i>Asia</i> and +<i>Africk</i>. It is hard therefore to pronounce +what Knowledge hath been in the World, or +what Accounts of Antiquity; neither can +we well judge what remain, or of what things +the Memory may be still latently conserv’d: +For beside those Manuscripts that are yet unexamin’d +in these Parts of Christendom, there +are many, doubtless, of good Value in other +Parts; beside those that be hid in the unchristianiz’d +<span class='pageno' id='Page_396'>396</span>Dominions. The Library of <i>Fez</i> is said +to contain thirty two thousand Volumes in <i>Arabick</i>; +and though the <i>Arabick</i> Learning was most +what <i>Western</i>, and therefore of less Account, yet +they did deal in <i>Eastern</i> Learning too; for <i>Avicenna</i> +writ a Book with that Title, <i>Philosophia +Orientalis</i>. There may be also in the <i>East</i>, +Thousands of Manuscripts unknown to us, of +greater Value than most Books we have: And as +to those Subjects we are treating of, I should promise +my self more Light and Confirmation from +the <i>Syriack</i> Authors than from any others. These +things being consider’d, we can make but a very +imperfect Estimate, what Evidences are left +us, and what Accounts of the primitive Earth; +and if these Deductions and Defalcations be +made, both for what Books are wholly lost, and +for what lie asleep or dead, in Libraries, we +have Reason to be satisfied in a Theory of this +Nature, to find so good Attestations as we have +produc’d for the several Parts of it; which we +purpose to enlarge upon considerably at another +time and occasion.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> to carry this Objection as far as may +be, let us suppose it to be urg’d still in the last +Place, that though these Humane Writings +have perish’d or be imperfect, yet in the Divine +Writings at least, we might expect that +the Memory of the old World, and of the +primitive Earth should have been preserv’d. +To this I answer in short, that we could not +expect in the Scriptures any natural Theory +of that Earth, nor any Account of it, but +<span class='pageno' id='Page_397'>397</span>what was general; and this we have, both by +the <i>Tehom Rabba</i> of <i>Moses</i>, and the Description +of the same Abyss in other Places of Scripture, +as we have shewn at large in the first Book. +<a href='#chap-1-7'><i>Chap. vii.</i></a> And also by the Description which +<abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i> hath given of the antediluvian Heavens +and Earth, and their different Constitution +from the present; which is also prov’d by +the Rainbow, not seen in the first World. You +will say, it may be, that that Place of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>, +<i>2 Pet. <abbr title='three'>iii.</abbr> 5, 6</i>, <i>&c.</i> is capable of another +Interpretation; so are most Places of Scripture, +if you speak of a bare Capacity, they are capable +of more than one Interpretation: But that +which is most natural, proper, and congruous, +and suitable to the Words, suitable to the Argument, +and suitable to the Context, wherein +is nothing superfluous or impertinent, that we +prefer and accept of as the most reasonable Interpretation. +Besides, in such Texts as relate +to the natural World, if of two Interpretations +propos’d, one agrees better with the Theory +of Nature than the others, <i>cæteris paribus</i>, +that ought to be prefer’d. And by these two +Rules we are willing to be try’d, in the Exposition +of that remarkable Discourse of <abbr title='Saint'>St.</abbr> <i>Peter</i>’s, +and to stand to that Sense which is found +most agreeable to them.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Give</span> me leave to conclude the whole +Discourse with this general Consideration: ’Tis +reasonable to suppose, that there is a Providence +in the Conduct of <i>Knowledge</i>, as well +as of other Affairs on the Earth; and that it +<span class='pageno' id='Page_398'>398</span>was not design’d that all the Mysteries of Nature +and Providence should be plainly and clearly understood +throughout all the Ages of the World; +but that there is an Order establish’d for this, as +for other Things, and certain Periods and Seasons; +and what was made known to the Ancients +only by broken Conclusions and Traditions will +be known (in the latter Ages of the World) in a +more perfect way, by Principles and Theories. +The Increase of Knowledge being that which +changeth so much the Face of the World, and the +State of humane Affairs, I do not doubt but +there is a particular Care and Superintendency +for the Conduct of it; by what Steps and Degrees +it should come to light, at what Seasons +and in what Ages; what Evidence should be +left, either in Scripture, Reason, or Tradition, +for the Grounds of it; how clear or obscure, +how dispers’d or united: All these things were +weigh’d and consider’d, and such Measures taken +as best suit the Designs of Providence, and +the general Project and Method propos’d in the +Government of the World. And I make no +Question but the State both of the Old World, +and of that which is to come, is exhibited to us in +Scripture in such a Measure and Proportion, as is +fit for this formentioned Purpose; not as the Articles +of our Faith, or the Precepts of a good +Life, which he that runs may read; but to the attentive +and reflective, to those that are unprejudic’d, +and to those who are inquisitive, and have +their Minds open and prepar’d for the Discernment +of Mysteries of such a Nature.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_399'>399</span><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much in Answer to that general Objection +which might be made against this Theory, +<i>That</i> it is not founded in Antiquity. I do not +doubt but there may be many particular Objections +against Parts and Sections of it, and the exposing +it thus in our own Tongue may excite +some one or other, it may be, to make them; but +if any be so minded, I desire (if they be Scholars) +that it may rather be in <i>Latin</i>, as being more +proper for a Subject of this Nature; and also that +they would keep themselves close to the Substance +of the Theory, and wound that as much +as they can: But to make Excursions upon +Things accidental or collateral, that do not destroy +the <i>Hypothesis</i>, is but to trouble the World +with Impertinencies. Now the Substance of the +Theory is this, THAT there was a <i>Primitive +Earth</i> of another Form from the present, and inhabited +by Mankind till the Deluge: That it had +those Properties and Conditions that we have +ascrib’d to it, namely, a perpetual Equinox or +Spring, by reason of its <i>right</i> Situation to the +Sun; was of an oval Figure, and the exterior +Face of it smooth and uniform, without Mountains +or a Sea. That in this Earth stood <i>Paradise</i>; +the Doctrine whereof cannot be understood +but upon Supposition of this primitive +Earth, and its Properties. Then that the Disruption +and Fall of this Earth into the Abyss, +which lay under it, was that which made the +universal Deluge, and the Destruction of the +old World; and that neither <i>Noah</i>’s Flood, +nor the present Form of the Earth, can be explain’d +<span class='pageno' id='Page_400'>400</span>in any other Method that is rational, nor +by any other Causes that are intelligible, at least, +that have been hitherto propos’d to the World. +These are the Vitals of the Theory, and the primary +Assertions, whereof I do freely profess +my full Belief; and whosoever by solid Reasons +will shew me in an Error, and undeceive me, I +shall be very much oblig’d to him. There are +other lesser Conclusions which flow from these, +and may be call’d Secondary, as that the Longevity +of the Ante-diluvians depended upon +their perpetual Equinox, and the perpetual Equality +and Serenity of the Air: That the Torrid +Zone in the primitive Earth was uninhabitable, +and that all their Rivers flow’d from the +extream Parts of the Earth towards the Equinoctial; +there being neither Rain nor Rainbow +in the temperate and habitable Regions of it: +And lastly, That the Place of <i>Paradise</i>, according +to the Opinion of Antiquity, (for I determine +no Place by the Theory) was in the +southern Hemisphere. These, I think, are all +truly deduc’d and prov’d in their several Ways, +tho’ they be not such essential Parts of the Theory, +as the former. There are also besides, many +particular Explications that are to be consider’d +with more Liberty and Latitude, and may +be perhaps upon better Thoughts, or better +Observations, corrected without any Prejudice +to the general Theory. Those Places of +Scripture, which we have cited, I think, are all +truly apply’d; and I have not mention’d <i>Moses</i>’s +<i>Cosmopœia</i>, because I thought it deliver’d +<span class='pageno' id='Page_401'>401</span>by him as a Lawgiver, not as a Philosopher; +which I intend to shew at large in another Treatise, +not thinking that Discussion proper for the +vulgar Tongue. Upon the whole, we are to remember, +that some Allowances are to be made +for every <i>Hypothesis</i> that is new propos’d and +untry’d; and that we ought not, out of Levity +of Wit, or any private Design, discountenance +free and fair Essays; nor from any other Motive +but the only Love and Concern of Truth.</p> + +<h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='ten'>X.</abbr></span> <br> Concerning the Author of Nature.</h3> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>Seeing</span> the Theory which we have propos’d in +this Work is of that Extent and Comprehension, +that it begins with the first Foundation +of this World, and is to reach to the last Period of +it, in one continued Series or Chain of Nature; +it will not be improper, before we conclude, to +make some Reflections and Remarks what <i>Nature</i> +is, and upon what superior Causes she depends +in all her Motions and Operations: And this +will lead us to the Discovery of the <i>Author</i> of Nature, +and to the true Notion and State of <i>Natural +Providence</i>, which seems to have been hitherto +very much neglected, or little understood in +the World. And ’tis the more reasonable and fitting +that we should explain these Notions before +we shut up this Treatise, lest those natural Explications +which we have given of the Deluge, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_402'>402</span>and other Things, should be mistaken or misapply’d; +seeing some are apt to run away with +Pieces of a Discourse, which they think applicable +to their Purpose, or which they can maliciously +represent, without attending to the +Scope or just Limitations of what is spoken.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>By</span> <i>Nature</i> in general is understood all the +Powers of finite Beings, with the Laws establish’d +for their Action and Conduct according to +the ordinary Course of Things. And this extends +both to intellectual Beings and corporeal; but +seeing ’tis only the material World that hath +been the Subject of our Discourse, Nature, as to +that, may be defin’d, the Powers of <i>Matter</i>, with +the Laws establish’d for their Action and Conduct. +Seeing also Matter hath no Action, whether +from it self, or imprest upon it, but Motion, +as to the corporeal World, Nature is no more +than the Powers and Capacities of Matter, with +the Laws that govern the Motions of it. And +this Definition is so plain and easy, that, I believe, +all Parties will agree in it; there will also be no +great Controversy what these Laws are. As +that one Part of Matter cannot penetrate another, +nor be in several Places at once; That +the greater Body overcomes the less, and the +swifter the slower; That all Motion is in a +right Line, till something obstruct it or divert +it; which are Points little disputed as to the +Matter of Fact; but the Points concerning +which the Controversy ariseth, and which are +to lead us to the Author of Nature, are these; +<i>Who</i> or <i>what</i> is the Author of these <i>Laws</i> +<span class='pageno' id='Page_403'>403</span>of this <i>Motion</i>, and even of <i>Matter</i> it self; and +of all those Modes and Forms of it which we +see in Nature?</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Question useth chiefly to be put concerning +<i>Motion</i>, how it came into the World; what +the first Source of it is, or how Matter came at +first to be mov’d? For the simple Notion of Matter, +not divided into Parts, nor diversified, doth +not imply Motion, but Extension only: ’Tis true, +from Extension there necessarily follows <i>Mobility</i>, +or a Capacity of being mov’d by an external Power, +but not actual or necessary Motion, springing +from it self. For Dimensions, or Length, Breadth, +and Depth, which is the <i>Idea</i> of Matter, or of +a Body, do no Way include local Motion, or +Translation of Parts; on the contrary, we do +more easily and naturally conceive simple Extension +as a Thing steady and fix’d; and if we +conceive Motion in it, or in its Parts, we must +superadd something to our first Thought, and +something that does not flow from Extension. +As when we conceive a Figure, a Triangle, +Square, or any other, we naturally conceive +it fix’d or quiescent; and if afterwards we imagine +it in Motion, that is purely accidental to +the Figure; in like Manner it is accidental to +Matter, that there should be Motion in it, it +hath no inward Principle from whence that +can flow, and its Nature is compleat without +it; wherefore, if we find Motion and Action +in Matter, which is of it self a dead inactive +Mass; this should lead us immediately to the +Author of Nature, or to some external Power +<span class='pageno' id='Page_404'>404</span>distinct from Matter, which is the Cause of all +Motion in the World.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> single Bodies, and single Parts of Matter, +we readily believe and conclude, that they do +not move, unless something move them, and +why should we not conclude the same Thing of +the whole Mass? If a Rock or Mountain cannot +move it self, nor divide it self, either into great +Gobbets, or into small Powder, why should it +not be as impossible for the whole Mass of Matter +to do so? ’Tis true, Matter is capable both of +Motion and Rest; yet to conceive it undivided, +undiversified and unmoved, is certainly a +more simple Notion, than to conceive it divided +and mov’d; and this being first in Order of +Nature, and an adequate Conception too, we +ought to enquire and give our selves an Account +how it came out of this State, and by +what Causes, or, as we said before, how <i>Motion +came first into the World</i>.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> the second Place, That Diversity which +we see in Nature, both as to the Qualities of +Matter, and the Compositions of it, being one +Step further than bare Motion, ought also to +be a further Indication of the Author of Nature, +and to put us upon Enquiry into the +Causes of this Diversity. There is nothing +more uniform than simple Extension, nothing +more the same throughout, all of a Piece, and +all of a Sort, similar, and like to itself every +where; yet we find the Matter of the Universe +diversified a thousand Ways, into Heavens and +Earth, Air and Water, Stars, Meteors, Light, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_405'>405</span>Darkness, Stones, Wood, Animals, and all terrestrial +Bodies; These Diversifications are still +further Removes from the natural Unity and +Identity of Matter, and a further Argument of +some external and superior Power that hath given +these different Forms to the several Portions +of Matter, by the Intervention of Motion. For +if you exclude the Author of Nature, and suppose +nothing but Matter in the World, take whether +<i>Hypothesis</i> you will, either that Matter is +without Motion of it self, or that it is of it self +in Motion, there could not arise this Diversity, +and these Compositions in it. If it was without +Motion, then the Case is plain, for it would be +nothing but an hard inflexible Lump of impenetrable +Extension, without any Diversity at all. +And if you suppose it mov’d of it self, or to have +an innate Motion, that would certainly hinder +all Sort of natural Concretions and Compositions, +and in Effect destroy all Continuity. For +Motion, if it be essential to Matter, it is essential +to every Atom of it, and equally diffus’d throughout +all its Parts; and all those Parts or Atoms +would be equal to one another, and as little +as possible; for if Matter was divided into +Parts by its own innate Motion, that would +melt it down into Parts as little as possible, and +consequently all equal to one another, there +being no reason why you should stop those Divisions, +or the Effect of this innate <i>Impetus</i> in +any one Part sooner than in another, or in any +Part indeed, till it was divided as much as was +possible: wherefore upon this Principle, or in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_406'>406</span>this Method, all the Matter of the Universe +would be one liquid or volatile Mass, smaller +than Pin-dust, nay, than Air or Æther; and +there would be no Diversity of Forms, only +another sort of Identity from the former, +when we suppos’d it wholly without Motion. +And so, upon the whole, you see, that Matter, +whether we allow it Motion, or no Motion, +could not come into that Variety of Tempers +and Compositions in which we find it in +the World, without the Influence and Direction +of a superior external Cause, which we call the +Author of Nature.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> there is still a further and stronger Argument +from this Head, if we consider not +only the Diversity of Bodies that the Mass of +Matter is cut into, but also that that Diversity +is <i>regular</i>, and in some Parts of it admirably +artful and ingenious. This will not only lead +us to an Author of Nature, but to such an +Author as hath Wisdom as well as Power. +Matter is a brute Being, stupid and senseless; +and tho’ we should suppose it to have a Force +to move it self, yet that it should be able to +meditate and consult, and take its Measures +how to frame a World, a regular and beautiful +Structure, consisting of such and such Parts +and Regions, and adapted to such and such +Purposes, this would be too extravagant to +imagine; to allow it not only Motion from +it self, but Wit and Judgment too; and that +before it came into any organical or animate +Composition.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_407'>407</span><span class='sc'>You</span>’ll say, it may be, the Frame of the World +was not the Result of Counsel and Consultation, +but of <i>Necessity</i>; Matter being once in Motion +under the Conduct of those Laws that are essential +to it, it wrought it self by Degrees from one +State into another, till at length it came into the +present Form which we call the World. These +are Words thrown out at Random, without any +Pretence of Ground, only to see if they can be +confuted; and so they may easily be; for we +have shewn already, that if Matter had innate +Motion, it would be so far from running into +the orderly and well dispos’d Frame of the +World, that it would run into no Frame at all, +into no Forms or Compositions, or Diversity of +Bodies; but would either be all fluid, or all solid; +either every single Particle in a separate +Motion, or all in one continued Mass, with an +universal Tremor, or Inclination to move +without actual Separation; and either of these +two States is far from the Form of a World. +Secondly, As to the Laws of Motion, as some +of them are essential to Matter, so others are +not demonstrable, but upon Supposition of +an Author of Nature. And thirdly, Tho’ all +the Laws of Motion be admitted, they cannot +bring Matter into the Form of a World, +unless some Measures be taken at first by an +intelligent Being; I say, some Measures be +taken to determine the primary Motions upon +which the rest depend, and to put them in a +Way that leads to the Formation of a World. +The Mass must be divided into Regions, and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_408'>408</span>Centers fixt, and Motions appropriated to them; +and it must be consider’d of what Magnitude the +first Bodies, or the first Divisions of Matter should +be, and how mov’d: Besides, there must be a +determinate Proportion, and certain Degree of +Motion imprest upon the universal Matter, to +qualify it for the Production of a World; if the +Dose was either too strong or too weak, the +Work would miscarry; and nothing but infinite +Wisdom could see thro’ the Effects of every +Proportion, or every new degree of Motion, +and discern which was best for the Beginning, +Progress, and Perfection of a World. So you +see the Author of Nature is no Way excluded, +or made useless by the Laws of Motion; nor +if Matter was promiscuously mov’d, would +these be sufficient Causes of themselves to produce +a World, or that regular Diversity of Bodies +that compose it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> ’tis hard to satisfy Men against their Inclinations, +or their Interest: And as their Regularity +of the Universe was always a great +Stumbling-stone to the <i>Epicureans</i>; so they +have endeavour’d to make Shifts of all Sorts to +give an Account and Answer to it, without +Recourse to an intelligent Principle; and for +their last Refuge, they say, that Chance might +bring that to pass, which Nature and Necessity +could not do; the Atoms might hit upon a +lucky Set of Motions, which, tho’ it were casual +and fortuitous, might happily lead them to +the forming of a World. A lucky hit indeed, +for Chance to frame a World: But this is a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_409'>409</span>mere Shuffle and Collusion; for if there was +nothing in Nature but Matter, there could be +no such Thing as <i>Chance</i>, all would be pure +<i>Mechanical Necessity</i>; and so this Answer, tho’ +it seem very different, is the same in effect with +the former, and <i>Epicurus</i> with his anatomists are +oblig’d to give a just mechanical Account, how +all the Parts of Nature, the most compound +and elaborate Parts not excepted, rise from +their Atoms by pure Necessity: There could be +no accidental Concourse or Coalition of them, +every step, every motion, every composition was +fatal and necessary, and therefore ’tis Nonsense +for an <i>Epicurean</i> to talk of Chance, as Chance is +oppos’d to Necessity; and if they oppose it to +<i>Counsel</i> and <i>Wisdom</i>, ’tis little better than +Nonsense, to say the World and all its Furniture +rose by Chance, in that Notion of it. But it will +deserve our Patience a little, to give a more full +and distinct Answer to this, seeing it reacheth +all their Pleas and Evasions at once.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>What</span> Proof or Demonstration of Wisdom +and Counsel can be given, or can be desir’d, +that is not found in some Part of the World, +animate or inanimate? We know but a little +Portion of the Universe, a mere Point in Comparison, +and a broken Point too; and yet in +this broken Point, or some small Parcels of it, +there is more of Art, Counsel and Wisdom +shewn, than in all the Works of Men taken +together, or than in all our <i>Artificial</i> World. +In the Construction of the Body of an Animal, +there is more of Thought and Contrivance, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_410'>410</span>more of exquisite Invention, and fit Disposition +of Parts, than is in all the Temples, Palaces, +Ships, Theatres, or any other Pieces of Architecture +the World ever yet saw: And not Architecture +only, but all other Mechanism whatsoever, +Engines, Clock-work, or any other, is +not comparable to the Body of a living Creature. +Seeing then we acknowledge these artificial +Works, wheresoever we meet with them, +to be the Effects of Wit, Understanding and +Reason, is it not manifest Partiality, or Stupidity +rather, to deny the Works of Nature, which +excel these in all Degrees, to proceed from an +intelligent Principle? Let them take any Piece +of humane Art, or any Machine fram’d by the +Wit of Man, and compare it with the Body of +an Animal, either for Diversity and Multiplicity +of Workmanship, or Curiosity in the minute +Parts, or just Connexion and Dependance +of one Thing upon another, or fit Subserviency +to the Ends propos’d, of Life, Motion, Use +and Ornament to the Creature; and if in all +these Respects they find it superior to any Work +of humane Production, (as they certainly must +do) why should it be thought to proceed from +inferior and senseless Causes? Ought we not +in this, as well as in other Things, to proportion +the Causes to the Effect, and to speak +Truth, and bring in an honest Verdict for +Nature as well as Art?</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>In</span> the Composition of a perfect Animal, there +are four several Frames or Compages join’d together, +the natural, vital, animal and genital: +<span class='pageno' id='Page_411'>411</span>Let them examine anyone of these apart, and +try if they can find any Thing defective or superfluous, +or any Way inept for Matter or +Form. Let them view the whole Compages of +the Bones, and especially the admirable Constitution, +Texture, and Disposition of the Muscles, +which are join’d with them for moving the +Body, or its Parts. Let them take an Account of +the little Pipes and Conduits for the Juices and +the Liquors, of their Form and Distribution; or +let them take any single Organ to examine, as +the Eye, or the Ear, the Hand, or the Heart: In +each of these they may discover such Arguments +of Wisdom, and of Art, as will either convince +them, or confound them; tho’ still they +must leave greater undiscover’d. We know +little the insensible Form and Contexture of +the Parts of the Body, nor the just Method of +their Action: We know not yet the Manner, +Order and Causes of the Motion of the Heart, +which is the chief Spring of the whole Machine; +and with how little Exactness do we +understand the Brain, and the Parts belonging +to it? Why of that Temper and of that Form: +How Motions are propagated there, and how +conserv’d: How they answer the several Operations +of the Mind: Why such little Discomposures +of it disturb our Senses, and upon +what little Differences in this the great Differences +of Wits and Genius’s depend. Yet +seeing in all these Organs, whose Make and +Manner of Action we cannot discover, we see +however by the Effects, that they are truly +<span class='pageno' id='Page_412'>412</span>fitted for those Offices to which Nature hath design’d +them, we ought in Reason to admire that +Art which we cannot penetrate. At least we +cannot but judge it a Thing absurd, that what +we have not Wit enough to find out or comprehend, +we should not allow to be an Argument +of Wit and Understanding in the Author, or Inventor +of it. This would be against all Logick, +common Sense, and common <i>Decorum</i>. Neither +do I think it possible to the Mind of Man, +while we attend to Evidence, to believe that +these, and such like Works of Nature came by +<i>Chance</i>, as they call it, or without Providence, +Forecast and Wisdom, either in the first Causes, +or in the proximate; in the Design, or in the +Execution; in the Preparation to them, or in +the finishing of them.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Wherefore</span>, in my Judgment, if any be +of this Persuasion, it cannot be so much the Effect +of their Understanding, as of their Disposion +and Inclination; and in moral Things, Mens +Opinions do as often spring from the one, as +from the other. For my Part, I do generally +distinguish of two Sorts of Opinions in all Men, +<i>Inclination-opinions</i>, and <i>Reason’d-opinions</i>; Opinions +that grow upon Mens Complexions, +and Opinions that are the Results of their +Reason; and I meet with very few that are of +a Temperament so equal, or a Constitution so +even pois’d, but that they incline to one Set of +Opinions rather than another, antecedently to +all Proofs of Reason: And when they have +espous’d their Opinions from that secret Sympathy, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_413'>413</span>then they find out as good Reasons as they +can, to maintain them, and say, nay think sometimes, +that ’twas for the sake of those Reasons +that they first embrac’d them. We may commonly +distinguish these Inclination-opinions +from the rational, because we find them accompanied +with more Heat than Light, a great deal +of Eagerness and Impatience in defending of +them, and but slender Arguments. One might +give Instances of this, both in Sects of Religion +and Philosophy, in <i>Platonists</i>, <i>Stoicks,</i> and <i>Epicureans</i>, +that are so by their Temper more than +their Reason; but to our Purpose it will be sufficient +to instance in one hearty <i>Epicurean</i>, <i>Lucretius</i>, +who is manifestly such, more from his +Inclination, and the Bent of his Spirit, than from +the Force of Argument. For tho’ his Suppositions +be very precarious, and his Reasonings all +along very slight, he will many times strut and +triumph, as if he had rested the Thunder out of +<i>Jove</i>’s right Hand; and a Mathematician is not +more confident of his Demonstration, than he +seems to be of the Truth of his shallow +Philosophy. From such a Principle of natural +Complexion as this, I allow a Man may be +Athestical, but never from the calm Dictate of +his Reason; yet he may be as confident and as +tenacious of his Conclusion, as if he had a +clear and distinct Evidence for it. For I take +it to be a true Maxim in humane Nature, that +<i>a strong Inclination, with a little Evidence, is +equivalent to a strong Evidence</i>. And therefore +we are not to be surpriz’d if we find Men confident +<span class='pageno' id='Page_414'>414</span>in their Opinions many times far beyond +the Degree of their Evidence, seeing there are +other Things, besides Evidence, that incline the +Will to one Conclusion rather than another. +And as I have instanc’d in natural Complexion, +so <i>Interest</i> hath the same Effect upon humane +Nature, because it always begets an Inclination to +those Opinions that favour our Interest, and a +Disinclination to the contrary: And this Principle +may be another Ingredient, and secret Persuasive +to Atheism; for when Men have run +themselves so deep into Vice and Immorality, +that they expect no Benefit from a God, ’tis in a +Manner necessary to their Quiet, and the Ease of +their Mind, that they should fancy there is none; +for they are afraid, if there be a God, that he will +not stand neuter, and let them alone in another +World. This, I say, is necessary to the Quiet of +their Mind, unless they can attain that great Art, +which many labour after, of <i>Non-reflection</i>, or +an <i>unthinking Faculty</i>, as to God and a World +to come. But to return to our Argument, after +this short Digression——</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> as that regular Diversity which we +see in the Forms of Nature, and especially in +the Bodies of Animals, could not be from any +blind Principle, either of Necessity or of Chance; +so in the last Place, that <i>Subordination</i> which +we see in the Parts of Nature, and Subserviency +to one another, the less Noble to the +more Noble, the Inanimate to the Animate, +and all Things upon Earth unto Man, must +needs have been the Effect of some Being +<span class='pageno' id='Page_415'>415</span>higher than Matter; that did wisely dispose all +Things so at first, and doth still conserve them in +the same order. If Man had been born into the +World, and a numerous Host of Creatures, without +any Provision or Accommodation made for +their Subsistence and Conveniences, we might +have suspected that they had come by Chance, +and therefore were so ill provided for: But which +of them can complain? Thro’ their various kinds +and orders, what is there awanting? They are +all fitted to their several Elements, and their +ways of living, Birds, Beasts, and Fishes, both +by the Form and Shape of their Bodies, the +manner of their Covering, and the Quality of +their Food. Besides, they are instructed in little +Arts and Instincts for their Conservation; and +not only for their proper Conservation, but also +to find a way to make and bring up young +ones, and leave behind them a Posterity: And +all this in so fit a Method, and by such a pretty +Train of Actions, as is really admirable.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Man</span> is the Master of all, and of him a +double Care is taken; that he should neither +want what Nature can afford, nor what Art +can supply. He could not be provided of all +Conveniences by Nature only, especially to +secure him against the Injuries of the Air; but +in Recompence, Nature hath provided Materials +for all those Arts which she saw would be +needful in humane Life, as Building, Cloathing, +Navigation, Agriculture, <i>&c.</i> that so Mankind +might have both wherewithal to answer +their Occasions, and also to employ their Time, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_416'>416</span>and exercise their Ingenuity. This Oeconomy +of Nature, as I may call it, or well ordering of +the great Family of living Creatures, is an Argument +both of Goodness and of Wisdom, and is +every way far above the Powers of Brute Matter. +All regular Administration we ascribe to Conduct +and Judgment: If an Army of Men be well +provided for, in things necessary both for Food, +Cloaths, Arms, Lodging, Security and Defence, +so as nothing is awanting in so great a Multitude, +we suppose it the Effect of Care and Forecast +in those Persons that had the Charge of it: +They took their Measures at first, computed +and proportion’d one thing to another, made +good Regulations, and gave Orders for convenient +Supplies. And can we suppose the great +Army of Creatures upon Earth, managed +and provided for with less Fore-thought and +Providence, nay, with none at all, by mere +Chance? This is to recede from all Rules and +Analogy of Reason, only to serve a Turn, and +gratify an unreasonable Humour.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> conclude this Argument; there are two +general Heads of things, if I recollect aright, +which we make the Marks and Characters of +Wisdom and Reason, Works of Art, and the +Conduct of Affairs or Direction of Means to +an End; and wheresoever we meet, either +with regular material Works, or a regular Ordination +of Affairs, we think we have a good +Title and Warrant to derive them from an intelligent +Author: Now these two being found +in the natural World, and that in an eminent +<span class='pageno' id='Page_417'>417</span>Degree, the one in the Frame of it, and the +other in the Oeconomy of it, we have all the +Evidence and Ground that can be, in arguing +from Things visible to Things invisible, that +there is an Author of Nature, superior both to +humane Power and humane Wisdom.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Before</span> we proceed to give any further Proofs +or Discoveries of the Author of Nature, let us +reflect a little upon those we have already insisted +upon; which have been taken wholly from the +material World, and from the common Course +of Nature. The very Existence of Matter is a +Proof of a Deity, for the <i>Idea</i> of it hath no Connexion +with Existence, as we shall shew hereafter; +however we will take leave now to set it down +with the rest in Order as they follow one another.</p> + +<p class='c016'>1. <i>The Existence of Matter.</i></p> + +<p class='c017'>2. <i>The Motion of Matter.</i></p> + +<p class='c017'>3. <i>The just Quantity and Degree of that +Motion.</i></p> + +<p class='c017'>4. <i>The first Form of the Universe upon Motion +imprest; both as to the Divisions +of Matter, and the Leading Motions.</i></p> + +<p class='c017'>5. <i>The Laws for Communication and Regulation +of that Motion.</i></p> + +<p class='c017'>6. <i>The regular Effects of it, especially in +the Animate World.</i></p> + +<p class='c017'>7. <i>The Oeconomy of Nature, and fit Subordination +of one part of the World to another.</i></p> + +<p class='c006'><i>The</i> five first of these Heads are Prerequisites +and Preparatives to the Formation of a +World, and the two last are as the Image and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_418'>418</span>Character of its Maker, of his Power, Goodness +and Wisdom, imprest upon it. Every one +of them might well deserve a Chapter to it self, +if the Subject was to be treated on at large; but +this is only an occasional Dissertation, to state the +Powers of Matter, lest they should be thought +boundless, and the Author of Nature unnecessary, +as the <i>Epicureans</i> pretend; but notwithstanding +their vain Confidence and Credulity, +I defy them, or any Man else, to make +Sense of the material World, without placing +a God at the Center of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> these Considerations, taken wholly from +the corporeal World, give me leave to add +one of a mix’d Nature, concerning the <i>Union +of our Soul and Body</i>. This strange Effect, if +rightly understood, doth as truly discover the +Author of Nature, as many Effects that are +accounted more supernatural. The Incarnation, +as I may so say, of a spiritual Substance is +to me a kind of standing Miracle; that there +should be such an Union and Connexion reciprocally +betwixt the Motions of the Body, and +the Actions and Passions of the Soul; betwixt +a Substance intellectual, and a Parcel of organiz’d +Matter, can be no Effect of either of +those Substances; being wholly distinct in +themselves, and remote in their Natures from +one another. For Instance, when my finger +is cut, or when ’tis burnt, that my Soul thereupon +should feel such a smart and violent Pain, +is no Consequence of Nature, or does not follow +from any Connexion there is betwixt the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_419'>419</span>Motion or Division of that Piece of Matter, I call +my Finger, and the Passion of that Spirit I call +my Soul; for these are two distinct Essences, and +in themselves independent upon one another, as +much as the Sun and my Body are independent; +and there is no more Reason in strict Nature, or +in the essential Chain of Causes and Effects, that +my Soul should suffer, or be affected with this +Motion in the Finger, than that the Sun should +be affected with it; nay, there is less Reason, if +less can be, for the Sun being corporeal, as the +Finger is, there is some remote Possibility that +there might be Communication of Motion betwixt +them; but Motion cannot beget a Thought, +or a Passion, by its own Force; Motion can beget +nothing but Motion, and if it should produce a +Thought, the Effect would be more noble than +the Cause. Wherefore this Union is not by any +Necessity of Nature, but only from a positive institution +or Decree, establish’d by the Author of +Nature, that there should be such a Communication +betwixt these two Substances for a time, +<i>viz.</i> during the Vitality of the Body.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>’Tis</span> true indeed, if Thought, Apprehension, +and Reason, was nothing but corporeal Motion, +this Argument would be of no Force; +but to suppose this, is to admit an Absurdity +to cure a Difficulty; to make a Thought out +of a local Motion is like making a God out +of a Stock, or a Stone; for these two are as +remote in their Nature, and have as different +<i>Idea’s</i> in the Mind, as any two desperate +Things we can propose or conceive; Number +<span class='pageno' id='Page_420'>420</span>and Colour, a Triangle and Virtue, Free-will and +a Pyramid, are not more unlike, more distant, or +of more different Forms, than Thought and local +Motion. Motion is nothing but a Body’s changing +its Place and Situation amongst other Bodies, +and what Affinity or Resemblance hath that +to a <i>Thought</i>? How is that like to Pain, or to a +Doubt of the Mind? To Hope or to Desire? To +the <i>Idea</i> of God? To any Act of the Will or Understanding, +as judging, consenting, reasoning, +remembring, or any other? These are Things of +several Orders that have no Similitude, nor any +Mixture of one another. And as this is the Nature +of Motion, so, on the other Hand, in a +<i>Thought</i> there are two Things, <i>Consciousness</i> +and a <i>Representation</i>; Consciousness is in all +Thoughts indifferently, whether distinct or confus’d, +for no Man thinks but he is conscious that +he thinks, nor perceives any Thing but he is conscious +that he perceives it; there is also in a +Thought, especially if it be distinct, a Representation; +’tis the Image of that we think upon, and +makes its Objects present to the Mind. Now +what hath local Motion to do with either of +these two, Consciousness or Representativeness? +How doth it include either of them, or +hold them any way affix’d to its Nature? I think +one may with as good Sense and Reason ask +of what Colour a Thought is, Green or Scarlet, +as what Sort of Motion it is; for Motion +of what Sort soever can never be conscious, +nor represent Things as our Thoughts do. I have +noted thus much in general, only to shew the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_421'>421</span>different Nature of Motion and Cogitation, that +we may be the more sensible that they have no +mutual Connexion in us, nor in any other Creature, +from their Essence or essential Properties, +but by a supervenient Power from the Author +of Nature, who hath thus united the Soul and +the Body in their Operations.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> have hitherto only consider’d the ordinary +Course of Nature, and what Indications and +Proofs of its Author, that affords us: There is +another remarkable Head of Arguments from +Effects, extraordinary and supernatural, such as +Miracles, Prophecies, Inspirations, Prodigies, +Apparitions, Witchcraft, Sorceries, <i>&c.</i> These, +at one Step, lead us to something above Nature, +and this is the shortest way and the most Popular; +several Arguments are suited to several Tempers, +and God hath not left himself without a proper +Witness to every Temper that is not willfully +blind. Of these Witnesses we now speak of, the +most considerable are Miracles, and the most +considerable Records of them are the Books of +Scripture; which if we consider only as an +History, and as having nothing sacred in them +more than other good Histories, that is, Truth +in Matter of Fact, we cannot doubt but there +have been Miracles in the World: That <i>Moses</i> +and the Prophets, our Saviour and his Apostles, +wrought Miracles, I can no more question, +than that <i>Cæsar</i> and <i>Alexander</i> fought Battles, +and took Cities. So also that there were +true Prophecies and Inspirations, we know +from Scripture, only consider’d as a true History. +<span class='pageno' id='Page_422'>422</span>But as for other supernatural Effects +that are not recorded there, we have Reason +to examine them more strictly before we receive +them, at least as to particular Instances; +for I am apt to think they are like Lotteries, +where there are ten or twenty Blanks for one +Prize; but yet if there were no Prizes at all, +the Lottery would not have Credit to subsist, +and would be cry’d down as a perfect Cheat: +So if amongst those many Stories of Prodigies, +Apparitions, and Witchcrafts, there were not +some true, the very Fame and Thought of +them would die from amongst Men, and the +first Broachers of them would be hooted at as +Cheats. As a false Religion, that hath nothing +true and solid mix’d with it, can scarce be +fix’d upon Mankind; but where there is a +Mixture of true and false, the Strength of the +one supports the Weakness of the other. As +for Sorcery, the Instances and Examples of it +are undeniable; not so much those few scatter’d +Instances that happen now and then among +us, but such as are more constant, and in a +manner National, in some Countries, and amongst +barbarous People. Besides, the Oracles, +and the Magick that was so frequent amongst the +Ancients, shew us that there have been always +some Powers more than Humane, tampering +with the Affairs of Mankind. But this Topick +from Effects, extraordinary and supernatural, +being in a great measure Historical, and respecting +evil Spirits as well as the Author of Nature, +is not so proper for this Place.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_423'>423</span><span class='sc'>There</span> is a third Set or Head of Arguments, +that to some Tempers are more cogent and convictive +than any of these, namely, Arguments +<i>Abstract</i> and <i>Metaphysical</i>; And these do not +only lead us to an Author of Nature in general, +but shew us more of his Properties and Perfections; +represent him to us as a supreme Deity, infinitely +perfect, the Fountain of all Being, and the +steady Center of all Things. But Reasons of this +Order being of a finer Thread, require more Attention, +and some Preparation of Mind to make +us discern them well and be duly sensible of them. +When a Man hath withdrawn himself from the +Noise of this busy World, lock’d up his Senses +and his Passions, and every thing that would +unite him with it; commanded a general Silence +in the Soul, and suffers not a Thought to stir, +but what looks inwards; let him then reflect +seriously, and ask himself, <i>What am I</i>, and +<i>How came I into Being</i>? If I was Author and +Original to my self, surely I ought to feel that +mighty Power, and enjoy the Pleasure of it; +but, alas, I am conscious of no such Force or +Virtue, nor of any thing in my Nature, that +should give me necessary Existence; it hath +no Connexion with any part of me, nor any +Faculty in me, that I can discern. And now +that I do exist, from what Causes soever, <i>Can +I secure my self in Being</i>? Now that I am in +Possession, am I sure to keep it? Am I certain +that three Minutes hence I shall still exist? +I may or I may not, for ought I see; either +seems possible in it self; and either is contingent +<span class='pageno' id='Page_424'>424</span>as to me; I find nothing in my Nature +that can warrant my Substance for one Day, for +one Hour, for one Moment longer. I am nothing +but Thoughts, fleeting Thoughts, that chase +and extinguish one another; and my Being, for +ought I know, is successive, and as dying as they +are, and renew’d to me every Moment. This I +am sure of, that so far as I know my self, and +am conscious what I am, there is no Principle +of Immutability, or of necessary and indefectible +Existence in my Nature; and therefore I +ought in Reason to believe, that I stand or fall +at the Mercy of other Causes, and not by my +own Will, or my own Sufficiency.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Besides</span>, I am very sensible, and in this I cannot +be mistaken, that my Nature is in several +Respects weak and imperfect, both as to Will +and Understanding. I <i>Will</i> many Things in +vain and without effect, and I Wish often what +I have no Ability to execute or obtain. And +as to my Understanding, how defective is it? +How little or nothing do I know in Comparison +of what I am ignorant of? Almost all the intellectual +World is shut up to me, and the far +greatest Part of the corporeal; and in those +Things that fall under my Cognizance, how +often am I mistaken? I am confin’d to a narrow +Sphere, and yet within that Sphere I often +err; my Conceptions of Things are obscure +and confus’d, my reason short-sighted; I am +forc’d often to correct my self, or to acknowledge +that I have judg’d false, and consented to an +Error. In sum, all my Powers I find are limited, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_425'>425</span>and I can easily conceive the same kind of Perfections +in higher Degrees than I possess them, +and consequently there are Beings, or may be, +greater and more excellent than my self, and +more able to subsist by their own Power, (Τὸ +τέλειον πρότερον τῇ Φύσει τοῦς ἀτελοῦς Arist.) Why +should I not therefore believe that my Original +is from those Beings rather than from my self? +For every Nature, the more great and perfect it +is, the nearer it approaches to Necessity of Existence, +and to a Power of producing other +Things. Yet, the Truth is, it must be acknowledg’d, +that so long as the Perfection of those other +Beings are limited and finite, tho’ they be +far superior to us, there is no Necessity ariseth +from their Nature that they should exist; and the +same Arguments that we have us’d against our +selves, they may, in Proportion, use against themselves; +and therefore we must still advance higher +to find a self-originated Being, whose Existence +must flow immediately from his Essence, or have +a necessary Connexion with it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> indeed all these different Degrees of +higher and higher Perfections, lead us directly +to an highest, or supreme Degree, which is +infinite and unlimited Perfection. As subordinate +Causes lead to the first, so Natures more +perfect one than another lead us to a Nature +infinitely perfect, which is the Fountain of +them all. Thither we must go, if we will +follow the Course of Reason, which cannot +stop at one more than another, till it arrive +there; and being arriv’d there at that sovereign +<span class='pageno' id='Page_426'>426</span>and original Perfection, it finds a firm and immovable +Ground to stand upon; the steady +Centre of all Being, wherein the Mind rests +and is satisfied. All the Scruples or Objections +that we mov’d against our selves, or other +Creatures, take no Place here: This Being +is conscious of an Allsufficiency in it self, +and of Immutability as to any Thing else; including +in it all the Causes of Existence, or, to +speak more properly, all Necessity of Existence. +Besides, that <i>we exist our selves</i>, notwithstanding +the Imperfection and Insufficiency of our +Nature, is a just, collateral Proof of the Existence, +of this supreme Being; for such an Effect as this +cannot be without its Cause, and it can have no +other competent Cause but what we mention. +And as this Being is its own Origin, so it must +needs be capable of producing all Creatures; +for whatsoever is possible, must be possible to +it; and that Creatures or finite Beings are possible, +we both see by Experience, and may also +discern by Reason; for those several Degrees +of Perfection or Limitations of it, which we +mention’d before, are all consistent Notions, +and consequently make consistent Natures, and +such as may exist; but contingently indeed, and +in Dependance upon the first Cause.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> we are come at length to a fair Resolution +of that great Question, <i>Whence we are</i>, +and <i>how</i> we continue in Being? And this hath +led us by an easy Ascent to the supreme Author +of Nature, and the first Cause of all things; +and presents us also with such a Scheme and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_427'>427</span>Draught of the Universe, as is clear and rational; +every thing in its Order, and in its Place, according +to the Dignity of its Nature, and the Strength +of its Principles. When the Mind hath rais’d it +self into this View of a Being infinitely perfect, +’tis in a Region of Light, hath a free Prospect every +Way, and sees all Things from Top to Bottom, +as pervious and transparent. Whereas without +God and a first Cause, there is nothing but +Darkness and Confusion in the Mind, and in Nature; +broken Views of Things, short interrupted +Glimpses of Light, nothing certain or demonstrative, +no Basis of Truth, no Extent of Thought, +no Science, no Contemplation.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>You</span> will say, it may be, ’tis true, something +must be <i>eternal</i>, and of <i>necessary Existence</i>, but +why may not <i>Matter</i> be this eternal necessary +Being? Then our Souls and all other Intellectual +Things must be Parts and Parcels of Matter; +and what Pretensions can Matter have to +those Properties and Perfections that we find in +our Souls, how limited soever? Much less to +<i>necessary Existence</i>, and those Perfections that +are the Foundation of it? What <i>exists</i> eternally, +and from it self, its Existence must flow +immediately from its Essence, as its Cause, +Reason, or Ground; for as Existence hath always +something antecedent to it in Order of +Nature, so that which is antecedent to it, must +infer it by a necessary Connexion, and so may +be call’d the Cause, Ground, or Reason of it. +And nothing can be such a Ground, but what +is a Perfection; nor every Perfection neither, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_428'>428</span>it must be sovereign and infinite Perfection; for +from what else can necessary Existence flow, or +be infer’d? Besides, if that Being was not infinitely +perfect, there might be another Being more +powerful than it, and consequently able to oppose +and hinder its Existence; and what may be +hinder’d is contingent and arbitrary. Now <i>Matter</i> +is so far from being a Nature infinitely perfect, +that it hath no Perfection at all, but that of bare +<i>Substance</i>; neither Life, Sense, Will or Understanding; +nor so much as Motion from it self; as +we have shew’d before. And therefore this brute +inactive Mass, which is but, as it were, the Drudge +of Nature, can have no Right or Title to that +sovereign Prerogative of Self-existence.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> noted before, as a Thing agreed upon, +<i>that something or other must needs be Eternal</i>. +For if ever there was a Time or State when there +was no being, there never could be any. Seeing +<i>Nothing</i> could not produce <i>Something</i>. Therefore +’tis undeniably true on all Hands, that there +was some Being from Eternity. Now, according +to our Understanding, <i>Truth</i> is <i>Eternal</i>: Therefore, +say we, some intellect or intelligent Being. +So also the Reasons of <i>Goodness</i> and <i>Justice</i> appear +to us Eternal; and therefore some good and +just Being is Eternal. Thus much is plain, that +these Perfections which bear the Signatures of +Eternity upon them, are Things that have no Relation +to <i>Matter</i>, but relate immediately to an intellectual +Being: Therefore some such Being, to +whom they originally belong, must be that <i>Eternal</i>. +Besides, We cannot possibly but judge such a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_429'>429</span>Being more perfect than Matter. Now every Nature, +the more perfect it is, the more remote it is +from <i>Nothing</i>; and the more remote it is from +Nothing, the more it approaches to Necessity of +Existence, and consequently to eternal Existence.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> we have made a short Survey, so far as +the Bounds of a Chapter would permit, of those +Evidences and Assurances which we have from +abstract Reason and the external World, that +there is an Author of Nature; and that a Being infinitely +perfect, which we call <i>God</i>. We may add +to these, in the last Place, that universal Consent +of Mankind, or natural Instinct of Religion which +we see, more or less, throughout all Nations, barbarous +or civil. For tho’ this Argument, ’tis true, +be more disputable than the rest, yet having set +down just Grounds already from whence this natural +Judgment or Persuasion might spring, we +have more Reason to impute it to some of those, +and their insensible Influence upon the Mind, +than to the Artifices of Men, or to make it a +Weakness, Prejudice, or Error of our Nature. +That there is such a Propension in humane Nature, +seems to be very plain; at least so far as to +move us to implore, and have recourse to invisible +Powers in our Extremities. Prayer is natural +in certain Cases, and we do at the mere Motion +of our natural Spirit, and indeliberately, invoke +God and Heaven, either in case of extream Danger, +to help and assist us; or in case of Injustice +and Oppression, to relieve or avenge us; or in +case of false Accusations, to vindicate our Innocency; +and generally in all cases desperate and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_430'>430</span>remediless as to humane Power, we seem to +appeal and address our selves to something higher. +And this we do by a sudden Impulse of +Nature, without Reflexion or Deliberation. Besides, +as Witnesses of our Faith and Veracity, +we use to invoke the Gods, or superior Powers, +by Way of Imprecation upon our selves, if we +be false and perjur’d; and this hath been us’d in +most Nations and Ages, if not in all. These +Things also argue, that there is a natural Conscience +in Man, and a Distinction of moral +<i>Good</i> and <i>Evil</i>; and that we look upon those +invisible Powers as the Guardians of Virtue and +Honesty. There are also few or no People upon +the Earth but have something of external Religion, +true or false; and either of them is an +Argument of this natural Anticipation, or that +they have an Opinion that there is something +above them, and above visible Nature; tho’ +what that <i>something</i> was, they seldom were able +to make a good Judgment. But to pursue this +Argument particularly, would require an historical +Deduction of Times and Places, which +is not suitable to our present Design.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> conclude this Chapter and this Subject; +if we set Religion apart, and consider the Deist +and Atheist only as two Sects in Philosophy, +or their Doctrine as two different <i>Hypotheses</i> +propos’d for the Explication of Nature, and +in Competition with one another, whether +should give the more rational Account of the +Universe, of its Origin and <i>Phænomena</i>? I say +if we consider them only thus, and make an +<span class='pageno' id='Page_431'>431</span>impartial Estimate whether System is more reasonable, +more clear, and more satisfactory; to +me there seems to be no more Comparison +than betwixt Light and Darkness. The <i>Hypothesis</i> +of the Deist reacheth from Top to Bottom, +both through the intellectual and material +World, with a clear and distinct Light +every where; is genuine, comprehensive, and +satisfactory; hath nothing forc’d, nothing confus’d, +nothing precarious; whereas the <i>Hypothesis</i> +of the Atheist is strain’d and broken, dark +and uneasy to the Mind, commonly precarious; +often incongruous and irrational, and +sometimes plainly ridiculous. And this Judgment +I should make of them abstractly from +the Interest of Religion, considering them only +as Matter of Reason and Philosophy. <i>And</i> +I dare affirm with Assurance, if the Faculties +of our Souls be true, that no Man can have a +System of Thoughts reaching thorough Nature, +coherent and confident in every Part, without +a Deity for the Basis of it.</p> +<div> + <span class='pageno' id='Page_432'>432</span> + <h3 class='c013'><span class='sc'>Chap. <abbr title='eleven'>XI.</abbr></span></h3> +</div> +<p class='c012'><i>Several Incroachments upon natural Providence, +or Misrepresentations of it, and false +Methods of Contemplation. A true Method +propos’d, and a true Representation of the Universe. +The Mundane Idea, and the universal System +of Providence. Several subordinate +Systems. That of our Earth and sublunary +World. The Course and Periods of it. +How much of this is already treated of, and +what remains. The Conclusion.</i></p> +<p class='c008'><span class='sc'>We</span> have set Bounds to Nature in the +foregoing Chapter, and plac’d her +Author and Governor upon his Throne, to +give Laws to her Motions, and to direct and +limit her Power in such Ways and Methods as +are most for his Honour. Let us now consider +Nature under the Conduct of Providence, or consider +<i>Natural Providence</i>, and the Extent of it; +and as we were cautious before not to give too +much Power or Greatness to Nature, consider’d +apart from Providence; so we must be careful +now, under this second Consideration, not to +contract her Bounds too much; lest we should, +by too mean and narrow Thoughts of the Creation, +eclipse the Glory of its Author, whom we +have so lately own’d as a Being infinitely Perfect.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='pageno' id='Page_433'>433</span><span class='sc'>And</span> to use no further Introduction, in the +<i>first Place</i>, we must not by any Means admit +or imagine, that all Nature, and this great Universe, +was made only for the sake of Man, +the meanest of all intelligent Creatures that +we know of; nor that this little Planet, where +we sojourn for a few Days, is the only habitable +Part of the Universe: These are Thoughts +so groundless and unreasonable in themselves, +and also so derogatory to the infinite Power, +Wisdom and Goodness of the first Cause, that as +they are absurd in Reason, so they deserve far +better to be mark’d and censur’d for Heresies in +Religion, than many Opinions that have been +censur’d for such in former Ages. How is it +possible that it should enter into the Thoughts +of vain Man to believe himself the principal +Part of God’s Creation, or that all the rest was +ordain’d for him, for his Service or Pleasure? +Man, whose Follies we laugh at every Day, or +else complain of them; whose Pleasures are +Vanity, and his Passions stronger than his Reason? +who sees himself every Way weak and +impotent, hath no power over external Nature, +little over himself; cannot execute so +much as his own good Resolutions, mutable, +irregular, prone to Evil. Surely, if we made +the least Reflection upon our selves with Impartiality, +we should be asham’d of such an arrogant +Thought. How few of these Sons of +Men, for whom, they say, all Things were +made, are the Sons of Wisdom? How few find +the Paths of Life? They spend a few Days in +<span class='pageno' id='Page_434'>434</span>Folly and Sin, and then go down to the Regions +of Death and Misery. And is it possible to believe +that all Nature, and all Providence, are only +or principally for their sake? Is it not a more +reasonable Character or Conclusion which the +Prophet hath made, <i>Surely every Man is Vanity</i>? +Man that comes into the World at the Pleasure +of another, and goes out by an hundred Accidents; +his Birth and Education generally determine +his Fate here, and neither of those are in +his own Power; his Wit also is as uncertain as +his Fortune; he hath not the moulding of his +own Brain, however a Knock on the Head makes +him a Fool, stupid as the Beasts of the Field; and +a little Excess of Passion or Melancholy makes +him worse, Mad and Frantick. In his best Senses +he is shallow, and of little Understanding; and +in nothing more blind and ignorant than in +Things sacred and divine; he falls down before +a Stock or a Stone, and says, Thou art my God; +he can believe Nonsense and Contradictions, and +make it his Religion to do so. And is this the +great Creature which God hath made <i>by the +Might of his Power, and for the Honour of his +Majesty</i>? Upon whom all Things must wait, to +whom all Things must be subservient? Methinks +we have noted Weaknesses and Follies enough +in the Nature of Man; this need not be added +as the Top and Accomplishment, <i>That with all +these he is so vain as to think that all the rest of +the World was made for his sake.</i></p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> as due Humility and the Consideration +of our own Meanness ought to secure us from +<span class='pageno' id='Page_435'>435</span>any such vain Opinion of our selves, so the Perfection +of other Beings ought to give us more +Respect and Honour for them. With what Face +can we pretend that Creatures far superior to us, +and more excellent both in Nature and Condition, +should be made for our Sake and Service? +How preposterous would it be to ascribe such a +thing to our Maker, and how intolerable a Vanity +in us to affect it? We that are next to the +Brutes that perish, by a sacrilegious Attempt +would make our selves more considerable than +the highest Dignities. It is thought to have been +the Crime of <i>Lucifer</i>, who was thrown down +from Heaven to Hell, that he affected an Equality +with the Almighty; and to affect to be next to +the Almighty is a Crime next to that. We have +no Reason to believe but that there are, at least, +as many Orders of Beings above us, as there are +Ranks of Creatures below us; there is a greater +Distance sure betwixt us and God Almighty, +than there is betwixt us and the meanest Worm; +and yet we should take it very ill, if the Worms +of the Earth should pretend that we were made +for them. But to pass from the invisible World +to the visible and corporeal——</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Was</span> that made only for our sake? King <i>David</i> +was more wise, and more just both to God +and Man, in his <abbr title='eighth'>viiith</abbr> <i>Psalm</i>, where he says, <i>He +wonders, when he considers the Heavens, that +the Maker of them could think on Man</i>. He truly +supposes the celestial Bodies, and the Inhabitants +of them, much more considerable than +we are, and reckons up only terrestrial Things +as put in subjection to Man. Can we then be +<span class='pageno' id='Page_436'>436</span>so fond as to imagine all the corporeal Universe +made for our Use? ’Tis not the millioneth Part +of it that is known to us, much less useful; we +can neither reach with our Eye, nor our Imagination, +those Armies of Stars that lie far and +deep in the boundless Heavens. If we take a +good Glass, we discover innumerable more +Stars in the Firmament than we can with our +single Eye; and yet if you take a second Glass, +better than the first, that carries the Sight to a +greater Distance, you see more still lying beyond +the other; and a third Glass that pierceth +further, still makes new Discoveries of Stars; +and so forwards, indefinitely and inexhaustedly +for any Thing we know, according to the +Immensity of the divine Nature and Power. +Who can reckon up the Stars of the Galaxy, +or direct us in the Use of them? And can we +believe that those and all the rest were made +for us? Of those few Stars that we enjoy, or +that are visible to the Eye, there is not a tenth +Part that is really useful to Man; and no doubt +if the principal End of them had been our Pleasure +or Conveniency, they would have been +put in some better Order in respect of the Earth. +They lie carelessly scatter’d, as if they had been +sown in the Heaven, like seed, by handfuls; and +not by a skilful Hand neither. What a beautiful +Hemisphere they would have made, if they had +been plac’d in Rank and Order; if they had been +all dispos’d into regular Figures, and the little +ones set with due Regard to the greater, then all +finish’d and made up into one fair Piece or great +Composition, according to the Rules of Art and +<span class='pageno' id='Page_437'>437</span>Symmetry; what a surprizing Beauty this would +have been to the Inhabitants of the Earth? +What a lovely Roof to our little World? This +indeed might have given one some Temptation +to have thought that they had been all made for +us; but lest any such vain Imagination should +now enter into our Thoughts, Providence (besides +more important Reasons) seems on Purpose +to have left them under that Negligence +or Disorder, which they appear in to us.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> second Part of this Opinion supposeth +this Planet, where we live, to be the only habitable +Part of the Universe; and this is a natural +Consequence of the former: If all Things +were made to serve us, why should any more +be made than what is useful to us? But ’tis only +our Ignorance of the System of the World, +and of the Grandeur of the Works of God, +that betrays us to such narrow Thoughts. (<i>See +the Lat. Treat. lib. 1. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 10. <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> 108, 109</i>, <i>&c.</i>) +If we do but consider what this Earth is, both +for Littleness and Deformity, and what its Inhabitants +are, we shall not be apt to think that +this miserable Atom hath engross’d and exhausted +all the divine Favours, and all the Riches of +his Goodness, and of his Providence. But we +will not enlarge upon this Part of the Opinion, +lest it should carry us too far from the Subject, +and it will fall of its own Accord, with the former. +Upon the whole we may conclude, that +it was only the sublunary World that was made +for the sake of Man, and not the great Creation, +either material or intellectual; and we cannot +admit or affirm any more without manifest +<span class='pageno' id='Page_438'>438</span>Injury, Depression, and Misrepresentation of +Providence, as we may be easily convinc’d from +these four Heads; <i>The</i> Meanness of Man and of +this Earth; <i>The</i> Excellency of other Beings; <i>The</i> +Immensity of the Universe, and the infinite Perfection +of the first Cause. Which I leave to your +further Meditation, and pass on to the second +Rule concerning natural Providence.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>In the second Place</i>, then, If we would have +a fair View and right Apprehensions of natural +Providence, we must not cut the Chains of it +too short, by having recourse without Necessity, +either to the first Cause, in explaining the +Origins of Things; or to Miracles, in explaining +particular Effects. This, I say, breaks the +Chains of natural Providence, when it is done +without Necessity; that is, when Things are +otherwise intelligible from second Causes. Neither +is any Thing gain’d by it to God Almighty; +for ’tis but as the Proverb says, <i>To rob Peter +to pay Paul</i>; to take so much from his ordinary +Providence, and place it to his extraordinary. +When a new Religion is brought into +the World, ’tis very reasonable and decorous +that it should be usher’d in with Miracles, as +both the <i>Jewish</i> and <i>Christian</i> were, but afterwards +Things return into their Channel and +do not change or overflow again but upon extraordinary +Occasions or Revolutions. The +Power <i>Extraordinary</i> of God is to be accounted +very sacred, not to be touch’d or expos’d +for our Pleasure or Conveniency; but I am +afraid we often make use of it only to conceal +<span class='pageno' id='Page_439'>439</span>our own Ignorance, or to save us the Trouble +of inquiring into natural Causes. Men are generally +unwilling to appear ignorant, especially +those that make Profession of Knowledge; and +when they have not Skill enough to explain +some particular Effect in a Way of Reason, they +throw it upon the first Cause, as able to bear +all; and so placing it to that Account, they +excuse themselves, and save their Credit; for +all Men are equally wise, if you take away second +Causes; as we are all of the same Colour, +if you take away the Light.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> to state this Matter, and see the Ground +of this Rule more distinctly, we must observe +and consider, That <i>the Course of Nature is truly +the Will of God</i>; (<i>See <a href='#chap-1-8'>Book 1. <abbr class='spell'>c.</abbr> 8.</a> at the End.</i>) +and, as I may so say, his first Will; from +which we are not to recede, but upon clear +Evidence and Necessity. And as in Matter of +Religion, we are to follow the known reveal’d +Will of God, and not to trust to every Impulse +or Motion of Enthusiasm, as coming +from the Divine Spirit, unless there be evident +Marks that it is supernatural, and cannot come +from our own; so neither are we, without Necessity, +to quit the known and ordinary Will +and Power of God, establish’d in the Course of +Nature, and fly to supernatural Causes, or his +extraordinary Will; for this is a kind of Enthusiasm +or Fanaticism, as well as the other: +And no doubt that great Prodigality and Waste +of Miracles which some make, is no way to +the Honour of God or Religion. ’Tis true, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_440'>440</span>the other Extream is worse than this, for to deny +all Miracles, is in effect to deny all Reveal’d Religion; +therefore due Measures are to be taken +betwixt these two, so as neither to make the Divine +Power too mean and cheap, nor the Power +of Nature illimited and all-sufficient.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>In the third Place</i>, to make the Scenes +of natural Providence considerable, and the +Knowledge of them satisfactory to the Mind, +we must take a true Philosophy, or the true +Principles that govern Nature, which are Geometrical +and Mechanical. By these you discover +the Footsteps of the Divine Art and +Wisdom, and trace the Progress of Nature +Step by Step, as distinctly as in artificial things, +where we see how the Motions depend upon +one another, in what Order, and by what Necessity. +God made all Things in <i>Number</i>, +<i>Weight</i> and <i>Measure</i>, which are Geometrical +and Mechanical Principles; He is not said to +have made Things by <i>Forms</i> and <i>Qualities</i>, or +any Combination of Qualities, but by these +three Principles, which may be conceiv’d to +express the Subject of three Mathematical +Sciences, Number, of <i>Arithmetick</i>; Weight, +of <i>Staticks</i>; and <i>Measure</i> and Proportion, of +<i>Geometry</i>: If then all things were made according +to these Principles, to understand the +Manner of their Construction and Composition, +we must proceed in the Search of them by the +same Principles, and resolve them into these +again. Besides, the Nature of the Subject +does direct us sufficiently; for when we contemplate +<span class='pageno' id='Page_441'>441</span>or treat of Bodies, and the material +World, we must proceed by the Modes of +Bodies, and their real Properties, such as can +be represented either to Sense or Imagination, +for these Faculties are made for corporeal +Things; but Logical Notions, when applied +to particular Bodies, are meer Shadows of +them, without Light or Substance. No Man +can raise a Theory upon such Grounds, nor +calculate any Revolutions of Nature, nor render +any Service, or invent any thing useful in +human Life. And accordingly we see, that +for these many Ages, that this dry Philosophy +hath govern’d Christendom, it hath brought +forth no Fruit, produc’d nothing good to God +or Man, to Religion or human Society.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>To</span> these true Principles of Philosophy, we +must join also the true System of the World. +That gives Scope to our Thoughts, and rational +Grounds to work upon; but the vulgar +System, or that which <i>Aristotle</i> and others have +propos’d, affords no Matter of Contemplation. +All above the Moon, according to him, +is firm as Adamant, and as immutable; no +Change or Variation in the Universe, but in +those little Removes that happen here below, +one Quality or Form shifting into another: +There would therefore be no great Exercise of +Reason or Meditation in such a World; no +long Series of Providence: The Regions +above being made of a kind of immutable +Matter, they would always remain in the +same Form, Structure, and Qualities: So as +<span class='pageno' id='Page_442'>442</span>we might lock up that part of the Universe +as to any further Inquiries, and we should find +it ten thousand Years hence in the same Form +and State wherein we left it. Then in this sublunary +World there would be but small Doings +neither; Things would lie in a narrow +Compass, no great Revolution of Nature, no +new Form of the Earth, but a few Anniversary +<i>Corruptions</i> and <i>Generations</i>, and that would +be the short and the long of Nature, and of +Providence, according to <i>Aristotle</i>. But if +we consider the Earth, as one of those many +Planets that move about the Sun, and the +Sun as one of those innumerable fix’d Stars that +adorn the Universe, and are the Centers of its +greatest Motions; and all this subject to Fate +and Change, to Corruptions and Renovations: +This opens a large Field for our Thoughts, +and gives a large Subject for the Exercise and +Expansion of the Divine Wisdom and Power, +and for the Glory of his Providence.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>In the last Place</i>; Having thus prepar’d your +Mind, and the Subject, for the Contemplation +of <i>Natural Providence</i>, do not content your +self to consider only the present Face of Nature, +but look back into the first <i>Sources</i> of +Things, into their more simple and original +States; and observe the Progress of Nature +from one Form to another, through various +Modes and Compositions. For there is no +single Effect, nor any single State of Nature, +how perfect soever, that can be such an Argument +and Demonstration of Providence, as a +<span class='pageno' id='Page_443'>443</span>Period of Nature, or a Revolution of several +States consequential to one another; and in +such an Order and Dependance, that as they +flow and succeed, they shall still be adjusted to +the Periods of the moral World; so as to be +ready always to be Ministers of the Divine +Justice or Beneficence to Mankind. This +shews the manifold Riches of the Wisdom and +Power of God in Nature. And this may give +us just Occasion to reflect again upon <i>Aristotle</i>’s +System and Method, which destroys natural +Providence in this respect also; for he takes +the World as it is now, both for Matter and +Form, and supposeth it to have been in this +Posture from all Eternity, and that it will continue +to Eternity in the same; so as all the +great Turns of Nature, and the principal +Scenes of Providence in the natural World +are quite struck out; and we have but this +one Scene for all, and a pitiful one too, if +compar’d with the infinite Wisdom of God, +and the Depths of Providence. We must +take Things in their full Extent, and from their +Origins, to comprehend them well, and to +discover the Mysteries of Providence, both in +the Causes and in the Conduct of them. That +Method which <i>David</i> followed in the Contemplation +of the Little World, or in the +Body of Man, we should also follow in the +Great; take it in its first Mass, in its tender +Principles and Rudiments, and observe the Progress +of it to a compleat Form; in these first +Stroaks of Nature are the Secrets of her Art; +<span class='pageno' id='Page_444'>444</span>the Eye must be plac’d in this Point to have a +right Prospect, and see her Works in a true +Light. <i>David</i> admires the Wisdom of God +in the Origin and Formation of his Body; <i>My +Body</i>, says he, <i>was not hid from thee, when I +was made in secret, curiously wrought in the +lower Parts of the Earth; thine Eyes did see my +Substance being yet imperfect, and in thy Book all +my Members were written; which in Continuance +were fashioned, when as yet there was none +of them, or being at first in no Form. How +precious are thy Thoughts to me, O God! &c.</i> +<i>Psal. <abbr title='a hundred and thirty-nine'>cxxxix.</abbr> 15, 16, 17.</i> This was the Subject +of <i>David</i>’s, Meditations, how his Body was +wrought from a shapeless Mass into that marvellous +Composition which it had when fully +fram’d; and this, he says, was under the Eye +of God all along, and the Model of it, as it +were, was design’d and delineated in the Book +of Providence, according to which, it was by +Degrees fashion’d and wrought to Perfection. +<i>Thine Eyes did see my Substance yet being imperfect, +in thy Book all my Members were drawn, +&c.</i> <i>Job</i> also hath aptly express’d those first +Rudiments of the Body, or that little Chaos +out of which it riseth; <i>Hast thou not poured +me out as Milk, and cruddled me like Cheese? +Thou hast cloathed me with Skin and Flesh, and +fenced me with Bones and Sinews, Job <abbr title='ten'>x.</abbr> 10, +11.</i> Where he notes the first Matter and the last +Form of his Body, its compleat and most incompleat +State. According to these Examples +we must likewise consider the greater Bodies of +<span class='pageno' id='Page_445'>445</span>Nature, the Earth and the sublunary World; +we must go to the Origin of them, the Seminal +Mass, the Chaos out of which they rise; +look upon the World first as an Embryo World, +without Form or Shape, and then consider how +its Members were fashion’d, how by degrees it +was brought into that Diversity of Parts and +Regions which it consists of, with all their Furniture, +and with all their Ornaments. The +<i>Idea</i> of all which was before-hand, according +to <i>David</i>’s Expression, written in the Divine +Mind; and we partake of that Wisdom, according +to our Capacity, in seeing and admiring +the Methods of it.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>These</span> seem to be necessary Preparatives or +Directions to those that would contemplate, +with Profit, natural Providence, and the great +Works of God in the visible Creation. We +consider’d Nature in the precedent Chapter +abstractly, and in her self; and now we consider +her under the Conduct of Providence, +which we therefore call Natural Providence: +And as we have endeavour’d to remove those +false Notions and Suppositions that lay as Clouds +upon her Face, so we must now endeavour to +represent her in a better Light, and in a fuller +Beauty. By <i>Natural Providence</i> therefore we +understand, <i>the Form or Course of Universal Nature, +as actuated by the divine Power; with all +the Changes, Periods, and Vicissitudes that attend +it, according to the Method and Establishment +made at first by the Author of it</i>. I said +of <i>Universal Nature</i>, through all the Orders +<span class='pageno' id='Page_446'>446</span>of Beings in the intellectual World, and all the +Regions and Systems of Matter in the corporeal. +For, having prov’d in the foregoing Chapter, +that there is an Author of Nature, a Being infinitely +perfect, by whose Power and Influence +alone all finite Natures exist and act, we have +an assured Ground to conclude, that nothing +can come to pass, throughout the whole Creation, +without the Prescience and Permission of +its Author; and as it is necessary to suppose that +there is an <i>Idea</i> in the Divine Understanding of +all the Mass of Beings produc’d or created, according +to the several Ranks and Orders wherein +they stand; so there is also an <i>Idea</i> there, according +to which this great Frame moves, and +all the Parts of it in Beauty and Harmony.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>And</span> these two Things, The <i>Essences</i> of all +Beings, and the Series of their <i>Motions</i>, compose +the <span class='fss'>MUNDANE IDEA</span>, as I may so +call it; or that great all comprehensive Thought +in the divine Understanding, which contains +the System of universal Providence, and the +State of all Things past, present, or to come. +This glorious <i>Idea</i> is the express Image of the +whole Creation, of all the Works of God, and +the Disposition of them: Here lie the Mysteries +of Providence, as in their Original; the successive +Forms of all Nature; and herein, as in +a Glass, may be view’d all the Scenes of Time +or Eternity. This is an Abyss of sacred Wisdom, +the exhausted Treasure of all Science, +the Root of Truth, and Fountain of intellectual +Light; and in the clear and full Contemplation +<span class='pageno' id='Page_447'>447</span>of this is perfect Happiness, and a truly +beatifick Vision.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>But</span> what concerns the intellectual World in +this <i>Idea</i>, and the Orders or Natures that compose +it, is not our present Business to pursue; +we are to speak of the corporeal Universe, +whereof we will make now a short and general +Survey, as it lies under Providence. The +corporeal Universe, how immense soever it be, +and divided into innumerable Regions, may +be consider’d all as one System, made up of several +subordinate Systems. And there is also +one immense Design of Providence co-extended +with it, that contains all the Fate, and all the +Revolutions of this great Mass. This, I say, +is made up of several subordinate Systems, involving +one another, and comprehending one +another, in greater and greater Orbs and Compositions; +and the Aggregate of all these is +that which we call the <i>Universe</i>. But what +the Form of these Compositions is, and what +the Design of Providence that runs thro’ them +all, and comprehends them all, this is unsearchable, +not only to humane Understanding, but +even to Angels and Archangels.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Wherefore</span> leaving those greater Systems +and Compositions of the Universe, as Matter +of our Admiration, rather than of our Knowledge; +there are two or three kinds of lesser +Systems that are visible to us, and bring us +nearer to our Subject, and nearer home. <i>That</i> +of a fix’d Star single; <i>That</i> of a fix’d Star with +its Planets, and <i>that</i> of a single Planet, primary +<span class='pageno' id='Page_448'>448</span>or secondary. These three Systems we see +and enjoy more or less. No doubt there are +fix’d Stars single, or that have no Planets about +them, as our Sun hath; nay ’tis probable, +that at first the whole Universe consisted only +of such Globes of liquid Fire, with Spheres +about them, of pure Light and Æther: Earths +are but the Dirt and Skum of the Creation, +and all Things were pure as they came at first +out of the Hands of God. But because we +have nothing particular taught us, either by the +Light of Nature or Revelation, concerning the +Providence that governs these single Stars, of +what Use they are to intellectual Beings, how +animated by them, what Diversity there is amongst +those æthereal Worlds, what Periods +they have, what Changes or Vicissitudes they +are capable to undergo, because such Inquiries +would seem too remote, and carry us too far +from our Subject, we leave these heavenly +Systems to the Enjoyment and Contemplation +of higher and more noble Creatures.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Sun, with all the Planets that move about +him, and depend upon him, make a good +Sort of System; not considerable indeed, if +compar’d with the whole Universe, or some of +the greater Compositions in it; but in respect +of us, the System of the Sun is of vast Extent: +We cannot measure the Greatness of his Kingdom, +and his Dominion is without End. The +Distance from the highest Planet to the nearest +fixt Star in the Firmament is unmeasurable, and +all this belongs to the Empire of the Sun; besides +<span class='pageno' id='Page_449'>449</span>the several Planets and their Orbs, which +cast themselves closer about his Body, that they +may receive a warmer and stronger Influence +from him; for by him they may be said to <i>live</i> +and <i>move</i>. But those vast Spaces that lie beyond +these opaque Bodies, are Regions of perpetual +Light; one Planet may Eclipse the Sun +to another, and one Hemisphere of a Planet to +the other Hemisphere makes Night and Darkness; +but nothing can eclipse the Sun, or intercept +the Course of his Light to these remote +æthereal Regions; they are always luminous, +and always pure and serene. And if the worst +and planetary Parts of his Dominions be replenished +with Inhabitants, we cannot suppose the +better to lie as Desarts unenjoy’d and uninhabited; +his Subjects then must be numerous, as +well as his Dominions large; and in both respects +this System of a fixt Star, with its Planets, +(of which kind we may imagin innumerable +in the Universe, besides this of the Sun, +which is near and visible to us) is of a noble +Character and Order, being the Habitation of +Angels and glorified Spirits, as well as of mortal +Men.</p> + +<p class='c004'>A planetary System is the last and lowest; +and of these, no doubt, there is great Variety, +and great Differences; not only of primary and +secondary, or of the principal Planet, and its +Moons or Attendants, but also amongst Planets +of the same Rank; for they may differ +both in their original Constitution, and according +to the Form and State they are under at +<span class='pageno' id='Page_450'>450</span>present; of which sort of Differences we have +noted some amongst our Planets, (<i>Book. 1. +chap. last, <abbr title='page'>p.</abbr> <a href='#Page_113'>113</a></i>, <i>&c.</i>) tho’ they seem to be all +of much-what the same original Constitution. +Besides, according to external Circumstances, +their Distance, Manner of Motion, and Posture +to the Sun, which is the Heart of the whole +System, they become different in many Things. +And we may observe, that those leading Differences, +tho’ they seem little, draw after them +innumerable others, and so make a distinct Face +of Nature, and a distinct World; which still +shews the Riches and Fecundity of divine Providence, +and gives new Matter of Contemplation +to those that take Pleasure in studying the +Works and Ways of God. But leaving all +other Planets, or planetary Systems to our Meditations +only, we must particularly consider +our own.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Having</span> therefore made this general Survey +of the great Universe, run through the boundless +Regions of it, and with much ado found +our Way home to that little Planet where our +Concerns lie, this Earth or sublunary World, +we must rest here at the End of our Course. +And having undertaken to give the general +Theory of this Earth, to conclude the present +Treatise, we’ll reflect upon the whole Work, +and observe what Progress we have hitherto +made in this Theory, and what remains to be +treated of hereafter. This Earth, tho’ it be a +small Part or Particle of the Universe, hath a +distinct System of Providence belonging to it, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_451'>451</span>or an Order establisht by the Author of Nature +for all its <i>Phænomena</i> (natural or moral) throughout +the whole Period of its Duration, and every +Interval of it; for, as there is nothing so +great as to be above the divine Care, so neither +is there any thing so little as to be below +it. All the Changes of out World are fixt; +How, or how often to be destroy’d, and how +renew’d; What different Faces of Nature, and +what of Mankind, in every Part of its Course; +What new Scenes to adorn the Stage, and what +new Parts to be acted; What the Entrance, and +what the Consummation of all. Neither is +there any sort of Knowledge more proper, or +of more importance to us that are the Inhabitants +of this Earth, than to understand this its +natural and sacred History, as I may so call it, +both as to what is past, and what is to come. +And as those greater Volumes and Compositions +of the Universe are proportion’d to the +Understanding of Angels and superior Beings, +so these little Systems are <i>Compendiums</i> of the +divine Wisdom more fitted to our Capacity +and Comprehension.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>The</span> Providence of the Earth, as of all other +Systems, consists of two Parts, natural, and sacred +or theological. I call that sacred or theological +that respects Religion, and the Dispensations +of it; the Government of the rational +World, or of Mankind, whether under the Light +of Nature only, or of a Revelation? the Method +and Terms of their Happiness and Unhappiness +in a future Life: The State, Oeconomy, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_452'>452</span>and Conduct of this, with all the Mysteries +contain’d in it, we call theological Providence; +in the Head whereof stands the Soul of the blessed +<i>Messiah</i>, who is Lord of both Worlds, intellectual +and material. When we call the other +Part of Providence <i>Natural</i>, we use that Word +in a restrain’d Sense, as respecting only the material +World; and accordingly this Part of Providence +orders and superintends the State of the +Earth, the great Vicissitudes and Mutations of +it; for we must not imagin but that these are +under the Eye of Providence, as well as humane +Affairs, or any Revolutions of States and +Empires. Now seeing both in the intellectual +and corporeal World there are certain Periods, +Fulness of Time, and fixt Seasons, either for +some great Catastrophe, or some great Instauration; +’tis Providence that makes a due Harmony +or Synchronism betwixt these two, and +measures out the concurrent Fates of both +Worlds, so as Nature may be always a faithful +Minister of the divine Pleasure, whether for +Rewards or Punishments, according as the State +of Mankind may require. But theological Providence +not being the Subject of this Work, +we shall only observe, as we said before, what +Account we have hitherto given of the natural +State of the Earth, and what remains to be +handled in another Treatise, and so conclude.</p> + +<p class='c004'>I did not think it necessary to carry the Story +and Original of the Earth, higher than the +Chaos, as <i>Zoroaster</i> and <i>Orpheus</i> seem to have +done; but taking that for our Foundation, +<span class='pageno' id='Page_453'>453</span>which Antiquity sacred and prophane doth +suppose, and natural Reason approve and confirm, +we have form’d the Earth from it. But +when we say the Earth rose from a fluid Mass, +it is not to be so crudely understood, as if a +Rock of Marble, suppose, was fluid immediately +before it became Marble; no, Things had +a gradual Progression from one Form to another, +and came at length to those more permanent +Forms they are now settled in: Stone +was once Earth, and Earth was once Mud, +and Mud was once fluid. And so other Things +may have another kind of Progression from +Fluidity; but all was once Fluid, at least all +the exterior Regions of this Earth. And even +those Stones and Rocks of Marble which we +speak of, seem to confess they were once soft +or liquid, by those Mixtures we find in them +of heterogeneous Bodies, and those Spots and +Veins disperst thorough their Substance; for +these Things could not happen to them after +they were hard and impenetrable, in the Form +of Stone or Marble. And if we can soften +Rocks and Stones, and run them down into +their first Liquors, as these Observations seem +to do, we may easily believe that other Bodies +also that compose the Earth were once in a +fluid Mass, which is that we call a Chaos.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>We</span> therefore watch’d the Motions of that +Chaos, and the several Transformations of it, +while it continued Fluid; and we found at +length what its first Concretion would be, and +how it settled into the Form of an habitable +<span class='pageno' id='Page_454'>454</span>Earth. But that Form was very different from +the present Form of the Earth, which is not +immediately deducible from a Chaos by any +known Laws of Nature, or by any Wit of +Man; as every one, that will have Patience +to examine it, may easily be satisfied. That +first Earth was of a smooth, regular Surface, +as the Concretions of Liquors are, before they +are disturb’d or broken; under that Surface +lay the great Abyss, which was ready to swallow +up the World that hung over it, and about +it, whensoever God should give the Command, +and the Vault should break and this +Constitution of the primæval Earth gave Occasion +to the first Catastrophe of this World, +when it perish’d in a Deluge of Water. For +that Vault did break, as we have shewn at +large, and by the Dissolution and Fall of it, +the great Deep was thrown out of its Bed, +forc’d upwards into the Air, and overflowed, +in that impetuous Commotion, the highest +Tops of the Fragments of the ruin’d Earth, +which now we call its Mountains. And as +this was the first great and fatal Period of Nature; +so upon the Issue of this, and the Return +of the Waters into their Channels, the +second Face of Nature appear’d, or the present +broken Form of the Earth, as it is <i>Terraqueous</i>, +<i>Mountainous</i>, and <i>Cavernous</i>. These +Things we have explain’d fully in the first +Book, and I have thereby settled two great +Points, given a rational Account of the <i>Universal +Deluge</i>, and shewn the Causes of the +<span class='pageno' id='Page_455'>455</span>irregular Form of the present or <i>Postdiluvian +Earth</i>. This being done, we have apply’d our +selves in the second Book, to the Description +of the <i>Primæval Earth</i>, and the Examination +of its Properties; and this hath led us +by an easy Tract to the Discovery of <i>Paradise</i>, +and of the true Notion and Mystery of it; +which is not so much a Spot of Ground where +a fine Garden stood, as a Course of Nature, +or a peculiar State of the Earth; <i>Paradisiacal</i> +in many Parts, but especially in one Region +of it; which Place or Region we have also endeavour’d +to determine, though not so much +from the Theory, as from the Suffrages of Antiquity, +if you will take their Judgment.</p> + +<p class='c004'><span class='sc'>Thus</span> much is finish’d, and this contains the +natural Theory of the Earth till this present +Time; for since the Deluge all Things have continued +in the same State, or without any remarkable +Change. We are next to enter upon +new Matter and new Thoughts, and not only +so, but upon a Series of <i>Things and Times to +come</i>, which is to make the second Part of this +Theory. Dividing the Duration of the World +into two Parts, past and future, we have dispatch’d +the first and far greater Part, and come +better half of our Way; And if we make a +Stand here, and look both Ways, backwards to +the Chaos and the Beginning of the World, +and forwards to the End and Consummation of +all Things, though the first be a longer Prospect, +yet there are as many general Changes +and Revolutions of Nature in the remaining +<span class='pageno' id='Page_456'>456</span>Part, as have already happen’d; and in the Evening +of this long Day the Scenes will change +faster, and be more bright and illustrious. +From the Creation to this Age the Earth hath +undergone but one Catastrophe, and Nature +hath had two different Faces. The next Catastrophe +is the <span class='sc'>Conflagration</span>, to which a +new Face of Nature will accordingly succeed, +<i>New Heavens</i> and a <i>New Earth</i>, <i>Paradise</i> +renew’d, and so it is call’d the Restitution of +Things, or <i>Regeneration</i> of the World, Ἀποκατάσασις +Γαλιγ ἐνεσία. And that Period of Nature +and Providence being expir’d, then follows +the <i>Consummation of all Things</i>, or the general +<i>Apothesis</i>; <i>when Death and Hell shall be +swallowed up in Victory</i>. When the great +Circle of Time and Fate is run; or according +to the Language of Scripture, <i>When the +Heavens and the Earth shall pass away, and +Time shall be no more.</i></p> + +<hr class='c010'> + +<p class='c004'><i>MAY we, in the mean time, by a true Love +of God above all Things, and a Contempt of +this vain World which passeth away; by a careful +Use of the Gifts of God and Nature, the +Light of Reason and Revelation, prepare our +selves, and the State of Things, for the great +Coming of our Saviour.</i> To whom be Praise +and Honour for evermore.</p> + +<p class='c004'><i>FINIS.</i></p> + +<div class='nf-center-c1'> +<div class='nf-center c002'> + <div><span class='large'>Footnotes</span></div> + </div> +</div> + +<div class='footnote' id='f1'> +<p class='c004'><span class='label'><a href='#r1'>1</a>.  </span><abbr title='Genesis'>Gen.</abbr> ad lit. lib. 1. c. 19. Plerumque accidit ut aliquid de +Terrâ de Cœlo, de cæteris hujus mundi elementis, <i>&c.</i> Cùm +enim quenquam Christianorum in eâ re quam optimè nôrunt, errare +deprehenderint, & vanam sententiam suam ex nostris libris +asserere, quo pacto illis libris credituri sunt de Resurrectione Mortuorum, +& spe vitæ æterne regnoque cœlorum, quando de bis rebus +quas jam experiri vel indubitatis numeris percipere potuerunt, +fallaciter putaverint esse conscriptos?</p> +</div> +<div class='footnote' id='f2'> +<p class='c004'><span class='label'><a href='#r2'>2</a>.  </span>Page 41. <i>Franciscus Patricius, Vir eruditione sat clarus, in quodam +libello suo de Antiquorum Rhetoricâ, Italico idiomate conscripto, ac +Venetiis impresso per Franciscum Senensem, Dialogo primo satis lepidam +narrationem habet, quam referi Julium Strozzam à Comite Balthasare +Castilioneo audivisse, Illum verò à Philosopho quodam Abyssino in Hispaniâ +accepisse. Narrabat ergo sapiens ille Abyssinus in antiquissimus +Æthiopiæ Annalibus descriptam esse historiam perditionis humani generis +& disruptionis totius Terræ. In Mundi scilicet primordiis fuisse Terram +multo ampliorem quam nunc est, ac Cœlo proximiorem, perfectè rotundam, +sine Montibus ac Vallibus, totam tamen intras cavernosam ad instar +spongiæ, hominesque in illâ habitantes, ac æthere purissimo gaudentes, +jucundum ævum duxisse, Terrâ inaratâ optimas fruges, & +fructus ferente. Cum autem post diuturnum sæculorum fluxum homines +superbiâ elati à priscâ illâ bonitate descivissent, Deos irates +Terram adeo validè concussisse, ut major illius pars intra proprias externas +deciderit, atque hoc pacto Aquam in latebræsis recessibus ante conclusam, +expressam violenter fuisse, atque ita Fontes, Fiumina, Lacus & +Mare ipsium ortum duxisse. Eam vero Terra portionem que intra has +non deculisset, sed reliquâ elatior fluisset. Montium formam. +Insulas porrò & scopulos in medio mari ad aliud esse nisi segmenta +Terra cavernosa ab illo istius terrenæ milos præcipere casu superstitis.</i></p> +</div> +<div> + + <ul class='ul_1 c002'> + <li>Transcriber’s Notes: + <ul class='ul_2'> + <li>Footnotes have been collected at the end of the text, and are linked for ease of + reference. + </li> + </ul> + </li> + </ul> + +</div> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 75644 ***</div> + </body> + <!-- created with ppgen.py 3.57e on 2025-03-17 15:32:47 GMT --> +</html> + diff --git a/75644-h/images/cover.jpg b/75644-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..506fcab --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig1-1.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig1-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0b2f1a6 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig1-1.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig1-2.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig1-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bca35a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig1-2.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig1-3.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig1-3.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..dd7ea13 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig1-3.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig1-4.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig1-4.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8a91e90 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig1-4.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig1-5.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig1-5.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..98ea3ff --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig1-5.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig1-6.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig1-6.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..79a9536 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig1-6.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig1-7.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig1-7.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1664396 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig1-7.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig1-8.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig1-8.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c437709 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig1-8.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig1-9-1.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig1-9-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3ceffb9 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig1-9-1.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig1-9-2.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig1-9-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..30ba6f1 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig1-9-2.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig1-9-3.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig1-9-3.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bc96fb7 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig1-9-3.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig2-1.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig2-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..89870ea --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig2-1.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/fig2-2.jpg b/75644-h/images/fig2-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ab266aa --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/fig2-2.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/img1.jpg b/75644-h/images/img1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0324a00 --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/img1.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/img2.jpg b/75644-h/images/img2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3bb9fbe --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/img2.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/no-1-1.jpg b/75644-h/images/no-1-1.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9d56f5e --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/no-1-1.jpg diff --git a/75644-h/images/no-1-2.jpg b/75644-h/images/no-1-2.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7dc50ee --- /dev/null +++ b/75644-h/images/no-1-2.jpg diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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