OK 'IIIK
Theological Seminary,
PRINCETON, N. J.
OiSC. «Z^ C — • '
Booh
Division ,
Section.
No,
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Three Phyfico-Theologtcal
DISC OURSES,
CONCERNING
I. The Primitive CHAOS, and Cre-
ation of the World.
II. The General DELUGE, its
Caufes and Effeds.
III. The Diffolution of the W O R LD,
and Future Conflagration.
Wherein are largely difculTed,
The Production i^d Ufe of Mountains ,• the
Original of FouiS^ins, of Formed Stones, and
Sea-Fifhes Bones |hd Shells found in the E:irth \
the EfFeds of particular Floods, and Inundations
of the Sea ^ the Eruptions olVukanos-^ the Na-
ture and Caufes of Earthquakes.
Alfo an Hiftorical Account of thofe Two late
remarkable Ones in "Jamaica and England.
With Practical Inferences.
By JOHN RAT, late Fel
low of the Royal Society.
The Third Edition^ Illuflrated with Coffer- Plates^ and
much mere Enlarged than the former Editions^ ffom
the Author^ i own AfSS.
London : Printed for William Innys, at the
Princess Arms in S-FanCs Chureh yard, 1 7 1 3.
TO THE
Moft Reverend Father in GOD^
JO H N,
Lord Arch-Bifhop of Cafu
terbury, Primate of all
England, and Metropoli
tan.
My L o r d>
T was no tntefejl
or ExpeBation of
mine, that induced
me to Dedicate this
Difcourfe to Tour Grace. /
am not fo "well conceited of
K % my
iv DEDICATION.
my o^von Performances, as to
think it merits to he inferi-
hed to fo Great a Name^
much lejs that I Jbould Ob-
lige Tour Lordjhipy or indeed
a far meaner Perfon, by fuch
Infcription. My principal
Motive was, that it would
give me Opportunity of Con-
gratulating mth the Sober
Part of this Nation, Tour
Advancement to the Archie
episcopal Dignity ; and of
acknowledging His Majeflys
Wifdom in making Choice
of fo fit a P erf on to fill that
Chair, endued mth all Qua-
lifications requifite for fo high
a Calling) Jo able and skil-
ful a Pilot to govern the
Church,
DE DICATION.
Church, and [o prudent and
faithful a Counfellor to ferve
Himfelf But I mil not en-
large in juji PraifeSj left I
jhould incurr the unjuji Cen-
fare or Sufpicion of Flatte-
ry. Gi'ue me lea^ve only to
addy "what I may mthout In-
jury of Truth, and I think
mthout Violation of Mode-
fly , that Tour GraceV Ele-
Bion hath the concurrent Ap-
probation and Applaufe of
all good Men that knov) ToUy
or ha'ue had a true CharaBer
of Ton ; which may ferve to
firengthen Tour Hands in the
Management andAdminiftra-
tion of fo difficult a Province,
thoTouneednofuch Support,
A3 as
vi DEDICATION.
as being fufficiently in'vohed
and armed by Tour V^ertueSy
and proteEied by the Almigh-
ty Power and Providenee.
Thofe that are Good and
Wije are pleafed and fatif-
fled "vohen Great Men are
preferred to Great Places ;
and think it Pity that Per-
sons of large and publick Spi-
rits Jhould be confined to nar-
row Spheres of ABion^ and
want Field to exercife and
employ thofe rich Talents and
Abilities wherewith they are
endowed, in doing all the Good
they are thereby qualified and
inclined to do\
My
DEDICATION. vii
My Lord,
/ am fenfible that the Pre-
fent / make Ton, is neither
for Bulk 7ior Worth fuitable
to Tour Perfon and Great-
nefs ; Tet I hope Ton mil
fa'vourably accept it, being
the befl I have to offer:
/Incl my Boldnefs may pre-
tend fome Excufe from an-
cient Acquaintance, and from
my Forvoardnefs to embrace
this Opportunity of profejjing
my Name among thofe that
Honour ToUy and of publifi-
ing my f elf
My Lord,
Your Grace's moft devoted Servant^'
and humble^ Orator,
JOHN RAT.
A 4 THE
THE
PREFACE,
Shewing what Alterations were made
in the Second Edition.
Aving altered the Method oF
this Treatife, and made con-
fiderable Additions to it, it
may juftly be expedled that
I fhould give fome Account
thereof to the Reader. In the Preface to
the former Edition, I acquainted him, that
I had taken notice of five Matters of An-
cient Tradition, i. That the World was
formed out of a Chaos^ by the Divine Wif-
dom and Power. 2. That there was ati
univerfal Flood of Watery, in which all
Mankind perlflied, excepting fome few,
which were faved in an Ark or Ship.
3. That the World lliall one day be de-
ftroyed by Fire. 4. That there is a Hea-
ven
X The Preface.
ven and a Hell, an Ebfium and a Thrtaruf,
the one to reward good Men, and the other
to puni:Ti wicked ; and both eternal. 5. That
bloody Sacrifices were to be offered for the
Expiation of Sin. And that of four of them
I had occafion to treat in rhis Book ; of
two, that is to Ly, of the Dilfolution of the
World by Fire, and the Eternal State that
was to lucceed (in reference to Man) ei-
ther in Heaven or Hdl, more dirediy : Of
the other two, viz. The Primitive Chaof
and Creation, and the General Deluge, oc-
cafionally and by way of digrelfion, at the
Requeft qF fome Friends. But now this Trea-
|:ifeicoming toa fecond Impreflfion, I thought
it more convenient to make thefe feveral
Difcourfes upon thefe Particulars, fubftan-
tial Parts of my Work, and to difpofe them
according to the Priority and Pofteriority of
their Subjed:s, in Order of Time, beginning
with the Primitive Chaos.
Concerning thefe Traditions, it may
be enquired what the Original of them
was i Whether they were of Divine Revela-
tion, or Humane Invention? In anfwer
whereto,
A s to the Second, That there was once
a General Deluge, whereby this whole fub^
iunary World was drown'd, and all Ani-
mals, both Man and Beaft, deftroyed, ex-
cepting only fuch as were preferved in an
Ark;
The Preface.
Ark ; it being Matter of Fadt, and feen and
felt by Noah^ and his Sons, there can be
no Doubt of the Original of that.
The Firft, concerning the Chaos and
Creation of the World, if it were not an-
cienter than the Scripture, it is likely it had
its Original from the firft Chapter of Gene^
fis^ and the Chaos from the fecond Verfe;
And the Earth was without Forin^ and Void^
and Varknefs was upon the Face of the Deep.
But if it were more ancient, it muft ftill, in
all likelihood, be Divinely revealed, be-
caufe Man being created laft, and brought
into a World already filled and furniflied :
And God being an Omnipotent, and alfo
a Free Agent, who could as well have cre-
ated the World in a Moment, or all together,
as fucceflively, it was impoflible for Man
by Reafon to determine, which way He
made choice of.
The Third, concerning the future Dif-
folution and Deftru(5tion of the World by a
General Conflagration^ there being nothing
in Nature that can demonftrate the Necclli-
ty of it : And a fecond Inundation and Sub-
merfion by Water, being in the Courfe of
Nature a hundred times more probable, as
I have fliewn in the enfuing Difcourfes.
And, therefore, we fee God Almighty, to
fecure Man againft the Apprchenlion and
Dread of a fecond Deluge, made a Cove-
nant
xii The Preface.
nant with him, to give him a vifible Sign
in Confirmation of it, never to deftroy the
World fo again. And the Ancients, who
relate this Tradition, delivering it as an
Oracle or Decree of Fate, O'vid Meta-
morph, I. EJJe quoque in fatis reminifcitur
aff'ore tefnpuf^ &c* was likewife probable of
Divine Revelation.
The Fourth, That there fhall be a fu-
ture State, wherein Men fhall be punifhed
or rewarded accordingly, as they have done
ill or well in this Life, and that State Eter-
nal : Tho' the Firft Part may be demon-
ftrated from the Juftice and Goodnefs of God,'
becaufe there being an unequal Diftribution
of Good and Evil in this Life, there muft be
a Time to fet things ftreight in another
World j yet it being (b difficult to Humane
Reafon, to reconcile the Eternity of Puniih-
ments with the Juftice and Goodnefs of
God, this Second Part of the Tradition had
need be well back'd by Divine Authority,
to make it credible and current among
Men.
A s for the Laft, tho' I meddle not with
it in this Treatife, yet I will take Leave
to fay To much concerning it. That, I think,
thofe who held Sacrificing to have been a
politive Command of God, and to have
had its Original from Divine Inftitutipn,
have the better Reafon on their fide. For
that
The Preface. xiii
that k is no eternal and indifpen fable Law q1
Nature, is clear, in that our Saviour abo-
lifhed it. And many of the ancient Fathers
look upon Sacrificing as fo unreafonable a
Service, that therefore they thought God
commanded it not to the Primitive Pa-^
triarchs i and though He did command it to
the Jews^ yet He did it only in condefcen-
(ion to their Weaknefs, becaufe they had
been ufed to fuch Services, and alfo the Na-
tions round about them, to reftrain them
from Idolatry, and Sacrificing to ftrange
Gods. Origen, Ho?niL ij. in Numer. Dem
ficutfer alium Frophetam dicit^ non manducat
carries taurorum^ nee fanguinetn hircorum po-
tat, Et etiam^ ut alibi fcriptu?n eft^ Quia non
inanda'vi tibi de Sacrificiis "Vel vicfijms in die
qua deduxi te de terra jEg^pti, Sed Moyfes
h^c ad duritiem cordis eorum^ fro confuetu-
dine fejjinia qua imbuti fuerant in ^gypto^
??mndavit eis^ ut qui abftinere fe non poffent
ab ijn?nolando^ Deo [altem & non Diemoniis
immolarent. Other Quotations to this pur-
pofe may be feen in Dr. Outram De Sacri^
ficiis. Indeed^ it feems abliird to think or
believe, that God ihould take any Pleafure
in the Slaughter of innocent Beafts, or in the
Fume and Nidor of burnt Flefli or Fat.
Nor doth the Rcafon thefe Fathers alledg€,
of the Inftitution of Sacrifices, or Enjoining
them to the Jews^ fatisty, vvliatever Trutti
there
xiv The Preface.
there may be in it : For it is clear, that the
main End and Defign of Go d in inftituting
of them, was for Types and Adumbra-
tions of the great Sacrifice of Christ to be
offered upon the Crofs for the Expiation of
Sin : And, confequently, it is probable, that
thofe alfo that were offered by the Ancient
Patriarchs before the Law, had their Origi-
nal from fome Divine Command or Revela-i
tion, and the like Reafon of their Inftitution,
in reference to Christ.
B u T to leave that, I have in this 'Edition
removed one Subjed of Apology, and ad-
ded another ^ fo that there ftill remain as
many things to be excufed or pleaded for.
,They are.
First, Writing fo much; for which
fome perchance may cenfure me* I am not
ignorant, that Men as they are mutable, fo
they love Change, and affed Variety of Au-
thors as well as Books* Satiety even of the
beft things is apt to creep upon us. He
that writes much, let him write never (o
well, fliall experience, that his laft Books,
though nothing inferiour to his firft, will not
find equal Acceptance. But for mine own
part, tho' in general I may be thought to
have written too much, yet is it but little
that I have written relating to Divinity. It
were a good Rule to be obferved both by
Writer and Reader, Not how miich^ but how
t welU
The Preface. XV
well. He that cannot write well, had bet-
ter fpare his Pains, and not write at all.
Neither is he to be thought to write well,
who though he hath fome good things thin
fet and difperfed, yet encumbers and accloys
the Reader with a deal of ufelefs and im-
pertinent Stuff. On the contrary, he that
writes well, cannot write too much. For^
as Fliny the Younger faith weil, Ut alls
hon£ res^ ita bonus Liber eb mellor efi quifque^
mo mapr : As other good Thingf^ fo a good,
jBooh ', the bigger it /x, the better is it : Which
holds as well of the Number as Magnitude
of Books.
Secondly, Being too hafty in huddling up^
and tumbling out of Booh ^ wherein, I con-
fefs, I cannot wholly acquit myfelf of Blame,
I know well, that the longer a Book lies by
me, the perfe(5ter it becomes* Something
occurrs every Day in Reading or Thinking,
either to add, or to corred and alter for the
better. But lliould I deferr the Edition till
the Work were abfolutely perfed, I might
wait all my Life-time, and leave it to be
publiftied by my Executors. Now my Age
minding me of the Approach of Death i and
pofthumous Pieces generally proving infe-
riour to thofe put out by the Authors in
their Life-time, I need no other Excufe for
my Hafte in publifhing what I write. Yet I
fhaii farther add^ in Extenuation of the Fault,
if
The Preface.
if it be one, that however hafty and precipi-
tate I am in writing, my Books are but fmall^
fo that if they be worthlefs, the Purchafe is
not great, nor the Expence of Time, wafted
in the Perufal of them, very confiderable.
Yet, is not the Worth of a Book always an-
fwerable to its Bulk. But on the contrary,
Me'y^ i3//3A/bv is ufually efteemed hov tw
[uifyi;tXw jc^Kw j for, b'jt iv to! |afy(XAw to f u, ^AA'
h Tw fu TO ixeycL*
Thirdly, The laft thing for which I
had need to apologize, is the Rendring the
former Edition of this Treatife worthlels, by
making large Additions to this latter : In
Excufe whereof I have no more to fay, than 1
have, already written in an Jdverufe?ftent to
the Reader^ premifed to my Difcourfe con-
cerning the JVifdom of God ; to which,
therefore, I referr thofe who defire Satisfaf
6tion in this Particular.
T O
T 0 T H E
reader:
EST the Additions made to
this Third Edition ofthefe
Difiourfes Jhould lie under
any Sufpicion of being fpu^
rious^ by reajon they have
lain above fiven Tears unpublijhed after
their jujily celebrated Author s Death ; I
think it necejfary to affure the Reader^ that
they were written in Mr. RayV own Hand^
and {as I find by his Papers) towards the
latter End of the Tear 170^^ or Begin*
ning of ijo^: And in April^ '7^4i
they were tranfmitted to his Bookfellers^
who had been very importunate for them^
and hafiy for a Third Edition ; the for ^
mer Imprejfion being fold of^ and the Book
b nmch
xviii To the Reader.
much called for^ as they fay in their Let-
ters, But ammgfi other Hindrances^ that
which chiefly retarded the intended Impref-
Jicn of the Book^ was an ill State of Health
befalling the principal Bookfeller^ which ne-
cejfitated him to retire often into the Coun^
tr\ from his Bujinep^ which was fucceeded
hy his Death^ and fome time after by the
J)eath of the other Partner afo. By which
means the Afairs of the Bookfelkrs^ who
had the Right of the Copy^ being in fome
Confujion^ this rhird Edition could not
he attended unto till of late^ when the
Right of this and other of Mr, RayV Co-
ties came into another s Hands.
As for the Reafons inducing our excel-
lent Author to make Additions to this,^ and
other of his jufily admired Pieces,, he had
{hejides the Solicitations of the BookfeUers)
the earnefi Requefls of fome of his moji ju^
dicious and beji Friends, And conjidering
that his Additions tended to the greater
PerfeBion of his Books,, there is no great
Reafon for the Purchafers of the former
Editions to complain of Injury,^ efpecially
where
To the Reader.
where the Tur chafe was hut fmalL But
for a farther Anfxver^ I fhall referr the
Reader (as our Author in his Preface doth)
to the Advertifement in his Wiidom of
God. jpid that I might do what lies
in me to obviate Complaints^ and be fer^
njiceable^ as far as I could^ to the Purcha^
fers Profit^ I have noted the Additions
made to this Third Impreffion, that they
that bought the former Edition may tran^
fcribe them^ ij they think it worth their
while,
William Derham.
XIX
b 1
THE
Qpqpqpqpqpqpiqpiqpiqpiqpiqpqpqpqpqp
THE ^
ADDITIONS
IN THIS
Ufird Imprejfion.
PAG, lo. From In this manner, f<> illuftrate
it,
Pag. 1 2. From When I fay, ro Mountain that
way, /). 13.
P<2^. 41. As for the Wells, to iriiprobable.
Tag, 58. But notwithftanding, to infift upon
it, p. 59.
Pag, 59. I think I have, to I am Icfs inclinable.
Pag, 62, The firfl: in, to in the 5th Chap.
Pag. 6^, Confonant to the preceding Words of
[/ihyiienus,
Pag, 67. Plifiy faith of the City oijoppay that it
was built before the Flood.
Pag. 'JO* To this may be replied, to the light-
eft, f • 7 1 .
Pag. 73. Natural j and that no ordinary, to Hea-
vens were opened.
Pag, 74. After no inconfiderablc thirg, feven
Lines oftkt former Editim are left out*
f
Ibtd.
Addittom, &c. xxi
Ibid. Fro»» Cloud, who knows? the flowing Tart
efthe Paragraph is left oHt^ and in its room is fet^ That
the Ocean, to Scriptures, f. 75.
Pag, 79. Madidis Notm atis. Ovid. Metam.
Pag. 84. But to put, to p. 1 01, 102.
Pag. 89. Dr. Hook\ to believe there are not.'
Pag. 1 1 4. That Rains, to the Bottom of the Page,
Pag. 115. The Fruitfulnefs, to of Nile.
Q. Whether this Paragraph he not mifplaced ?
Pag. 116. But becaufe (as I faid before) to touch
the Ground, ^fter which^ three Paragraphs in
p. 117, 118, 119, 120. of the former Edition.^ are left
out'
Pag. 118. / ^all leofve the Header to compete the AU
teration made^ from This Hypothefis, to highelt
Mountains, with p. 122. of the former Edition^ If
any objed.
Jhid. (as credibly Authors, to thofe oi Mexico)
f. 119.
Pag. 120. But becaufe, to former Account.
Pag. 126, Dr. Woodward^ to Deluge.
Pag. 129. Another the like Bed, to fo far Mr.'
Brewery p. 132.
Pag. 138. This Argument is> to living Shark,
p. 139.
Pag. 1 40. as Signor Agofiino^ to from them both.'
Pag. 143. Two farther Arguments, to out of
jigofiino ScilUy p. 145.
Pag. 145. and 1 3 days, to the Bottom of the Page.
Pag, 1 49. This to me, I confefs, is at prefent
unaccountable.
Pag, 155. Upon farther Confideration, to Spe-
cies under it.
Pag, 155. To this may be anfwered, to Iflands
of Scotland^ p. 157.
Pag. 1^5. Dr. IVoodwardy to Bed or Stratum^
f. 167.
b 3 P^X*
xxii Additions y &;c.
Pag' 111.. This Conjedure, to thence might.
Tag. 174- According to ray Hope, to with their
Fellows, p. 204.
Pag. 208. To which may be added, to Work-
ing of the Sea, p. 209.
Pap. 211. Notwithftanding thefe, to felves be-
holding it, p. 211.
Pag. 215. Moreover, to thereabout.
Pag. 218. Notwithftanding all thefe, to the End
of the Page 126.
Pag. 228. Here 1 might take, to I have digref-
fed, p. 241 .
Pag 276. For, I . It could, to a Flame.
Pag. 291. In this Conjedure, to difcourfed at
large, p 294.
Pag. 443. Now that it is unjuft, to enforce Obe-
dience to his Laws, p. 446.
And in the fame Place^ in the former Edition^
p. 395. from How can it be juft, to the End of the
Paragraph^ ii left out.
Pag. 450. hfiead of punilhing an Offender, it
is having an Offender puniflied by the Magiftrate,
or by G o D.
Jbid. He hath not permitted, to 1 will repay.
Jbid. After Veracity ? compare the Alterations^
viz. what is left out tn the former^ and added in this
Edition^ from Veracity, fo digrelfed, p. 452.
P^^.452. I ftiall add farther, to groundleHy ima-
gine, f- 453. Compare alfo the f^ariation from the
former Edition.
Pag. 453. After go on in Sin, fee what is left
9Ht of what is in the former Edition'^ p. 402, 403.
-9^IP"
THE
THE
CONTENTS.
Discourse I.
Of the Primitive CHAOS, and Creation
of the W O R LP.
CH A P. I. Teftimonies of the Ancient Heathen Writers,
Hefiod, Ovid, Ariftophanes, Lucan, Euripides,
concerning the Chaos, and ffhat they meant by it, pag. 2,
3,4.
Chap. II. That the Creation of the World out of a Chaos,
is not repugnant to the Holy Scripture, if Joherly under-
ftood, p. 5, 6, 7, 8.
Chap. III. Of the feparating the Land and Water, and rai-
fing up the Mountains, p. 8, &c. By nhat Means the
Waters rver'e gathered together into one Place, and the dry
Land )nade to appear, p. 9. That fuhterraneous Fires and
Flatus V, might be of Power fufjicient to produce juch an
EjfeU, proved from the Force and Eff'e^s of Gunpowder,
and the Rai/ing up of new Mountains,,-^. lO, il, 12, 13.
The Shaking of the nhole known World by an Earthquake,
p. 13, 14. That the Mountains, IJlands, and whole Con-
tinents were probably at jirfi raijed up by fubterraneous
b 4 Fires,
xxiv The Contents,
FireSy proved by the Authority of Lydiate and Strabo^
p. 15', 1 6, 17. Of ffibterraneous Caverns puffing under
the Bottom of the Sea, p. 19, 20, 21, &c. A Commtini"
cation hetmtn jEtna,Stromboli, &c. p. 22, &c. ABif-
courfe concerning the Equality of the Sea and Land, both
as to the Extent of each, and the Height of one, to the
Depth of the Other, talen from the Shores, p. 25, 26, 27,
31, 32, 33. That the Motion of the Waters levels the
Bottom of the Sea, p. 28, 29, 30. A Difcourje concerning
fhe Ufe of the Mountains, p. 34, 35,' 36, 37, &c. Tne
Way of digging Wells in the Lower Auftria, &c\ p. 35,
40, 41. The Sum ofvfhat hath been /aid of the Divi/ion
and Difpo/ition of the Water and Earth, p. 43, 44.
Chap, IV, Of the Creation of Animals : Some Quefiions
concerning them refolved, p. 45. 7 hat God Almighty did
at fir/i- create either the Seeds of all Animate Bodies, and
difpcrfed them all the Earth over : Or elfe, the firfi Sett
of Animals themfelves, in their full State and Perfection,
giving each Species a Power by Generation to propagate
fheir Like, p. 45, 46. Whether God at firfi created agreap
JMunsber of each Species, or only trvo, a Male and a Fe-
male, p. 46, 47, Whether all individual Animals vphich
already have been, and hereafter /hall be, were at firfi
a^ually created by God, or only the firfi Setts of each Spe-
cies, the refi proceeding from them by may of Generation,
and being anew produced, p. 48) 49, &c. ObjeElions a^
faii^fi the Firfi Part anjwered. I. That it feems impoffl^
le, that the Ovaries of the firfi Animals fhould aUuallj
include the innumerable Myriads of thofe that may pro-
ceed from them in Jo many Generations as have been, and
ppallbe to the End of the World. This fhevon not to be fo
incredible from the A/ultitude of Parts, into rohich Mat-
ter may be, and is divided, in many Experiments, p. ^o,
51, 52, 53, 54. 2. // all the Members of Animals al-
ready formed, do pre-exifi in the Egg, hop. can the
Imagination of the Mother change the Shape, and that
fo notftrioufiy fometimes, as to produce a Calf's Heady
0*- Dog's Face, or the like monfirons Adembers i Several
^pjivers to this ObjeUion offered, p. 55, 56, 57, &:c.
Dis.
The Contents. xxv
Discourse II,
Of the Geiferal DELUGE, in the Days pf
Noah ,• its Caufes and Effci^s. Pag,6i.
CHAP. I. Teftimonies of Ancient Heathen Writers^
and fome ancient Coins or Medals, verifying the Scri"
pture-Hifiory of the Deluge, p. 6%, 62, 64, 65. That
the ancient Poets and Mythologifis, by Deucalion under-
ftood Noah, and by DeucalionV Flood the General De-
luge, proved, p. 65, 66, 67, 68.
Chap. II. Of the Caufes of the General Deluge, p. 6p^
■ \. A miraculous Tranf mutation of Air into Vi^ater re-
jeSled, p. 6p, 70, 71, 72. That Noah'j Flood was not
Topical, p. 72,73, 2, and 3. The Emotion of the Cen-
ter of the Earth, or a violent Deprejfion of the Surface of
the Ocean, the mofi probable partial Caufes of the De-
luge ; But the immediate Caufes afjjgned by the Scripture^
are the Breaking up of the Fountains of the Great
Deep, and the Opening of the Windows of Hea-
ven, p. 73. That thofe Caufes are Efficient to produce 4
Deluge, granting a Change of the Center of the Earth, to
prevent the Waters running off, p. 73, 74, 75. That all
the Vapours fufpended in the Air, might contribute much
towards a Flood, ibid, Concerning the Expence of the
Sea by Vapour, p. 76, 77, 78, &c. Of the Waters heping
its Level. An ObjeSlion concerning an Under- current at
the Propontis, the Streights of Gibraltar, and the Ealtick
Sound, propofed and replied to, p. 81, 82, 83, 84. Con-
cerning the Breaking up of the Fountains of the Great
Deep, and how the Waters might be made to afcend,
p. 84, 85. The inferiour Circulation, and perpetual Mo-
tion of the Water difapproved, p. 86, &c. That the Conti-
nents • and Iflands are fo equally difpcrfed all the World
over, as to counterbalance one another, jo that the Ccnterf
of Motion^ Gravity and Magnitude, cweurr in one 3 p. 86,
Atf
xxviii The Contents.
lar Account oj the late rentarhihle and jar- extended Earth'
qnahe which happened here with us in England, and in
other Parts of Europe, ftpon Sept. 8. i6p2. p. 272, &c.
to 281. Of Vulcanos, p. 282.
Of extraordinary Floods catifed hy long- continuing
Showers, or violent Storms and Shots of Rain, p. 283 to
287.
Of hoijieroHs and violent Winds and Hurricanes, -what
Intereji they have in the Changes wrought in the Earthy
p. 287, 288, 28p.
That the Earth doth not proceed fo faji towards a gene-
ral Inundation and Suhmerfion hy iVater, as the Force and
Agemy of all thefe Caufesfeem to require, p. 2pi. The
Earthquakes in Sicily and Naples, p. 2pi, 2p2, 2^3,
2p4.
Discourse III.
Of the Future Dififolution of the World, and
the General Conflagration.
'T^HE JntroduSlion, being a Difcourfe concerning Pro^
*- phecy, p. Z96, &c.
Chap. I. The Divifion of the Words [2 Pet. iii. i.l and
the DoElrine contained in them^ with the Heads of the fol-
lowing Dijcourfe, viz. I. Tefiimonies concerning the Dif-
folution. I. Of the Holy Scriptures. 2. Of ancient Chri-
ftian Writers. 3. Of Heathen Philofophcrs and Sages^
II. Seven Que fi ions concerning the DiJJolution of the
World y propojed, p. 300, &c.
Chap. II. The Tefiimonies of Scripture concerning the Dijfo-
lution of the World. And Dr. Hamraond'j Expofitions,
referring the mofi of them to the Definition of the City and
Temple of jerufalem, and the Period of the Jewifh State
And Polity conjtdercdj, and pleaded fer, p. 303 to 320.
Chap.
The Contents. xxix
Chap. in. Teftimonies of the j4ncient Fathers and Dolors
of the Church, cencerning the Dijfolution of the World^
. p. 320 to 335.
Chap. IV. The Te^intonies of fome Heathen Philofophers,
and other Writers, concerning the Dijfoltition ; the Epi-
cureans, p. 326. the Stoicks, p. 327, &c. nho held cer-
tain Periods of Inundations And Conflaprations. p. 328, &c.'
That this Opinion of a Future Conjiagration Teas of far
greater Antiquity than that Seti, proved, p. 333, &:c.
Chap. V. The firfi Quefiion concerning the World's Dijfolu--
tion ; Whether there be any thing in Nature that may pro-
hahly caufe or argue a Future Dijfolution i Four probable
Means propounded and difcujfed, p. 338.
Se£l. I. The frfi is the Probability of the Waters natU'
rally returning to overflow and cover the Earthy ibid.
The old Argument from the World's Diffolution, taken
from its daily Confenefcency and Decay, rejetted, p. 3 3 p.
The Neceffity of fuch a Prevailing of the Waters daily
npon the dry Land, till at lafi it proceed to a total Sub"
merfton of it, in the Courfe of Nature, as things mvp fiand,
finlefsfome Stop be put, proved, from the continual Jlreiiht-
ning of the Sea, and lomring the Mountains and high
Grounds by Rains, Floods and Rivers majhing array, and
carrying down the Earth, and from the Seas ericroaching
upon the Shores, p. :^^ to ^^6.
The Reafon vphy there are no Rains nor Springs in
Egypt, P' 34P-
A large Quotation out of Jofephus Blancanus, de-
vtonjlrating J owe of the former Matters, p. 356 (p
365.
Of the Sinking of ancient Buildings, p. 368.
Seft. 2. The fecond probable Means or Caufe of the
\%rld's DrfiruUion in a Natural way, viz. the Extinfiion
of the Sunj p. 373.
Sea. 3. The third pcjjible Caufe of the World's Define
^jon, the Eruption of the Central Fire, p. 375. That
the Being of fuch a Ftre is no way repugnant either to Scri-
pture.or Reafon, p. 377. Mines rm gcneral'y Eaji and
Wcjl^ p. 378, &c.
XXX The Contents.
SeCt. 4. The fourth poffihle Caufe of the World's Difo-^
littion, the Earth's Drynefs and Inftammahility in the
Torrid Zone^ and the concurrent Eruptions of Volcano's,
p. 381, &c. ' " '
That the Inclination of the Ecliptick to the ^qua-
- tor doth not diminify^ p. 381. That tho' there vpere fuch
a Drying and Parching of the Earth in theTorrid Zone, it
vrotild not probably inferr a Conflagration, p. 382, 383.
That there hath not yet been, nor in the ordinary Courje of
Nature can be, any fnch Drying or Parching of the Earth
in the Torrid Zone, p. 384. The Pojfthility of the Defe-
cation of the Sea by Natural Means, denied, p. 385, &c.
The Fixednejs and Jntranfmutabiliiy of Principles Jecures
the Univerfe from Dijfolution, DefirnUion of any prefent .
Species, or Produl^ion of any new, p. 387.
Chap. VI. Containing an Anfiver to the fccond Ouefiion,
Whether (hall this Dijfolution he effected by Natural or
Extraordinary Means f and mhat they fh all he i p. 388.
Chap. VII. The third Ouefiion anfwered, fVhether /hall
the Dijfolution he gradual and fmceffive, or montentanous
andfuddeni p. 391.
Chap. VIII. The fourth Oueftion refolved. Whether /hall
there be any Signs or Fore-runners of the Dijfolution of
the Worlds p. 393.
Chap. IX. The fifth Ouejlion debated. At rvhat Period of
Time fhall the World be diffolved i and particularly, Whe-
ther at the End of Six tboufand Tears i p. 397.
Chap. X. How far fhall this Dijfolution or Conflagration
extend ^ Whether to the zy^therial Heavens, and all
the Hoji of them, Sun, Moon, and Stars, or to the Aerial
only i p. 403,
Chap. XI. The fcventh and lafl Oue/^ion, Whether fhall the
whole World be confamed and dejiroyed, or annihilated^
er only refined and purified, p, 406.
The Refiiiution and Continuance of the World, proved
hy the Tejiimmiics of Scripture and Antiquity, and alfo
hy Reafon, p. 41 1, &:c.
The Arguments for the Abolition and Anmhilation,
anfwerd, p. 41 2, &c.
Chap,
The Contents. xxxi
Chap. XII. 7ije Inference the Jpofik males from the pre-
cedent DeUrine : Of fnture Rewards and Pmijhments,
The Eternity of fmnre Pmijlments proved ' from tU
Amhority of Scripture and Antiquity. Hoa the Eterni-
niiy of Vunifhments can confijt with the Jpfflice ani
Cooodnefs of God, from p. 416. to the fcnd of the
Book.
The great Ufefdnefs of Shame, p. 42^. The Blot-
ting out of Sins^ p. 430, &c.
A C AT A-LOGVt of the Author's WorkSj
[old by William Innys.
Hlftoria Plancarum, Species hadenus editas aliafque infu-
per multas noviter inveritas & defcriptas comple(^ens.
Tomi duo. Fol. i6'i6.
Ejufd. Tomus tertius,.qui eft ^upplemcncum duorum pra:-
cedentium •, cum icceSwnihws Camelli 8c Toumef or tiiy 1704,
Catalogus Plantarum circa Cantabrigiam nafcentium.
On^itve, Cantub. i66o. cum Appendice.
Catalogus Plantarutn Angliae, tS^*^. 8vo. 1670. Sc 1677^
Fafciculus Stirp. Britann. poft editum Catal. prsed. i(583.
Catalogus Stirpium in ext. region, obfervat. \6t^.
Methodus Plantarum nova cum Tabulis, i($825 1703.
Synopfis Methodica Stirp. Britann. in qua turn Not« Gene-
rum Cnaracterifticae traduntur, turn Species fingulx brcviteit
defcribitur, &c. 1690.
Ead. Synop. multis Stirpibus & Obfervationibus Curiofis
paflim infcrtis, cum Mufcorum Methodo & Hiftoria pleniore,
&:c, \6y6.
Epiftola ad D. RiVt«»>»» de Methodo Plantaruin in (Ju* E^e-
tnenta Botanica D. Tournefort tanguntur, 1696.
Difl'ertatio de variis Plantarum Method is, 1^91^.
Stirp. Europ. extra Britannias nafcentium Sylloge, 169^
Synopfis Methodica Avium & Pifcium, 8vo. 171 3,
Synopf. Methodica Animalium Quadrupedum & Serpentinl
Generis, 1(^93.
Francifci Willughbeii Hiftoria Pifcium cum "Pig. Recognd-
vit, digeflit, fupjplevit Jo. Raiuj, Oxon. foU 16^6.
Ejufd. Ornithologia cum Tig. edente eod. i67^>
"the fame much enlarged^ in Englifli. 167S,
Obfervations Topograpbicul^ Moral, and Fhyfiological, made in a your--
ney thro' fevei at Parts of Eutopi-, 8vb. i(<73.
CoUe^ion of uitufuA or local Englifh Woris^ with an oiccount of
freparing Engiifli Metals, &C. I(<74, and 1691.
Colle^ion of En^Viih. and other FroVcrhs. Camb. I<<78.
, Methodus Infex a Power to generate or
propagate its Like.
Chap. III.
0/ the Separating the Land and Water^
and Raijing up the Mountains.
|Upposing that God Almighty did at
firft create the Terreftrial Globe, part-
ly of foiid and more ponderous, part-
ly of fluid and lighter Parts i the (olid and
ponderous muft needs naturally fubfide, the
fluid and lighter get above. Now, that there
were fuch different Parts created, is clear,
and therefore it is reafonable to think, that
the Waters at firft fliould ftand above and co-
ver the Earth : And that they did fo, feems
evident to me from the Teftimeny of the
Scripture. For, in the Hiftory of the Crea-
tion, in the firft Chapter of Genefu^ ver. 2. it
is faid. That the Spirit of God ?noved upon the
Face of the Watery^ intimating that the Wa-
ters were uppermoft. And God faid^ ver. 9.
let the Waters under the Heaven be gathered
together
and Creation.
together into one flace^ and let the dry hand
appear. Whence, I think, it is manifeft to
any unprejudiced Reader, That before that
time the Land was covered with Water r
Efpecially, if we add the Teftimony of the
Holy Pfalmift, Pfalm civ. ver. 6, and 9.
which is as it were a Comment upon this
Place of Genefif, where, fpeaking of the
Earth at the Creation, he faith, Thou cover-
edft it with the Deep as with a Garment -, the
Waters flood above the Mountains .... and,
ver. 9. T^hat they turn not again to cover the
Earth. And that this Gathering together of
Waters was not into any fubterraneous
Abyfs, feems likewife clear from the Text :
For it is faid. That God called this Col-
ledion of Waters Seas^ as if it had been on
purpofe to prevent fuch a Miftake.
Whether this Separation of the Land and
Water, and Gathering the Waters together
into one Place, were done by the immediate
Application and Agency of God's Almighty
Power, or by the Intervention and Inftru-
mentalityof Second Caufes, I cannot deter-
mine. It might poiTibly be effected by the
fame Caufes that Earthquakes are, viz. fub-
terraneous Fires and Flatus's, We fee what
incredible Effcds the Accenfion of Gunpow-
der hath: It rends Rocks, and blows up the
moft- ponderous and folid Walls, Towers, and
Edifices, fo that its Force is almoft irrefifti-
ble. Why then might not fuch a propor-
tionable
lO Of the Chaos
tionable Qiiantity of fuch Materials fet on
fire together, raife up the Mountains them-
felves, how great and ponderous foever they
be, yea the whole Superficies of the dry Land
(for it muft all be elevated) above the Wa-
ters ? And truly to me the Pfalmift feems to
intimate this Caufe, f^ahn civ, 7. For, after
he had faid. The Waters flood above the Moun-
tains ; he adds, At Thy Rebuke they fled^ at
, the Voice of Thy Thunder they hafted away.
Now, we know that an Earthquake is but a
fubterraneous Thunder, and then immedi-
ately follows. The Mountains afcend, the Val-
leys defcend, &c. In this Manner of railing
up the dry Land at firft, and calling off the
Waters, I was well pleafed to find the Right
Reverend Father in God, Simon^ Lord Biiliop
of £fy, to agree with me in his excellent
Commentary upon Genefis^ cap. i. ver. 9.
' This, faith he, we may conceive to have
' been done by fuch Particles of Fire as were
' left in the Bowels of the Earth, whereby fuch
' Nitrofulphureous Vapours were kindled, as
' made an Earthquake, which both lifted up
^ the Earth, and made Receptacles for the Wa-
' ters to run into ; as the Pfalmift (otherwife
* I fliould not venture to mention this) feems
' in the forementioned Place to illuftrate it.
If there might be a high Hill raifed up near
the City Troczen^ out of a plain Field, by the
Force of a fubterraneous Fire or Flatus^ as
Ovid tells us :
and Creation. 1 1
E/i^ pYofe ?itth(£ain tumulus Troezenafine ulUs Ov. Me-
• Arduus arboribm^ quondam planijjtma campi ^^^^l^^'
Area^ nunc tumulus ; nam {res horrenda relatu)
Vis fera ^entorum^ c£cis imlufa cavernis^
Expirare aliqua cupiens^ lu6tatdque fniftra
Liieriore jnii coclo^ cum carcere rima •
Nulla fuit toto^ nee pervia flatibus effet^
*Extentam tumefecit humum^ ceu fpiritus oris
Tender e vefica?n folet^ aut derepta bicornis
Terga capri ; tumor ilk loci permanfit^ & alti ,
Collis habet fpeciem^ longoque induruit d-vo :
A Hill by Pitthc^an Troezen mounts ^ uncrowned
With Sylvan Shades^ which once was level
Ground^
For furious Winds (a Story to admire)
Pent in blind Caverns^ ft^^^EJ^^g ^o expire ;
And vainly feeling to enjoy th' Extent
Of freer Air^ the Frifon wanting Vent^
Puff's up the hollow Earth extended fo^
As when with fwelling Breath we Bladders
blow :
The Tumour of the Place re?nained ftill^
In time grown folid^ like a lofty Hill ;
A parallel Inftance hereto we have of later
Date, of a Hill not far from Puzzuolo \_Puteoli~\
befide the Gulf of Bai^e^ which I myfelf
have view'd and been upon. It is by the
Natives call'd Monte di cenere^ and was raifed
by an, Earthquake, Sept, 29. 1538. of about
one hundred Foot perpendicular Altitude,
though
12 Of the Chaos
though fome make it much higher : Accor-
ding to Stephanus Pighim^ it is a Mile Afcent
to the Top, and four Miles round at the Foot :
We indeed judged it not near fo great. The
People fay it bears nothing ; nothing of a-
ny Ufeor Profit, I fuppofe, they mean : Elfe I
am fure, there grows Heathy Myrtle^ Maftick-
TreCy and other Shrubs upon it. It is a"
fpungy kind of Earth, and makes a great
Sound under a Man's Feet that (lamps upon
it. The fame Earthquake threw up fo much
Earth, Stones and Aflies, as quite filled up the
lacm hucrinm^ fo that there is nothing left
of it now, but a fenny Meadow. When I
fay, that this Mountain was raifed by an
Earthquake, I do not mean, that the meer
SuccuUion, or Shaking of the Earth, raifed
up the Mountain ^ but that the fame Caufe
which fhookthe Earth, that is, fubterrane-
ous Fire, call: up the Materials which raifed
the Mountain, and of which it doth confift,
that is. Scones, Cinders, Earth, and Alhes.
Indeed, under the Word Earthquake^ in this
Work, I comprehend the Concomitants and
Confequents of an Earthquake, and the effi-
cient Caufe of it 5 which is a fubterraneous
Fire, as I have expreffed myfelf, fag, 10.
line 8. of the Firft Edition.
Neither, by the Elevation of Mountains,
do I mean, that they were all heaved up, as
it were by a Flatus^ but only fuch, where
the enclofed Fire was not of Force fufficient
to
and Creation. 13
to make its way out, or found not Spiracula
to vent itfelf. Otherwhere, where it was
ftrong enough to rend the fuperincumbent
Mafs of Earth, or found fome Rifts or Sft-
racula to break out by, there it iffued out
with great Force, and threw up abundance
of Stones, Allies, and Earth, and fo raifed
up a Mountain that way.
I F fuch Hills, I fay, as thefe, may be, and
have been elevated by fubterraneousWild-fire,
Flatus^ or Earthquakes, Ji pawls' liceat compo-
nere magna^ if we may compare great things
with fmall, why might not the greateft and
higheft Mountains in the World be raifed up
in like manner by a fubterraneous Flatus or
Wild-fire, of Quantity and Force fufficient
to work fuch an Effe(5V ; that is, that bears as
great a Proportion to the fuperincumbent
Weight and Bulk to be elevated, as thofe
under thefe fmaller Hills did to theirs ?
But we cannot doubt this may be done,
when we are well alfured that the like hath
been done. For the greateft and higheft
Ridge of Mountains in the World, x\\q Andes
o£ PerUy have been, for fome hundreds of
Leagues in Length, violently fhaken, and ma-
ny Alterations made therein by an Earth-
quake that happened in the Year 16^6, men-
tioned by Kircher in his Area No^e^ from the
Letters of the Jefuites. And ?liny tells us, of
his own knowledge, that the Alps and Ap-
pennine have often been iliaken with Earth-
quakes :
Of the Chaos
quakes : Exfloratum efl niihi Alpes Appenni^
numqiie fd^pim tremuiffe^ lib. 2. cap. 80. Nay^
more than all this, we read, that in the time
of the Emperor Valentinian the Firft, there
was an Earthquake that lliook all the known
World. Whilft this Inno'vator [that is, Pro-
copius'] was yet alive^ (faith A?nfn, Marcelli-
nus^ lib. 26. cap. 14.) norrendi trejnores per
omnem orhis ambitum graffati [unt fubito^ qua-
les nee fabuU^ 7iec "veridide nobis antiquitates
exponunt. Faulo enim pofi lucis exortum^
denfitate previa fulgurum acrius vibrator urn
trerftefa^ia conciititur omnis terreni ftabilitas
ponderis^ viareque difpulftan retro fluHibiis e-vo^
lutis abfcejjitj tit reteda voragine profundo-
rum [pedes nata?itimn midtiforines limo cer-
nerentiir hdrentes^ valUumqtie 'vajiitates &
vtontiu7n^ iit opi?tari dabatur^ fufpicere?it ra-
dios folis quos primigenia rerum fub immenfis
gurgitibus atnandavit^ &c. That is, Horrid
Earthquakes fuddenly raged all the World
over ; the like whereto^ neither Fables nor
true Antiquities ever (Acquaint us with^ or
vtake inc?ition of. For Joon after Break of
Day^ redoubled^ fmart^ and violent Flafies of
Lightning preceding^ the ftable and ponde-
rous Mafs of the whole Earth was jhaken^ and
made to tremble \ and the Sea^ with revolved
Waves^ was driven backwards^ and forced fo
far to recede^ that the Bottom of the great
Deeps and Gulfs being difcovered^ multiform
Species of Fifies^ forfaken by the JVater^ were
feen
and Creation. 1 5;
{em lying on the Mud ; and thofe vafi VaU
Up and Mountains^ which the primigenial
Nature had fun\ deep^ and concealed under
immenfe Waters^ {as we had reafon to think)
faw the Sun-beams. Wherefore^ many Ships
refting upon the dry Ground^ the Mariners
wandring- carelejly up and down through
the finall Reliques of the Waters , that they
might gather up Fifljes^ and other things^
with their Hands-, the Sea-Waves beings as
it were^ grieved with their Repulfe^ rife up
again , and mahng their way backward
through the fervid Shallows^ violently daflj-
ing againft the Jflands and extended Shores
of the Continents^ threw down^ and levelled
in?imnerable Edifices in Cities^ and where
elfe they were found. Where, fee more of
the Effeds of it. Of this Earthquake we find
mention alfo in Zofimus and Orofius.
I F this Story be true, as certainly it is, we
have no reafon to doubt of the Pofifibiiity of
the dry Land being thus raifed at firft by
fubterraneous Fire. And with us agrees
the learned Tho?nas Lydyat^ in his Fhilofo"
phical Difquifition concerning the Origine of
Fountains^ &c. being of Opinion not only
that it might be fo, but that it was fo. I
ftiall give you his own Words, Ubi aliud
quoque fwnmie admirationis plenum TerramO"
tus atque Ignis fubterranei effe^ium notandujn
venity inontium fci. generatio. And then ha-,
ving mentioned the railing up Ilknds in the
Sea
t6 Of the Chaos
Sea by fubterraneous Fires, he proceeds
thus, Quomodo etiam omnes rnontes qui ufpi-
am funtj una cum ipfis- terris Continentibm
(^qu^ nihil aliud funt qudfti fparfi in Oceano
inajores inontes [we infula) in mundi pwiwr-
diif^ (quando nimiYum Ignis de quo loquimur^
in terra vifceribus d fotentijjimo mundi Con^
ditore accenfus eft) extitiffe mamne fit veri^
fimile i mari in cava loca recedente^ & terre^
ftribus Animalibus {ejufdem Di'vini numinis
fapientijjimo confilio) habitandi locum relin-
quente. That is. After which Manner alfo
all the Mountains in the Worlds together with
the Continents themfehes^ (which are nothing
elfe but great Mountains or IJlands fcattered
in the Ocean) in the beginning of the Wdrld^
when the Fire of which we fpeak was firft kin-
dled in the Bowels of the Earth by the Ahnighty
Creator^ were (as it is moft highly probable) ori-
ginally raifed up ; the Sea receding into the
Cavities and depreffed Places^ and by the moft
wife Counfelofthe Supreme Deity ^ leaving Room
for Terreftrial Anitnals to inhabit. Than
which nothing can be faid more confonant to
what we have written ; And I was highly
pleafed and fatisfied to find fuch Philofophy
in fo learned and judicious a Writer.
And in Confirmation of this Doctrine,
Strabo himfelf, though he had not, nor could
have any Knowledge at all of the prodigious
Effects of Gunpowder, yet makes no Diffi-
culty to affirm the Pombility of raifing up
as
and Creation. ly
as well the Continents and Mountains, as the
Iflands, by Earthquakes and fubterraneous
Fires j toward the latter end of the firft
Book of his Geography, difcourling thus :
Ov yxp iiv^(yi (jlsv dvsvEx^^vxi ^vVai/Tdi^ aOLt
fxiKpO,} vi](TOi^ fisydKcLi ^' «• «^f viicroi (jlev^ vittsi-^
CSi J' a. And a little after, }Lou tvjv EihsKiolv
ǤfV Ti ixcOkKov dyroppodyoc t^q 'Irci'hicf.Q ehcLtfit
T/V, iXV, ^ OLVX^7\Vik7(TCLV VTTO TS AlTVXia -TTV^C
f.K (iv^a (Tv^fxelvai. That is. For 'Earthquakes
andEruftiom 0/ Flatus \Blafti\ or fudden Tic*
7norsofthe Submarine Earthy or Bottom of the
Sea J ?nay [well andek'vate the Sea i fo that not
only fmall Lumps or Maffes of Matter^ but even
I [lands ?nay be raifed up in the midji of it.
Neither if fmall Iflands can he raifed^ may not
great ones too \ neither may Iflands be hea^ved
up^ and not Continents as well. And Sicily
?nayaswell be thought to have been thrown up
out of the Deep by the Force of the ^tnsean
Fire^ and ftich?tg together to have continued
above Water ^ as to have been a Piece brohn
off from Italy. And the like may be faid of
the Iflands of Lipara and Fithecuftc.
Of the Poffibility of doing it we need not
doubt, when we have fufficient Proof of the
thing done in lelTer Iflands thus heaved up
in the midft of the Sea^ by.fubmarine Fires.
Strabo^ lib. i. 'Kvk (xeaov ycip (dvipcig kcH Qvipci'
C f5tf
1 8 Of the Chaos
wc ciLv Ofydvmodg ncii (rvvTS^eifxevviv in fjiu^pwv vviaoVy
dt^^s^ici g^^/cvv Tviv TrEpi'fxsTpov. That is. Be-
tween Thera and Therafia Flames iffuing out
of the Sea for four Days^ (fo that the whole
Sea boiled and burned ) blew up by little and
little^ as if it had been raifed by Machines^
and cotnpofed of great humps or Maffes^ an
IJland of Tzvehe Furlongs Circumference.
And Fliny tells us, that the Ifland Hiera^
near Italy ^ in the Time of the Social War,
together with the Sea itfelf, did burn for
feveral Days. His Words are. In medio Mari
Hiera infida juxta Italian! cu?n ipfo Mari ar-
fit per aliquot dies,
AiiT>Strabo^ lib. i. reports. That about
Methane^ in the Bay of Hermione^ there was
Earth raifed, and as it were blown up to the
Height of feven Furlongs by a fiery Breath or
Exhalation, which by Day-time was unac-
ceflfible by reafon of Heat and fulphureous
Stench, but fmelling fweet by Night, and
ihining fo as to be feen afar off, likewife cart-
ing fuch a Heat, as to caufe the Sea to boil
for five Furlongs, and to render it troubled
for the Space of twenty i raifing up therein
a Baich or Bank of Stones as big as Towers.
These Inftances I alledge, principally be-
caufe they fecm to demon ftrate a Poffibility
of the Accenfion of Fire in the Earth when
it was wholly covered with Water, and had
no
and Creation.
no Entercourft or Communion with the fu-
periour or external Air j which is the main
and mod material Objedion againft the Ele-
vation of the dry Land at the beginning by
fubterraneous Fires.
You will fay. If the Mountains be thus
heaved, or elfe caft up, by fubterraneous
Fires, the Earth muft needs be hollow all
underneath them, and there muft be vaftDens
and Caverns difpersM throughout them.
I ANSWER, 'Tis true indeed, fo there are;
as may undeniably be proved by Inftances.
For the new Mountain we mentioned at fu-
teoli^ that was thus raifed, being of a Mile
fteep Afcent,and four Miles round at the Foot,
a proportionable Cavity muft be left in the
Earth underneath : And the Mountain jEtna^
at the laft Erudation alone, having difgorged
out of its Bowels fo great a Flood of melted
Materials, as if fpread at the Depth and
Breadth of three Foot, might reach four times
round the whole Circuit of the Terraqueous
Globe^ there muft likewife an anfwerable
Vault be left within. You will demand.
How then comes it to pafs, that they ftand
fo firm, and do not founder and fall in, after
fo many Ages? I anfwer, that they may
ftand, appears by the forefaid new -raifed
Mountain. For notwithftanding the Cavity
under it, it hath ftood firm and ftaunch,
without the leaft Sinking or Subfidency, for
above an hundred and fifty Years -, neither is
C 2 there
20 Of the Chaos
there any great Sinking or Falling in at Mtna
itfelf j at leaft in no degree anfwerable to its
ejected Matter. This AflTertion is confirmed
by the unanimous Vote and Teftimony of all
Writers, Ancient and Modern, who have
handled this Subjei5t. But Alfhonfus Borellus
fuppofes them not to have duly confidered
the Matter, and calculated the Quantity of
the ejedted Materials, and the Bulk of the
Mountain, and compared them together ; but
to have been carried away by the Prejudices
and Perfuafions of the People, who looking
upon the Top of the Mountain at a Diftance,
think it but a fmall thing in Comparifon of
the ejededSand and Aflies that cover'd whole
Countries ; and thofe vaft Rivers of liquid
Stones, and other Ingredients, that ran down
fo many Miles, whereas he, by a moderate
Computation, found out that the Total of
what the Mountain difgorged at the la|t
Eruption, amounted not (as I remember) to
the fourteen thoufandth Part of the Solidity
of the whole Mountain. The reafon is the
Strength and Firmnefs of their Vaulture and
Pillars, fufficient to fupport the fuperincum-
bent Weight. And yet in fome Places there
are Sinkings and Fallings in, which have af-
terwards become Valleys, or Pools of Water.
But as for the Cavities that are lower than the
Superficies of the Ocean, the Water, where it
could iniinuate and make its Way, hath filled
them up to that Height. I fay, where it
could
and Creation.
could make its Way, for that there are many
empty Cavities even under the Sea itfelf, ap-
pears by the fhaking and heating too of the
very Water of the Sea in fome Places in Earth-
quakes, and raifing up the Borders or Skirts
of ix^ fo as to drive the Water a great way
back, and the raifing up new Iflands in the
middle of the Sea ; as D^/oj-and Khodes^ and
Anaphe^ and Nea^ and Alone, and Hiera, and
Thera, mentioned by Pliny, Hift. lib. 2. c.87.
and Thia in his own time ,• and T'herafia in
the JEgean in Seneca's time, which was heaved
up in the Sight of many Mariners then pre-
fent and looking on.
I AM not ignorant, that the learned Man
I lately quoted, I mean Alfh. Borellm, in his
Book De Incendiis jEtn^, is of Opinion, that
^he middle Part, or, as he calls it,the Kernel of
that Mountain, is firm and folid, without any
great Caverns or Vacuities, and that all thofe
Vaults and Cavities in which the Fire rages,
are near the Superficial or Cortical Part : And
derides thofe who fancy that jEtna, the jEo-
lian Iflands^ Lipara, Strongyle, &c. and Ve-
fwvim, do communicate by fubterraneous
Channels and PalTages running under the.
Bottom of the Sea, But faving the Refpe(3:
due to him for his Learning and Ingenuity,
there is good Authority on their Side ; and
our Ratiocinations againft the Poflfibility of
fuch a thing muft give place to the clear
Proof of Matter of Fa6t. Julii^s Ethnicur,
C 3 an
Of the Chaos
an ancient Writer^ quoted by Ludo-vicus Vi-
wx, in his Annotations upon S. Augujlin^ Be
Civitate Dei^ gives us this Relation ; Marco
jE?niliOj Lucio AureUo Confulibuy ^ JEtna
mons terY<£inotu Ignes fuper uertkein late dif-*
fudit^ & ad Infulam JLifaram mare efferbuit^
& quibufdam aduftis na^vibus vapore plerofque
navaleis exanima^vit: Fifciwn vim 7?iagnam
exanimem differfit^ quos Liparenfes avidiks
epulis adpetenteis contaminatione ventris con^
fumpti funty ita ut novd peftilentid vaflaren-
tur infuU, That is, Marcus iEmilius, and
Lucius Aurelius, being Confuls^ Mount ^tna
being jhalen by an Earthquake^ caft forth and
fcattered Fire from its Top far and wide. At
which time^ the Sea, at the IJland of Lipara,
was boiling hot^ and fome Ships being burnt ^
viofi of the Seamen were flifled with the Va-
pour : Befides^ it difperfed abroad a power of
deadFiflj^ which theLiparenCnns greedily ga-
thering up and eatings were confmied with a
contagious Difeafe in their Bellies ,• fo that the
JJlands were wafted with a new fort of Fefti^
lence. And Father Kircher the Jefuite, in the
Preface to hisMundus Subterraneus^ giving a
Relation of an Earthquake wliich Ihook a
great Part of Calabria^ and made notable
Devaftations there, which himfelf faw, and
was, in Anno 163 8. clearly demonftrates, that
^tna^ Stro?nbolt^ and the Mountains of Ca-
labria^ do communicate by Vaults and Ca-
verns paffing under the Bottom of the Sea.
LfliaU
and Creation.
I lliall infert but one Paflage out of him, re-
ferring the Reader to the fore-quoted Pre^
face for the reft. Wi^ce calamitatlbus (faith
he) duvi ja^famur ^ ego curiofm intuitus
Strongylum, 60 fere inilliarimt intenaped'me
dijjitujn^ ilium infolito modo furere notavi, &c.
u e. TThile we were toft with thefe Calami-
ties^ I beholding curioujly the IJland Strom-
boli, about 60 Miles diftant^ obfiwed it to
rage after an unufual manner^ for it appeared
all filled with Fire infuch Plenty^ that it feem-
ed to caft forth Mountains of Flame i a Speiiacle
horrid to behold^ and formidable to the moft
undamited Spirit. In the mean time^ there
was a certain Sound percei'ved as it were of
Thunder^ but by reafon of the great Diftance
from whence it catne^fo?newhat obfcure^ which
by degrees proceeding forward in the fubterra-
neous Conduits^ grew greater and greater^
till it came to the Place juft underneath us^
[they were at Lopez by the Sea] where it
Jhooli the Earth with fuch a Roaring^ or Mur-
mur and Fury^ that being not able to ftand a-
ny longer upon our Legs^ we were forced.^ to
fupport ourfeheSj to catch hold upon any
Shrub or Twig that was near m^ left our Li?nbf
fhould be put out of Joint by too much Shahng
and Concuffion, At which time happened a
thing worthy of i?mnortal and eternal Memo-
ry^ viz. the Subverfion of the famous Town of
S, Eufemia i which he goes about to relate. As
for Vefunjius^ if that be not hollow down to
C 4 the
Of the Chaos
the very Roots and Foundations of ^t, how
comes it to pafs, that at the Times of its De-
flagrations it fhould vomit out fuch Floods of
boiling Waters ? as, if we had not read of
them in Hiftories, and been told fo by our
Guide when w^ afcended that Mountain,
we muft needs have perceived ourfelves, by
the mighty Gulls and Channels in the Sides
thereof, it being of itfelf near the Top fo
fpungy and dry, that it is more likely to im-
bibe than to caft off much Rain in the Win-
ter-time. And again, what caufes the Sea to
recede at thofe Times, and that to fo great a
Diftance, that the Galleys have been laid dry
in the very Haven of Naples ?
H o w B E I T, I cannot pofitively affert the
Mountains thus to have been raifed. But
yet, whether without Means, or by whatfo-
ever Means it were, a Receptacle for the Wa-
ters was prepared, and the dry Land and
Mountains elevated, fo as to caft off the
Waters, on the third Day, and which is won-
derful, the Cavities made to receive the
Waters, and the whole terra firma^ or dry
Land, with its Mountains, were fo propor-
tioned one to the other, as that the one was
as much depreffed below the Shores, as the
other was elevated above them. And, as if
the one had been taken out of the other,
the Sea, with all its Creeks, and Bays, and
Inlets, and other Appendants, was made, and
is very near equal to the whole dry Land,
with
and Creation. Z^
with its Promontories and Mountains, if not
in Superficies ^ yet in Bulk or Dimenfions,
though lome think in both. Which Equali-
ty is ftill conftantly maintained, notwith-
ftanding all Inundations of Land, and Atte-
rations of Sea j hecaufe one of thefe doth al-
ways nearly balance the other, according to
the vulgar Proverb we have before-men-
tion'd. What the Sea lofes in one PJace^ it
gaim in another. If anyfhall demand, How
the Sea comes to be gradually deprelTed, and
deepeft about the Middle Part j whereas the
Bottom of it was in all likelihood equal
while the Waters covered the whole Earth ?
I anfwer, the fame Caufe that raifed up the
Earth, whether a fubterraneous Fire or FlatUf^
raifed up alfo the Skirts of the Sea, the Afcent
gradually decreafing to the Middle Part,
where, by reafon of the Solidity of the Earth,
or Gravity of the incumbent Water, the Bot-
tom was not elevated at all. For the en-
clofed Fire in thofe Parts where its firft Ac-
cenfion or greateft Strength was, raifed up
the Earth firft, and caft otf the Waters, and
thence fpreading by degrees, ftill elevated
the Land, and drove the Waters farther and
farther i till at length the Weight of them
was too great to be raifed, and then the Fire
brake forth at the Tops of the Mountains,
where it found leaft Refiftance, and difpers'd
itfelf in the open Air. The Waters alfo,
where they found the Bottom fandy, or yield-
l6 Of the Chaos
ing, made their way into all thofe Cavities
the Fire had made and left, filling them up as
high as the Level of the Ocean. Neither let
any Man imagine, that the Earth under the
Water was too foft and muddy to be in this
manner raifed by fubterraneous Fire i for I
have fliewn before^ that the Bottom of the
Sea is fo faddened and hardened by the
Weight of the incumbent Water, that the
High-ways, beaten continually by Horfes and
Carriages, are not more firm and folid. But
omitting this (which is only a Conjedure)
I fhall difcourfe a little more concerning the
Equality of Sea and Land.
It hath been obferved by fome, that where
there are high Cliffs or Downs along the
Shore, there the Sea adjoining is deep j and
where there are low and level Grounds, it is
Ihallowj the Depth of the Sea anfwering to
the Elevation of the Earth above it : And as the
Earth from the Shores '\s gradually higher
and higher, to the Middle and Parts mofl re-
mote from the Sea, as is evident by the De-
fcents of the Rivers, they requiring a con-
ftant Declivity to carry them down ; fo the
Sea likewife is proportionably deeper and
deeper from the Shores to the Middle. So
that the Rifing of the Earth from the Shores
to the Mid-Land, is anfwerable totheDefcent
or Declivity of the Bottom of the Sea from the
fame Shores to the Mid-Sea. This Rifing of
the Earth from the Shores gradually to the
Mid-
and Creation. 27
Mid-land, is fo conjliderable, that it is very
likely the Altitiid(6 • of the Earth in thofe
Mid-land Parts above the Superficies- of the
Sea, is greater than that of .the Mountains
above the Level of the adjacent Lands. To
the Height of the Hills, above the common
Superficies of the Earth, do anfwer, in Brere-
wood's Opinion, the extraordinary Depths or
Whirl-pools that are found in the Sea, de-
fcending beneath the ordinary Bottom of the
Sea, as the Hills afcend above the ordinary
Face of the Land. But this is but a Conje-
^ure of his -, and to me it feems not very
probable, becaufe it is not likely there lliould
be, in the Sea, extraordinary Depths of that
vaft Length and Extenfion, as thofe huge
Ridges of Mountains that run almoft quite
through the Continents ; And becaufe I have
obferved the Waters of Rivers that flow gent-
ly, but efpecially of the Sea, to level the
Bottoms of their Channels and Receptacles,
as may be feen in thofe Parts of the Sea whofe
Bottoms are uncovered at Low-water ; and
in dry Lands that have been dcferted by the
Sea, as the Fens in the Ifle of £/y, and the
Craux in Provence in France^ &c. which ap-
pear to be a perfect Level, as far as one can
ken. Though poflibly the Motion of the
Sea may not defcend down fo low as thofe
Depths, and fo may not level the Bottoms
of them.
But
28 Of the Chaos
But againft what I have faid concernmg
the Leveling of the Bottom of the Sea, it
may be obje<5teclj That Mariners and Divers
find no fuch thing, but the quite contrary,
*Diz, That the Bottom of the Sea. is as une-
qual as the Land, fometimes ten or twelve
Fathoms on one Side of the Ship, and one
hundred on the other, as Mr. Boyle tells us
in his Relationf about the Bottom of the Sea^
confonant whereto are the Accounts of Di-
vers. And I have (faith my worthy Friend
Dr.Tanc. Robinfon^ in one of his Letters to
me) read in Voyages^ of vaft Roch of Salt
obferv'd in fome Places under the Sea.
T o which I anfwer, That I fliould indeed
have excepted fuch Places as are rocky, which
bear a very little Proportion to the Latitude
and Extent of the Sea, and are for the moft
part not far off the Land. I niyfelf have feen
lo much of the Bottom of the Sea, round a-
bout the Coafts of England^ and a good Part
of the Low-Countreys, of Italy and Sicily,
that, I think, I may boldly pronounce in ge-
neral. That where the Bottom of the Sea is
not rocky, but Earth, Owze, or Sand, (and
that is incomparably the greateft Part of it)
it is by the Motion of the Waters, fo far as
the Reciprocration of the Sea extends to the
Bottom, brought to a Level ,• and if it ftiould
be now unequal, would in time be lev^l'd
again. By Level, I do not mean fo as to have
no Declivity, (for the Reciprocration preferves
that.
and Creation. 2p
tliat, the Flood hindring, in good meafurCj the
conftant Carrying down of the Bottom) but
only to have an equal, uniform, and eafie De-
fcent from the Shores to the Deeps. Now,
all thofe Reports of Divers and Navigators
referr, for the moft part to rocky Places. For
Mariners feldom found but in fuch Places,
and in Shallows ; and Urinators have no rea-
fon to dive where the Bottom is level and
fandy. And that the Motion of the Waters
defcends to a good Depth, I prove frofti thofe
Plants that grow deepeft in the Sea, becaufe
they all generally grow flat in manner of a
Fan, and not with Branches on all (ides, like
Trees j which is fo contrived by the Provi-
dence of Nature, becaufe the Edges of them
do, in that Pofture, with moft eafe, cut the.
Water flowing to and fro: And fliould the
fiat Side be objeiSted to the Stream, it would
be turned Edgewife by the Force of it j be-
caufe, in that Site it doth leaft refift the Mo-
tion of the Water : Whereas, did the Branches
of thofe Plants grow round, as in Trees,
they would be thrown down backward and
forward every Tide. Nay, not only the her-
baceous and woody fubmarine Plants, but
even the Lithophyta themfelves afl^ed this
manner of Growing, if they be any thing
Ramofe, and rife to a confiderable Height, as
I have obferved in various Kinds of Corak
and Fori. Hence I fufped: thofe Relations
of Trees growing at the Bottom of the Sea,
and
30 Of the Chaos
and bringing forth Fruit there. As for the
Maldiva Nut^ till better Information, I ad-
here to Garcias his Opinfon, That the Trees
that bare thofe Nuts were, of old time, toge-
ther with the Land on which they grew, over-
whelmed by the Inundations of the Sea, and
there hardned in the Earth, and afterwards
caft up by the Working of the Sea again.
Which thing is very probable ; for to this
day, fome of thofe Maldha Iflands are now
and then drowned, and fwallowed up by the
Sea. Farther, I do believe, that in the great
Depths of the Sea there grow no Plants at
all, the Bottom being too remote from the
external Air ; which, though it may pierce
the Water fo low, yet I doubt, whether in
Quantity fufficient for the Vegetation of
Plants. Nay, we are told, that in thofe
deep and bottomlefs Seas, there are no Fifli
neither : Yet, not becaufe there are no Plants
or Infers to feed them -, for that they can
live upon Water alone, Rondeletim his Expe-
riment about keeping them in a Glafs, doth
undeniably prove ^ but becaufe their Spawn
would be loft in thofe Seas, the Bottom be-
ing too cold for it to quicken there. This
Anfwer and Difcourfe, though it be inferted
into another Treatife, yet properly belongs
to this place, to which I have, therefore, re-
ftored it ; begging the Reader's Excufe for
this Repetition. I now proceed.
That
and Creation. 3 1
Th AT it is confonant to the beft Obferva-
tions of the Height of the Earth and its
Mountains above the Superficies of the Sea ;
and of the Depth of the Sea -, that the one is
anfwerable to the other. Varenim^ in his
Geogr, witnelfeth, p, 152. Cxtemm ex obfer^
'vata haHenus in plerifque locis profunditate
Oceania manifefltim efi^ earn fere aqualem Alti^
tudi?ii fi've Elevationi montiurn & locormnMe^
diterraneorum fupra littora^ nimirum quantum
htec elevantur & extant fupra littorum hori-
zontein^ tantum ahei maris infra eum depri-
muntur j fiiie quantum affurgit terra d littori"
bus "versus mediterranea toca^ tantundem pau-
latim magis magifque deprimitur ufque ad me-
da Oceani loca^ ubi flerumque maxima efl
profunditas. That is, Fro?n the Depth of the
Ocean ^ as far as. hath been hitherto ohferved
in ?noft Places^ it is manifejl^ that that [Pro-
fundity'^ is near equal to the Altitude or Ele-
vation of the MediterraneoHs Places above the
Shores ; that is to fay^ as much as thefe are
elevated^ and fland up above the Horizon of
the Shores^ fo much are the Channels of the
Seas depreffed below it : Or^ as much as the
Earth rifeth from the Shores towards the Me-
diterraneous Places ^ fo much it is by little atid
little^ more and more^ depreffed to the middle
Parts of the Ocean^ where the greateft Depth
for the moji part is.
And Brerewood^ in his Enquiries, perti-
nently to our Purpofe, fuppofeth the Depth
of
^2 Of the Chaos
of the Sea to be a great deal more than the
Height of the Hills above the common Sur-
face of the Earth. -—For that in making Efti^
mation of the Depth of the Sea^ we are not to
rjechn and confider only the Height of the Hills
abo-ve the cojn7non Sup^vRcks of the Earthy but
the Advantage or Height of all the dry hand
above the Superficies of the Sea : Becaufe the
whole Ma[s of the Earthy that now appeareth
above the Waters^ being taken^ as it were^
out of the Place which the Waters now poffefs^
mufi be equal to the Place out of which it was
taken ; and confequently it feemeth^ that the
Height or Elevation of the one Jhould anfwer
to the Depth or Defcending of the other. And,
therefore, as I faid, in eftimating the Deep-
nefs of the Sea, we are not to confider only
the Eredion of the Hills above the ordinary
Land, but the Advantage of all the dry Land
above the Sea. Which latter, I mean the
Height of the ordinary Main Land, is in my
Opinion more in large Continents above the
Sea, than that of the Hills is above the Land.
For, that the plain and common Face of the
dry Land, is not level or equally diftant
from the Center, but hath great Declivity
and Defcent towards the Sea, and Acclivity
or Rifing toward the Mid-Land Part, al-
though it appear not fo to the common View
of the Eye, is to Reafon notwithftandiog ma-
nifeft. Becaufe, as it is found in that Part of
the Earth which the Sea covereth, that it
defcendeth
2.tMO.
and Creation. 53
defcendeth lower and lower toward the midft
of the Sea j (for the Sea which touching the
upj^er Face of it is known to be level by Na-
ture, and evenly diilant from the Center, is
withall obferved to wax deeper and deeper
the farther one faileth from the Shore to-
wards the Main) even fo, in that Part which
is uncovered, the Courfings and Streamings
of Rivers on all Sides, from the Mid-Land
Parts towards the Sea, (whofe Property we
know is to Hide from the higher to the low-
er) evidently declare fo much. "^ This Au- * vefiia
thor^ with Datnafcen^ fuppofes, thatthe Un-^''^^^^^;^'-
evennefs and Irregularity, which is now feen
in the Superficies of the Earth, was caufed
either by taking fome Parts out of the upper
Face of the Earth in fundry Places to make
it more Hollow, and laying them in other
Places to make it more Convex: Or elfe
(which in effe^ft is equivalent to that) by
railing up fome, and deprefling others, to
make Room and Receipt for the Sea , that
Mutation being wrought by the Power of
that Word, het the Waters be gathered into
one Place J that the dry hand may appear. This
Proportioning of the Cavities appointed to
receive the Seas, to the Protuberancy of the
dry Land above the common Superficies of
the Ocean, is to me a fufficient Argument,
to prove, that the Gathering together of the
Waters into one Place, was a Work of Coun-
fel and Defign j and if not effe(^ed by the im-
D mediate
34 Of the Chaos
mediate Finger of G o d, yet at leaft govern'd
and direded by Him. So the Scripture af-
firms the Place to receive the Sea, to have
been prepared by G o d, PfaL civ. 8. Now
in things of this Nature, to the giving an Ac-
count whereof whatever Hypothefis we can
poflibly invent, can be but meerly conjeftu-
ral i thofe are to be moft approved that come
neareft to the Letter of Scripture, and thofe
that clafli with it to be rejeded, how trim or
confiftent foever with themfelves they may
feem to be : This being as much, as when
God tells us how He did make the World,
for us to tell Him how He Ihould have
made it.
But here it may be objeded. That the
prefent Earth looks like a Heap of Rubbilh
and Ruins i And that there are no greater
Examples of Confufion in Nature, than Moun-
tains fingly or jointly conlidered ; and that
there appear not the leaft Footfteps of anyArt
or Counfel, either in the Figure and Shape,
or Order and Difpofition of Mountains and
Rocks. Wherefore it is not likely they came
fo out of G o d's Hands ; who by the Ancient
Philofophers is faid ahi ysoiixsTpnTv^ and to
make all things in Number, Weight, and
Meafure.
T o which I anfwer. That the prefent Face
of the Earth, with all its Mountains and Hills,
its Promontories and Rocks, as rude and
deformed as they appear, fcems to me a ve-
ry
and Creation. 3 ^
ry beautiful and pleafant Objed, and with all
that Variety of Hiils^ and Valleys, and Ine-
qualitieSj far more grateful to behold, than a
perfe(5tly level Country, without any Riling
or Protuberancy, to terminate the Sight : As
any one, that hath on the one hand feen the
Ifle of £/y, or any the like Country exadi-
ly level, and extending on all Sides farther
than one can ken, or that hath been far out
at Sea, where nothing is to be feen but Sky
and Water : And on the other, from the
Downs of Suffev^ enjoyed that fpacious and
ravifhing Profped: of the Country on one
handj and the Sea on the other, comparing
both Obje«5ls, muft necelfarily confefs.
2. T H E Y are ufeful to Mankind in afford-
ing them convenient Places for Habitation,
and Situations of Houfes and Villages ; fer-
ving as Skreens to keep off the cold and nip-
ping Blafts of the Northern and Eafterly
Winds, and refleding the benign and che-
rifliing Sun-Beams, and fo rendring their Ha-
bitations both more comfortable and chear-
iy in Winter; and promoting the Growth of
Herbs and Fruit-Trees, and the Maturation of
their Fruits in Summer. Beiides, calling off
the Waters, they lay the Gardens, Yards and
Avenues to the Houfes dry and clean, and fo
as well more falutary as more elegant. Where-
as Houfes built in Plains, unlefs lliaded with
Trees, ftand bleak and expofed to Wind and
D 2 Weather j
5^ Of the Chaos
Weather ; and all Winter are apt to be grie-
voufly annoyed with Mire and Dirt.
3 . A Land fo diftinguifhed into Moun-
tains, Valleys and Plains, is alfo moft conve-
nient for the Entertainment of the various
Sorts of Animals, which God hath created,
fome whereof delight in cold, fome in hot,
fome moift and watery, fome in dry and
upland Places, and fome of them could nei-
ther find nor gather their proper Food in dif-
ferent Regions. Some Beafts and Birds we
find live upon the higheft Tops of the Alps^
and that all the Winter too, while they arc
conftantly covered with Snow, as the Ibe:c
and Rupicapra^ or Chamois among Quadru-
peds, and Lagopus among Birds.
4. The Mountains are moft proper for the
putting forth of Plants j yielding the greateft
Variety, and the moft luxuriant Sorts of Ve-
getables, for the Maintenance of the Ani-
mals proper to thofe Places, and for medi-
cinal Ufes, partly alfo for the Exercife and
Delight of fuch ingenious Perfons as are ad-
di(5ted to fearch out and colled: thofe Rari-
ties, to contemplate and confider their Forms
and Natures, and to admire and celebrate
the Wifdom of their Creator.
5. All manner of Metals, Minerals and
Foflfils, if they could be generated in a level
Earth, of which there is fomeQueftion, yet
iliould they be dug or mined for, the Delfs
muft niccffarily be fo flown with Water,
(which
and Creation.
(which to derive and rid away, no Adits or
Soughs could be made, and I much doubt
whether Gins would fuffice) that it would
be extremely difficult and chargeable, if pof-r
fible to work them at all.
6. N E I T H E R are the very Tops of the
higheft Mountains barren of Grafs for the
feeding and fattening of Beafts. For on the
Ridges of the high Mountains of Jura and
Saleve near Geneva^ and thofe of Rhxtia^ or
the Grifons Country, which are the higheft
of all the Alps^ excepting the Vallefian and
Sabaudian^ there are Multitudes of Kine fed
in Summer-time, as I myfelf can witnefs,
having in my Simpling Voyages on thofe of
Jura and Saleve obferved Herds of Cattle
there, and many Dairy-Houfes built, where I
have been more than once refreflied by their
Milk^ and Milk-Meats. Nay, there are but
very few, and thofe of the higheft Summits
of the AlpSj that keep Snow all Summer :
And I was told by the Inhabitants, that one
time or other, in fevenor eight Years Space,
for the moft part there came a Summer
that melted all the Snow that lay on them
too.
7. Another great Ufe and Necellity of
the Mountains and Hills,is for the Generation
and Maintenance of Rivers and Fountains,
which (in our Hypothefis^ that all proceed
from Rain-water) could not be without them,
or but rarely. So we ftioyld have only
D 3 Tor-
37
38 Of the Chaos
Torrents, which would fail in Summer-time,
or any dry Seafon, and nothing to truft to,
but ftagnating Water referved in Pools and
Cifterns. Which how great an Inconveni-
ence it would be, I need not take Pains to
Ihew. I fay, that Fountains and Rivers
would be but rare, were there no Moun-
tains : For, upon ferious Confideration, I find
* ohfer^ that I was too hafty in "^ concluding, becaufe
"^^I'^yfi- I had obferved no Fountains fpringing up in
' * Plains, therefore there were, or could be, ab-
folutely none,- and do now grant, that there
is Reafon to believe the Relations made of
fuch. For the whole dry Land being but
one continued Mountain , and afcending
all along from the Sea to the Mid-Land, as
is undeniably proved by the Defcent of Ri-
vers even in plain Countries ; the Water
finking into the Earth, may run under
Ground, and according as the Vein leads it,
break out in the Side of this Mountain, tho'
the Place, as to outward Appearance, be a
Plain.
I SHALL now add. That tho' it be pofifi-
ble that without Mountains there may be
Springs, if there fiiould be Rains, (which
it is fomething queftionable were there no
Mountains, whether there could be or no, at
leaft in hot Countries) yet it is probable,
that moft of thofe Springs we find in Plains,
or depreffcd Places diftant from Mountains,
may come along in fubterraneous Channels
from
and Creatmt. 3p
from the next Mountains, and there break
out. Monfieur Blundel related to the P^r/-
fian Academy, what Device the Inhabitants
of the Lower Aujina^ which is encompaf-
fed with the Mountains oF St'ma^ are wont
to ufe to fill their Wells with Water : They
dig in the Earth to the Depth of twenty or
five and twenty Foot, -till they come to an
Argilla [clammy Earth] then they bore a Hole
in the midft of a Stone about five or fix In-
ches broad, and through it bore the Argilla
{o deep, till the Water breaks forcibly out ;
which Water, it's probable, comes from the
neighbouring Mountains in fubterraneous
Channels. And Cafflnuf obferved. That in
many Places of the Territory of Modena and
Bologna in Itah}^ they make themfelves Weils
of fpringing Water by the like Artifice. They
dig in the Earth till they come to the Water
(which ftagnates in common Wells) which
they draw quite out. Then within this nevv'
digged Well they make two cylindrical Walls,
concentrical one to another ; the Space
or Interftice between them they fill and
ram clofe with well-wrought Argilla^ or
Clay, to keep out the ambient Water ;
which done, they fink the Well deeper into
the Ground, and continue the inner Wall fo
low, till the Earth underneath feems to fwell
by the Force of the Water rifing up : And
laftly, they- bore this Earth or Soil with a
long Wimble ; whereupon the Water breaks
D 4 forth
40 Of the Chaos
forth through the Hole with a great Force,
fo that it doth not only fill the Well, but o-
verfiows and waters the neighbouring Fields
with a conftant Stream : By this means the
fame Signor CaJJini made a Fountain at
the Caftle of Urbin^ that caft up the Water
five Foot high above the Level of the Ground.
It is very probable that thefe Waters defcend
by fubterraneous Paffages from the Appen^
^//^^ Mountains, which are about ten Miles
diftant. If fuch things may be done by Art,
why may they not alfo by Nature ? Nay,
that the like are done, we find by Experi-
ence, in the Lacm Lugeus^ or Zirchnitzer^
Sea in Camiola^ which after it is empty of
Water running out at Holes or Pits in the
Bottom, (which it doth yearly in the Sum-
mer-time, in the Months of May^ June^ and
^uly) in the Autumn, when it rains mode-r
rately, the Water fpouts out of fome of the
forementioned Pits two or three Fathoms
perpendicularly ; but when it rains very hard
and long together, efpecially with Thunder,
then the Water breaks forth with great Force,
not only from the forefaid Pits, but likewife
at a thoufand other Caves and Holes, fpirt-
ing feveral Fathoms high, from fome perpen-
dicularly^ from others obliquely, fo that
there is not a pleafanter Sight than this, and
in a fhort time fills the Lake. A full Defcri-
ption, and an Account of all the Fhicmmena of
this admirable Lake^ fee in Philofoph.Tt'anfad,
Numb.
^Lkm^m
and Creation, 41
Numb. 191. p. 41 1, &c. So we fee. Water
may be brought down from the Mountains,
and raifed up naturally in ftrait Channels,
with that Force, and to that Height, as to
exceed all the artificial Jets in the World, if
not in the Altitude of the Spout, yet in the
Bignefs of the Stream abundantly.
A s for the Wells about Modena^ becaufe
wherefoeyer you dig about that City for
fome Miles, ?it the Depth of 63 Foot you
meet with Water under fuch a Bed of Ar-
gilla^ which fpouts up, and riles as high,
and higher than the adjacent Country j I
guefs there \s a fubterraneous Lake, whofe
Waters are comprelfed between, perhaps,
the Sea or frelli Water on one hand, which
forces them upward, and the Bed of Ar^
gilla on the other, which keeps them down ;
which Bed, when it is bored through, they
rufti upwards, qua data porta^ with great
Force, and fill the new digged Well. This
I propofe as Conjedlure not altogether im-
probable.
This End and Ufe of Mountains, I find
aflfigned by Mr. Halley^ in his Difcourfe con-
cerning the Original of Springs and Rivers,
in thefe Words : This^ if we may allow final
Caufe^ (and why may we not ? what needs
this Heiitancy and Dubitation in a thing that
is clear ? ) fee??ts to be the Defign of the Hilh^
that their Ridges being placed through the midft
of the Continents^ might feriie^ as it were A-
leinbich^
42 Of the Chaos
leffibidf, to difiill freffj Water for the Ufe of
Man and Beaft^ and their Heights to give a
Defcent to thofe Streams to run gently^ Me fo
many Veins of the Macrocofm^ to be the more
beneficial to the Creation,
But fome may fay. Granting there be fome
Ufe and Benefit of moderate Hills and Ri-
fings ; what neceffity is there of fuch ex-
tended Ridges of vaft and tow'ring Moun-
tains, hiding their Heads among the Clouds,
and feeming for Altitude to contend with the
Skies ? I anfwer. There is very great Ufe of
them, for repelling the Vapours exhaled by
the Sun-beams in the hot Regions, and hin-
dring their Evagations Northward, as we have
already fhewn, and iliall not repeat. I might
add hereto,
8. Those long Series and Chains of
Mountains arc of great Ufe for Boundaries
and Limits to the Territories of Princes or
Commonwealths, to fecure them on thofe
Parts from fudden Incurfions of Enemies. As
for the Rudenefs and Confufion of Mountains,
their cragged and broken Rocks and Cliffs,
and whatever other Diforder there may be
among them, it may be accounted for, from
the Manner of their firft Generation, and
thofe other Mutations they have bea^ fince
obnoxious to, by Earthquakes, Eruptions of
Vulcano's^ foundering and falling in of their
Props and Foundations, and by Time and
Weather too, by which not only the Earth
is
and Creation. . 43
is waffled away, or blown off from the
Stones, but the very Stones and Rocks them-
felves corroded and diflfolved, as might ea-
fily be proved by Inftances, could I fpare
time to do it.
T o fum up all, relating to the Divifion
and Difpoiition of the Water and Earth, in
brief.
1. I s A Y, the Water being the lighter Ele-
ment, doth naturally occupy the upper Place,
and ftand above the Earth, and fo at firft it
did. But now, we fee, it doth not fo ; the
Earth being, contrary to its Nature, forcibly
elevated above it ,• being (as the Pfahniji
phrafeth it) founded above the Seas, and e-
ftabliihed above the Floods ; and this, becaufe
it was beft it fhould be fo, as I fliall clearly
prove and deduce in Particulars in another
Difcourfe.
2. The dry Land is not elevated only
upon one Side of the Globe ^ for then, had
it had high Mountains in the middle of it,
with fuch vaft empty Cavities within, as
muft be equal to the whole Bulk raifed up,
the Center of Magnitude muft needs have
been confiderably diftant from the Center
of Gravity ; which would have caufed a
very great and inconvenient Inequality in the
Motion of the Parts of the Earth : But the
Continents and Iflands are fo equally difpers'd
all the Globe over, as to counterb. 1 mce one
another ;
44 Of the Chaos
another j fo that the Centers of Magnitude
and Gravity concurr in one.
3. T HE Continents are not of exactly e-
qual and level Supoficief or Convexity. For
then, the Parts lubje6t to the Courfe of the
Sun, called the Torrid Zone^ would have
been, as the Ancients fancied them, unha-
bitable for Heat and Drought. But there are
huge Ridges and extended Chains of lofty
Mountains dire(5ted, for the moft part, to
run Eaft and Weft ; by which means, they
give free Admittance and Pa0age to the Va-
pours, brought in by the Winds from the
Atkntki and Pactfich Oceans ; but flop and
inhibit their Excurfions to the North and
South, either condenfing them upon their
Sides into Water, by a kind of external De-
ftillation ; or by ftreightning and conftipa-
ting of them, compelling them to gather into
Drops, and defcend down in Rain.
These are great things, and worthy the
Care, Diredion, and Difpofal of the Great
and Wife Creator, and Governor of all
things : And, we fee, they are accordingly
excellently ordered and provided by Him.
Chap.
Ch
A P.
IV.
Of the Creation of Animals ; fome
Queflions refohed.
S to the firft Creation of Ani-
mals, I have already propofed
two Opinions, both confonant
or reconcileable to the Scri-
ptures.
I. That God Almighty did at firft create
the Seeds of all Animals, (that is, the Ani-
mals themfelves in little) and difpers'd them
over the fuperficial Part of the Land and
Power to thofe Elements to
Water,
givmg
hatch and bring them forth , which when
they had done, and all the Animals of thefe
created Seeds were produced and perfected,
there remained no more Ability in them to
bring forth any more ,• but all the fucceeding
owe their Original to Generation.
3. Because fome will not admit that
G o D at firft created any thing imperfed, we
did propofe that He might, by His Almighty
Power, out of the Water and Earth, make
the firft Sett of Animals in their full State and
Perfection, (as it is generally believed He did
Adam) and give to each Species a Power by
Generation to propagate their Like. For, His
commanding the Waters aqd Earth to pro-
duce
4^ Of the Chaos
ducc fuch and fuch living Creatures, (igni-
fies that He did Himfelf efficacioufly form
them out of the Earth and Water , as when
He faith, Let there be Light^ &c. the Mean-
ing is not, that He did permit or command
fomething elfe befides Himfelf, to produce
Light ; but that He did, by His own Almigh-
ty Power, effedually create it. Indeed, the
Scripture doth in this manner interpret it-
felf : For, whereas it is faid, verfes 2 o, and 24*
Let the Waters bring forth^ &c. and. Let the
Earth bring forth the living Creature^ Sec, In
the next Verfes it follows. And God created
great Whales^ and every living Creature that
7ftovethy3cc, And God made the Beafl of the
Earthy &c. But now there may a farther
Queftion or two be moved, concerning the
Creation of Animals.
I. Whether God created, at firft, a
great Number of every Kind of Animal all
the Earth over, in their proper Places and
Climates ^ or only of two of each Species^ a
. Male and a Female, from which all the reft
proceeded by Generation ? This latter Opi-
nion I find embraced by fome modern Phi-
lofophers, and it may be made probable by
feveral Arguments.
Firfiy From the Analogy to Mankind.
There beings at firft, only one Man and one
Woman created ; it is very likely, there
were no more of any other Creatures, two
being
and Creation. 4^
being fufficient, in a Ihort time, to (lock the
World.
Secondly^ Becaufe, at the time of the Ge-
neral Deluge, there were only two of each
Kind (of unclean Beafts) preferved in the
Ark : And if two might thence fuffice, why
not as well at the firft Creation ? And if
there were no need of creating more, what
likelihood that there were more created ?
But the firft Opinion, That there were
many at firft created, feems more confonant
to Scripture ; which, in the Mention of the
Creation of Aquatic Creatures, ufeth the
Word Abundantly^ Gen. i. 20. AndGovtfaidy
Let the Waters bring forth abundantly the mo-
ving Creature that hath Life^ and Fowl that
mayfly above the Earth Jn the of en Firmament
of Heaven. And, in the next Verfc it is faid.
That the Waters did bring them forth abun-
dantly. So that, at leaft, of Birds and Fiflies,
there were many Individuals at firft created.
As for Plants, certain it is, that they were
created difperfedly all the World over ; they
having no locomotive Power, but being fix'd
to a place, and the Seeds of many of them
being ponderous, and not portable by Wihds,
or any other Means, and yet thofe of the
fame Species to be found in far diftant Places,
and on the Tops of high Mountains, as re-
mote from each other, as the Hehetick and
Auftrian Alps,
2. Con-
48 Of the Chaos
i. Concerning the Creation of Ani-
mals, there may yet a farther Queftion be
moved, 'viz. Whether all Animals that alrea-
dy have been, or hereafter (hall be, were ^t
firft actually created by G o d ? or, Whether
hath He given to each Kind of Animal fuch
a Power of Generation, as to prepare Matter,
and produce new Individuals in their own
Bodies ? Some are of Opinion, that God
did Hinifelf, at firft, actually create all the in-
dividual Animals that ever werc^ or ever Ihali
be ; and that there is no fuch thing as any
Produdions of new ones. For, fay they.
What were that, but a Creation of fuch Indi-
viduals ? Atid, what did G o d at the firft
Creation, more than, if this be true, we fee
every day done, that is, produce a new Ani-
mal out of Matter, which itfelf prepares ?
All the Difference is, the doing that in an In-
ftant which the Creature muft take Time to
do. For, as for the Preparation of Matter,
that muft be made fit, be the Agent never
fo Omnipotent.
B E s I D Es, the Animal-Parent cannot be
the Agent or Efficient in the Generation, or
Forming and Nouriihing of the FoctUf. Be-
caufe that is a Work of Art and Reafon,
which brute Creatures are not endued with^
all ; nor, indeed, doth Man himfelf under-
ftand any thing of the Procefs of Genera-
tion in himfelf, neither is confcious of what
is
and Creation.
is done in the Womb j fo far is he from be-
ing the Doer of it.
Again, it is moft probable, if not cer-
tain, that jnoft Animals have in them, from
the Beginning, the Seeds or Eggs of all the
Young they mail afterward bring forth, which
when they are fpent and exhauft, the Crea-
ture becomes barren, or effete. So we fee
all the Female Tortus of viviparous Quadru-
peds are brought forth with their Teftes^ or
O'Varia in them, which are efteemed Parts
of their Bodies ; and all Birds have in them,
from their firft Formation, their Ovary or
Egg-clufter, containing the Seeds of all the
Eggs they fliall ever lay. Now, had the
Creature a Power of producing new ones,
what need was there that there fkould be
fo many at firft formed in them ? And, why
might they not breed them as well after-
wards, as at the beginning ?
Hereupon thefe Philofophers argue thus :
Suppofe we, that God did at firft create two
Animals, a Male and a Female : The Female
muft be created with its OvarieF or Teftes,
which ( as we faid ) contained fo many
Seeds or Eggs as the Creature lliould ever
bring forth Young. So it is clear, that not
only the firft Pair, but the firft Generation of
Animals, were a(5tually created. Again, this
firft Generation, from their firft Appearance,
had each of them (the Females I mean) its
OvariUy or Qtifters of Eggs, every one where-
r £ of
49
^o Of the Chaos
of hadj in like manner, its Animalcule in it j
fo that this fecond Generation was alfo crea-
ted in the firft. The fame may be demon-
ftrated of the third and fourth ; and fo on, of
all the Generations that lliall be as long as
the World lafts.
Against this Dodrine it may be obje-
i^ted, Firji^ That it feems impoffible that the
Ovaries of one Female ihould actually include
and contain the innumerable Myriads of Ani-
mals that may proceed from it in fo many
Generations, as have been and Ihall be du-
ring the Continuance of the World. Who
can conceive fuch a fmall Portion of Matter
to be capable of fuch Divifion, and to con-
tain fuch an Infinity of Parts ?
But to this it may be anfwered. That our
Sight doth not give us the juft Magnitude
of Things, tut only their Proportion ^ and
what appears tq. the Eye as a Point, may be
magnified fo, even by GlafTes, as to difco-
ver an incredible Multitude of Parts i nay,
fome Animals there are, fo fmall, that if a
Grain of Sand were broken into 80.00000
of equal Parts, one of thefe would not ex-
ceed the bisnefs of one of thofe Creatures,
as Mr. Lewenhoek affirms. And Dr. Hook
proceeds farther, and fays, that he had dif-
. covered fome fo exceeding fmall, that Mil-
lions of Millions might be contained in one
Drop of Water. If thefe whole Creatures
be fo incredibly little, what fhall we think
of
and Creation. ^i
of their Parts containing and contained, their
Entrails and Mulcies, their Ovaries and Eggs ?
But for a fenfible Demonftration of the Un-
conceivable, I had almoft faid Infinite, Divi-
fibility of Matter, I might referr the Reader
to the Honourable Mr. B(rjle^ of famous Me-
mory, his Difcourfe concerning the ftrange
Subtilty of Effuviutm. I Ihall mention one
or two Experiments. ' He dilTolved one
Grain of filed Copper in Spirit of SaluAr^
moniack^ and, upon this Solution, he poured
fo much diftilled Water by degrees, as till
the fair and deep blue Colour grew fome-
what pale, without being too dilute to be
manifeft : And then careFuUy weighing the
VelTel and the Water, and fubduding the
Weight of that out of this, he found the
Weight of the Liquor alone, when reduced
to Grains, to amount to 28534 j fo that a
Gxun of Copper communicated a Tindture
to 28534 times its Weight. Now,confider-
ing that the Weight of Copper to the
Weight of Water of the fame Bulk, is pro-
xime as 9 to i, a Grain-weight of Copper
is in bignefs but the ninth part of as much
Water as weighs a Grain ,• and fo the for-
merly mentioned Number of Grains of Wa-
ter muft be multiplied by 9, to give us the
Proportion between the tinging Body and
tinged Liquor ; whence it will follow, that
a fingle Grain of Copper gave a Bluenefs
to above 256806 Parts of limpid Water,
E 2 ! each
^Z Of the Chaos
' each of them as big as it. And to profe-
' cute this Experiment farther, he mixt to-
' gether equal Parts of diftilled colourlefs
' Water, and of the faid tinded Liquor, and
' found, that though the Colour was very
' £iint and dilute, yet an attentive Eye could
' eafily difcern it to be bluifh j whereby it
^ appears, that one Grain of Copper was able
* to impart a Colour to double the Quanti-
' ty of Water above-mentioned, that is, to
' 5 13 612 Grains of Water.
Other Experiments there are, in the
fame Difcourfe, made in odorate Bodies :
Having, faith he^ for Curiofity-fake, fu-
fpended in a Pair of exa<5t Scales, that
would turn with a very fmall Part of
of a Grain, a Piece of Ambergreece bigger
than a Walnut, and weighing betwixt a
hundred and (ixfcore Grains, I could not
in three days and a half, that I had Oppor-
tunity to make the Trial, difcover, even up-
on that Balance, any Decrement of Weight
in the Ambergreece^ though fo rich a Per-
fume lying in the open Air was like, in
that time, to have parted with good ftore of
odoriferous Steams : And, a while after,
fufpending a Lump of Afafatida five days
and a half, I found it not to have fuftained
any difcerniblc Lofs of Weight, though, in
fpight of the unfavourable cold Weather,
ii had about it a neighbouring Atmofphere,
' repienillied with foetid Exhalations, &c.
But
and Creation. ^^
But what can be imagined more fmali
and fubtiJ, than the minute Parts of the
Steams of Animals ? The fame Author, in
the fame Trad, tells us, '' That a good Set-
ting Dog, by his way of Ranging the Fields,
and his other Motions, efpecially of his
Head, would not only intimate the Kinds
of Game, whofe Scent he chanced to light
upon, but would difcover where Partridges
had been (though, perhaps, without (laying
in that Place) feveral hours before. " He
farther tells us, * That a very fober Gentle-
' man of his Acquaintance, who had often oc-
cafion to employ Blood-hounds, affured
him, that if a Man had but palfed over the
Field, the Scent would lie, fo as to be per-
ceptible enough to a good Dog of that fort,
for feveral hours after. " And an ingenious
Hunter likewife alTured him, ' That he had
obferved, that the Scent of a flying and
hunted Deer, will fometimes continue up-
on the Ground from one Day to the next
following." He proceeds farther ; ' And
now we may coniider thefe three things j
Ytr^^ That the Subftance left upon the
Ground Ly the tranlient Tread of a Par- .
tridge. Hare, or other Animal, that doth
but pafs along his Way, does probably com-
municate to the Grafs or Ground but fome
of thofe Effluxions that tranfpire out of his
Feet, which being fmall enough to efcape
\ the Eye, may probably not amount to one
E 3 ' Grain
Of the Chaos
^ Grain in Weight, or perhaps not to the
* Tenth Part of it. Next^ That the Parts
I of fluid Bodies, as fuch, are perpetually in
' Motion, and fo are the invifible Particles
* that fwim in them, as may appear by the
' Diffolution of Salt or Sugar in AJ^ater, and
' the Wandring of aqueous Vapours through
^ the Air, even when the Eye perceives them
^ not. And, Thirdly^ That though the At-
* mofphere of one of thefe fmall Parcels of
^ the exhaling Matter we are fpeaking of,
^ may oftentimes be exceeding vaft in com-^
' parifon of the emittent Body, as may be
^ guefTed by the Diftance, at which fome Set^
^ ters or Bloodhounds will find the Scent of
* a Partridge or Deer ; yet, in Places expofed
' to the free Air or Wind, 'tis very likely
* that thefe Steams are afliduoufly carried a-
^ way from their Fountain, to maintain the
* forementioned Atmofphere, for fix, eight,
* or more hours -, that is, as long as the Scent
* hath been obferved to lie, there will be re-
^ quifite a continual Recruit of Steams fuc-
' ceeding one another. And that fo very fmall
* aPv/rtion of Matter, as that which, we were
* faying, the Tomes <^ thefe Steams may be
' judged to be, being fenfibly to impregnate
' an Atmofphere incomparably greater than
* itfelf, and fupply it with almofl continual
* Recruits, we cannot but think, that the
* Steams it parts with, muft be of extreme
' and fcarce conceivable Minutenefs. " So far
and Creation, ^^
the Author. To which I fhall add. That by
the Steams, I fuppofe, he means the minute
Particles of which the Steams are compoun-
ded. Now thefe minute Particles themfelves
muft be compound Bodies, becaufe they af-
fe(5t the Senfe in a particular manner, fo that
a fagacious Creature can diftinguifh by them,
not only Species but Individuals ; as a good
Dog, by the Foot, will find out his Mafter,
though not only feveral other Creatures, but
feveral Men have paffed that way : Unlefs
we will groundlefly affirm, that thofe Par-
ticles are the jninima Naturalia^ and that the
Creature difcerns them by their Figure, or
their different manner of Motion.
A SECOND Obje(5tion of Brunnerus (as I
find him quoted in Peyerus his Mei-ycologia)
is this ; Si cun6ia Animaliuin inembra jam
formata exiftant in ovo^ &c, ' If all the
' Members of Animals, already formed, do
* exift in the Egg, though for their Smalnefs
* they efcape our fight ; I cannot conceive,
* how by the Force of Imagination alone, in
* a pregnant Woman, can be produced
* fometimes Calves-heads, or Feet, fome-
* times a Dog's Face, or other monftrous
' Members j thefe Productions being a cer-
* tain and experimental Proof, that the Parts
^ and Members of Animals are formed and
^ delineated originally in the Womb, or
E A To
Of the Chaos
T o this, Peyerus replies : ^ Who then
forms ? who delineates fuch Monfters ?
Shall we accufe God the Creator ? But
He is juft, and doth not make enormous
things : Or, Will you blame Nature ? that
is, the conftant Order and Will of God,
which never is deficient ? Will you lay
the fault upon the plaftick Vertue or
Power refidin^ in the Womb or Seed, and
ading thole things ? But that is a Chitna^
ra ; it is nothing, it is an Idol. There re^
main Two Things to which the Caufe
may juftly be imputed , the Imagination of
the Mother^ which may and doth often-
times effedt wonderful things in the Body
oHhc tender Einbry on i 2ind the Devil. If
you refufe to admit the former, you are
obliged to accept the latter. And, truly,
the Devil may, God fo permitting, many
ways abufe Men, and transfigure the Young
in the Womb, to punilh the wicked and
nefarious Adions of degenerate Mankind,
indulging themfelves in obfcene Imagina-
tions, or prepofterous and unnatural Im-
purities and Pollutions. But do thefe Er-
rors and Enormities take away the Order
of Nature? By no means: For, from
what is rare and extraordinary, and fel-
dom happens, there is no Confequence to
be drawn. For though Monfters are fome-
times born, nothing hinders but that we
may ftill think, that the Ideas of the feve-
5ral
and Creation. ^7
^ ral Tortus may be prseexiftent and latent
^ in the Eggs j and the Event may teach us,
^ that thofe Ideas or Efnbryor may, by a vio-
^ lent Caufe, be marred and deformed in
^ the Womb , as Wax, though it be alrea-
' dy figured, while it is foft, is eafily aj-
^ tered, and capable of receiving new Im-
^ preflions.
But againft this.Anfwer we mays thus
plead in Defence of Brunnerm : As to what
is faid of the Devil, it feems to be but a
Shift or Refuge to have recourfe to, when we
are at a Lofs, and pinch'd with an Argument ;
as in the ancient Stage-plays, when they
were put to a plunge, they were forced to
bring in fome Ofo? ^ttq fxvixoivviQ to help
them out. And as for the Imagination of
the Mother, ftrange it is, that that fliould
have any Influence at all upon the Formation
of the Fcetuf ; the Mother not knowing a-
^ny thing that's done in the Womb ,• nor be-
ing confcious to herfelf of any Power to
form or ad any thing there: The Fof^^x be-
ing an external thing to her, and no more a
Part of her, than an Egg is of the Hen that
fits upon it, affording nothing to it but
Warmth and Nourifhment. And we fee.
Eggs may be hatched by the artificial Heat of
an Oven, without the Incubation of a Hen.
But granting, that the Imagination of the
Mother may transform the Foetus^ why may
it not as well originally form it out of pre-
pared
Of the Chaos
pared Matter ? and then, what need of an
Idea or minute Aniinalcu Je in the Seed ? But
whatever may be faid of Men, how come
Monfters in Brutes, which, according to
Peyeruf^ are meer Machines, and have no
Imagination or Perception at all ?
But not to lead the Reader into a Maze
or Labyrinth, and leave him there ; for my
own part, I muft confefs, that the Argument
for the Prseexiftence of the Fcctm's^ or their
Creation from the Beginning, taken from
the due Number of Eggs that are in every
Female from her firft Formation, and her
being effete after they are fpent, weighs ve-
ry much with me, as I know not how to
quit myfelf of it. And on the other hand,
if thofe Stories concerning Dogs and Ser-
pents, &c, found in the Wombs of Women
be true (which are well attefled) I acknow-
ledge it very difficult to give an Account,
how thofe Animals came to be bred or form-
ed there. But I had rather confefs my Ig-
norance of the Manner of the Produdion of
fuch praeternatural and extraordinary things,
than to permit it to have fuch Influence up-
on me, as to remove me from fo well-
grounded an Opinion concerning the ordi-
nary Production of Animals in a natural
Way.
But notwithftanding all I have faid, in
Defence of the Creation of the Individuals
of all Animals at firft, becaufe the inconcei-
vable
and Creation. ^p
vable Smalnefs of the laft Races of Animals
make it incredible, I fhall be content to let
it pafs for a Conjedure, and not iniift far-
ther upon it.
The Being of a Plaftick Nature, fubordi-
nate to G o D, notwithftanding Peyeruf makes
an Idol of it, and charges thofe with Idola-
try who do believe it, I am not afraid to
admit : My Reafons for which, I have given
in another "^ Difcourfe, and mall not here *if^ifdom
The new Opmion or Mr. Lewenhoek\ that tion.
all Animals proceed from an Infcd: or Ani-
malcule in the Male-fperm, I think I have
fufficiently confuted in my Book, Entituled,
Synopfis methodica Anmalium Qmdrupedu?ny
pag. 37. &feqq, to which Ireferr the Reader :
Only I fliall repeat, that I am lefs inclinable
to it, becaufe of the necelTary Lofs of an in-
credible Multitude of them, which feems
not agreeable to the Wifdom and Provi-
dence of Nature. For, fuppofing every Male
hath in him all the Animalcules that he fhall
or may eje<5t ; they may, for ought I know,
amount to Millions of Millions, and fo the
greateft part of them muft needs be loft.
Nay, if we take but one Coi't^ there muft,
in uniparous Creatures at leaft, abundance
be loft. But if we fuppofe the Foetus to be
originally in the Egg, it is not fo. For the
Eggs of all forts of Creatures are fo propor-
tioned to the Nature of the Animals, the
Time
6o Of the Chaos, &c.
Time that they live, the Time and Number
of their Geftations, and the Number they
bring forth at all times, that they will much
about fuffice for the Time the Creatures are
fit to breed and nourifh their Young : So
that they may, if need be, be all brought
forth, and come to Perfection.
The End of the Firfi Difcotirfe,
DISr
DISCOURSE 11.
•^•ft$.%'%^'KiK7:;^v$$i:<;{.:iK-K>fc\%-«K-K,^-:-»f;e;-K%^^
Of the general Deluge in the
Days of Noah y its Caufes
and EffeBs.
Proceed now to fay fome-
thing concerning the General
Deluge in the Days o£ Noah;
which was alfo a Matter of an-
J cient Tradition. I fliall not
enlarge much upon it, fo as to take in all
that might be faid, but confine myfelf to
Three Heads, i. I fliall confirm the Truth
of the Hiftory of the Deluge recorded in the
Scripture, by the Teftimonies of fome an-
cient Heathen Writers. 2. I fliall confider
the Natural Caufes or Means whereby it was
cffei^ed. 3. I fliall enquire concerning the
Confequences of it, what confiderable Ef-
fei^ts it had upon the Earth.
Chap.
Chap. I.
Tejiimonies of Ancient Heathen Writers
concerning the Deluge,
I R S T theiij I Ihall produce fome
Teftimonies of Ancient Hea-
then Writers concerning the De-
luge.
The firft fhall be thofe of Berofm^ record-
ed by Jofephus, The firft, in his firft Book
againft Appion^ where he tells us, ^ That
Berofm^ following the moft ancient Wri-
tings, relates the fame things with Mofes
concerning the great Deluge, and the De-
ftrudion of Men by it i and of the Ark, in
which Nochm^ the Author of our Stock,
was preferved, after it refted on the Tops
of the Armenian Mountains. " And the fe-
cond, in the fifth Chapter of his firft Book
o( Jewifi Antiquities; Bvjpwo-o-oi- b XoLy^'^oLioQ
d/1fyfcfXfJ/0? 7X TTSpl TOV KOLTXnT^VO-flOVy 8T00 TTH
5/f^/5/(j-/, &c. That is, ^ Berofm thzChald^an^
* relating the Story of the Deluge, writes thus :
* It is reported, that there is fome part of
*^ the Veffel [the Ark] ftill remaining at the
* Mountain of the Gordydam; and thatcer-
* tain Perfons fcraping off the Bitumen^ or
! Pitch, carry it away i and that Men make
' ufe
Of the Deluge. 6^
^ ufe of it for Amulets, to drive away Dif-
.' cafes.
. A SECOND Teftimony the hmc^ofephus
affords us in the fame Place, and that is, of
Nkolaus Vamafcenm ,• ^ who, faith he^ gives
* us the Hiftory [of the Ark and Deluge] in
^ thefe Words : About Mi?tyaf in Armenia^
' there is a great Mountain called Barh^ to
* which it is reported, that many flying, in
* the time of the Deluge, were faved ,• and
^ that a certain Perfon was carried thither in
* an Ark, which refted on the Top of it; the
^ Reliques of the Timber whereof were pre-
* ferved there a long time. " Befides thefe,
Jofephm tells us in the fame Place, that H/>-
ronymus the Egyptian^ who wrote the Phoeni-
cian Antiquities, and Mnafeas^ and many o-
tbers, whofe Words he aliedges not, make
mention of the Flood.
EusEBius fuperadds two Teftimonies
morei the one of Melon ^ to this Effe<^:
There departed from Armenia^ at the time
of the Deluge, a certain Man, who together
with his Sons had been faved > who being
caft out of his Houfe and Poffeflions^ was
driven away by the Natives. This Man
pafling over the intermediate ilegion, came
into the mountainous Part of Syria^ that
was then defolate." This Teftimony makes
the Deluge Topical^ and not to have reached
Armenia*
The
64 Confequences of
The other is of Abydenus an ancient Wri-i
ter, fet down by Eufebiuf^ Pr^par, Evangel,
lib, 9. cap. 4. MfO^ h ^kKoi ts v\pi,(iv^ nai ^si'di'^
CjUl/JpCCV Affl-/« TTEIXTTTU} fV/ ^SKOLy &C. ^ AftCt
* whom others reigned, and then Sifithrm^ (fo
* he calls Noah,) To whom Saturn foretold,
* that there fliould be a great Flood of Waters
' upon the fifteenth Day of the Month Defius ;
^ and commanded him to hide all Writings
^ [or whatever was committed to writing] in
' Heliopolif of the Syparians : Which fo foon as
^ Sifithrm had performed, he prefently failed
' away to Armenia^ where what God had pre-
* dided to him, immediately came to plafs, [or
* came upon him.] The third Day after the
' Waters ceafed, he fent forth Birds, that he
' might try whether they could efpy any Laild
* uncovered of Water : But they finding no*
' thing but Sea, and not knowing whither to
* betake themfelves, returned back to Sifithruf,
* In like manner, after fome Days, he fent out
* others, with like Succefs. But being fent
' out the third time, they returned with their
' Feet fouled with Mud. Then the Gods
' caught up Sifithrm from among Men ; but
' the Ship remained in Armenia^ and its Wood
' afforded the Inhabitants Amulets to chafe a-
^ way many Difeafes." Thefe Hiftories accord
with the Scripture as to the main, of the Be-
ing of a Flood, and Noah efcaping out of it;
only
^
the Deluge. . 6^
only they adulterate the Truth, by the Ad- ^
mixture of a deal of fabulous Stuff.
Cyril, in his firft Book againft Julian^ to
prove the Deluge, alledges a Paffage out of
Alexander Polyhiftor^ confonant to the pre-
ceding Words o( Abydenuf, ' P/^f^ himfelf
' (faith he) gives us an obfcure Intimation of
' the Deluge, in his Timdm^ bringing in a
' certain Egyptian Prieft, who related to Solon
* out of the Sacred Books of the Egyftiam^
^ that before the particular Deluges known
^ and celebrated by the Grecians^ there was
* of old an exceeding great Inundation of
* Waters , and Devaftation of the Earth,
* which feems to be no other than NoaFs
' Flood.
Plutarch, in his Book De Solertia Animal
lium^ tells us, 'That thofe who have written
of Deucalion's flood, report, that there was
a Dove fent out of the Ark by Deucalion^
which returning again into the Ark, was a
Sign of the Continuance of the Flood, but
flying quite away, and not returning any
more, was a Sign of Serenity, and that the
Earth was drained.
Indeed, OW, and other Mythologifts,'
make Deucalion s Flood to have been univer-
fal: And it's clear, by the Defcription Ow'i
gives of it, that he meant the general De-
luge in the Days of Noah^ And that by Deu-
calion^ the Ancients, together with Ovid^ un-
derftood Noah^ Kircher^ in his * Area Noa^ *l.2.(.6.
F doth
6^ , Confequences of
w doth well make out. Firft, For that the
Votx. Afollonius makes him the Son of Fro^
mcthem^ in his third Book,
where Frojnetheus^ the Son of JapetUf^ begat
the renowned Deucalion, 2. Berofus affirms
Noah to have been a Scythian : And Lucian^
in his Book De Dca Syria^ tells us, that ma-
py make Deucalion to have been fo too.
3 . The Scripture teftifies, that Men were ge-
nerally very corrupt and wicked in the Days
of Noah And Andvo Teius^ a very ancient
Writer, teftifies, that in Deucalion's time
there was a gjeat abundance of wicked Men,
which made it neceffary for God to de-
ftroy Mankind. 4. The Scripture faith.
That Noah was a juft Man and perfe^f in his
Gemration. And Ovid faith of Deucalion^
that,
Non illo meiior quifquam^ nee ajnantior dqui
Virfuit^ autilld [^Pyrrhd uxorc Qjus] reve-
rentior ulla Deorum,
And a little after,
Innocuos ambos^ cultores nwninis ambos.
■ > Y < It "
5. Afollonius faith of Deucalion^ IlpuTc;
ivOpwxocv ifjciL(j/?^6V(TSj He firft ruled over Men,
Which may very well be attributed to Noah^
the Father and Reflorer of Mankind; whofe
Right
the Deluge. 6"]
Right the Kingdom was. 6. The fending out
of a Dove, to try whether the Waters were
abated, and the Flood gone off, is (we have
feen) by Plutarch attributed to Deucalion.
7. Lucian^ in his Timon^ and in his Book De
T)ea Syria^ fets forth the Particulars of Deu-
calion's^ after the Example of Noah's Flood.
AfUKtftA/cov Q [xk^^og avO/3WCTcol/ eX-Ittsto eh yevsviv
^SUTs'pCCV iv)>}^X/viC TS KClI tQ iV(T6(ieOC SVEKCL , &c.
Deucalion was the only Man that was left for
a fecond Generation^ for his Prudence and
Pitty fake -, and he was faved in this manner :
He made a great Arh^ and got aboard it^ with
his Wife and Children: And to him came
Swine J and Horfes^ and Lions^ and Serpents^
and all other living Creatures^ which the
Earth fnaintains^ ^cording to their Kinds ^ by
Pairs 'y and he received them all^ and they hurt
him not i for there was^ by Divine Infiin6t^ a
great Friendjhip among them -, and they failed
together in the Ark^ fo long as the Waters
prevailed. And, in his Timon^ he faith. That
Noah laid up in the Arl Plenty of all Provi- '
fions for their Suftenance,
Pliny faith of the City of Jopfa^ that it
was built before the Flood.
B Y all this it appears, that the Notion of
a general Flood was every where current a-
mong the People, efpecially in thofe Coun-
tries where the Ark refted, and where Noah
afterwards lived. And hence it was, that the
ApameanSy v^h^rhzx oi Mefopotamia^ 01 Syria^
F 2 or
68 Confequences ofy &c.
or Bythinia^ (for there were three Cities of
that Name) coined Moneys in Honour of
the Emperors Septimius Severn f^ and Phi-
lippHf Arabs ^ having on the Reverfe the Fi-
gure of an Ark, with a Man and a Woman
{landing before itj and two Doves above it,
*pne flying with a Branch of a Tree in its
Mouth, another refting upon it. The Figures
whereof, and a learned Difcourfe thereupon
out of Falconerim^ may be feen in Kirchers
*L,2.c.6. "^ Area Noie, Which Moneys, though they
were coined long after our Saviour's Time,
and the Divulgation of the Scriptures j yet
being done by Ethnicks, do fhew that the
Story of the Deluge was known, and famous,
and generally credited among them, as being
near the Place where Noah lived and con-
verfed after the Flood.
HoWBEixIdo not deny, that there was
fuch a particular Flood in Thejfaly^ as they
call DeucalioriSj which happened feven hun-
dred and feventy Years, or thereabouts, after
- the general Deluge. I acknowledge alfo a
more ancient Flood in Attica^ in the Time of
Ogyges^ about two hundred and thirty Years
before Deucalion's^ by which the Country
was fo marred, that it lay wafte and uncul-
tivated, without Inhabitants, for almoft two
hundred Years.
Chap.
TAB I
pajid
-.68
I Jlic twv ancUnt^ipa^mian C^nfns taken cnit of
Octuv- Talumievl it nurtxmoiApcunt^fuilieuUL-
Bif tht Grttk infcrt^tiaTis t/u^t/ rve^^ fhunp
C H A P. II.
Of the Caufes of the Deluge^
HAT were the inftrumental
Caufes or Means of the Flood ?
Whether was it effeded by na-
tural or fupernatural Means
only ? Whether was Gx> d no
farther concerned in it, than
in- fo ordering Second Caufes at firft, as of
themfelves neceffarily to bring it in atfuch a
tinie ?
First, Thofe that hold this Deluge was
altogether miraculous, and that God Al-
mighty created Waters on purpofe to ferve
this Occafion, and, when they had done their
Work, deftroy'd them again, difpatch'd the
Bufinefs, and loofe or cut the Knot in a few
Words. And yet this Hypothejif is not fo
abfurd and precarious, as at firft Sight it may
feem to be : For the World being akeady
full, there needed not, nor indeed could be
any Creation of Water out of nothing, but
only a Tranfmutation of fome other Body
into Water. Now, if we grant all Natural
Bodies, even the Elements themfelves, to be
mutually tranfmutable, as few Men doubt,
and fome think they can demonftrate , why
might not the Divine Power and Providence
F 3 bring
Confequenc.es df
bring together at that time fuch nasnral A-
gents, as might change the Air, or Mther\
or both together, into Water -, and fo fupply
what was wanting in Rains, and extraordi-
nary Eruptions of Springs. To them that
argue the Improbability of fuch a Change,
from the great Quantity of Air requifite to
the making of a little Water i it may be an-
fwered. That if Air' and all Bodies commixt
with it, were together changed into Water,
they muft needs make a Bulk of Water of
equal Quantity with themfelves, unlefs we
will grant a Peripatetical Condenfation and
Rarefaaion ; and hold that the fame Matter
may have fometimes a greater, fometimcS a
leffer Quantity or Extenfion.
T o this may be replied ; If, indeed, th^
whole World were foil of Body or, Matter^
a Deluge might eafily be effeded this way :
It were but converting the Air and other Bo-
dies mixt with it round the Terraqueous
Globe, to the Height of 1 5 Cubits above the
higheft Mountains into Water, and the Bufl-
nefs were difpatch'd.
But there is another Being in Nature be-
fides Matter or Body, ^iz. a Vacuum^ or
empty Space, which is intermix'd with the
minute Parts of all Bodies. Thofe that have
•more of it interfpers'd among their Parts, are
more rare or thin ; and thofe that have lefs,
more denfe or thick j the rarer Bodies are
alfo lighter, the more denfe heavier^ accor-
ding
the Deluge, 71
according to the Proportion of Matter they
contain. Hence perchance a cubical Foot of
Air may not be equal in Weight to the hun-
dredth Part of a cubical Foot of Water ; and
confequently, an hundred cubical Feet of
Air will be requifite to make, by Converfion,
one cubicd Foot of Water. I take it for
granted here, that the different Weight of
Bodies depends upon the Difference of Mat-
ter they contain, -fo that thofe which have
feweft empty Pores are the heavieft, thofe
that have moft, the iighteft.
This Caufe [the Converfion of Air into
Water] the Learned Jefuite Athanafius Kir-
cher^ in his Book De Area Nc<£^ alledges as
the undoubted inftrumental Cauie or Means
of the Deluge, in thefe Words ; Dico totmtt /7-
lud ae'reu?n Jpathim ufque ad fupre?natn regio-
nem aerfs^ pncfotentis Dei virtutCj in aquay^
per inexplicabile?fi nubium coacervatarum mul-
titudinem^ qua replebatur ^ converfaf?i ^Jf^jjf
cujus ubertas tanta fuit^ ut Aer fuprejr^s
cum infenori in Oceanum comniutatus 'videri
potueritj ?ion naturae viribus^ fed illius. cujus
voluntati & imperio cun^ta fubfunt. That is,
I affir?n^that all that Aereal Space that reaches
up to the fupreme Region of the Air^ Was^ by
the Power of the Omnipotefit God, and In-
ftrwnentality of an inexplicable Multitude of
Clouds amaffed together ^ wherewith it was
filled^ changed into Water ^ fo that the upper
and lower Air might f&em to be tranfmuted
.. F 4 into
•yZ Confequences of
into a?t Ocean^ not by the Strength of Nature,
but of Bhn to whofe Will and Power all things
* Ana, are fubje^f. And he is fo confident * that
isTo^, 1. 2. this Deluge^ in which the Water was raifed
^' ** fifteen Cubits above the htgheft Mountains,
was not, nor could be effeded by natural
Caufes, but by the Right Hand of the moft
High God only j that he faith, ' No Man can
' deny it, but he who doth not penetrate .
* how far the Power of Nature can extend,
* and where it is limited." To conclude, this
tiypothejis hath the Suffrages of moft learned
Men. But, becaufe the Scripture, aifigning
theCaufes or Means of the Inundation, makes
no Mention of any Converfion of Air into
Water, but only of the Breaking up the
Fountains of the Great Deep, and the Open-
ing of the Windows of Heaven, I fuppofe
thofe Caufes may be fufficient to work the
Effect, and that we need not have recourfe
to fuch an Afliftance.
A s for thofe that make the Deluge Topi-
cal, and reftrain it to a narrow Conipafs of
Land, their Opinion is, I think, fufficiently
*z?r.Bur- confuted by a late ingenious "*" Author, to
net. whom, therefore, I referr the Reader.
I SHALL not undertake the Defence or
Confutation of thofe, or any other Hypothefis ;
only tell you which, at prefent, feems to me
moft probable j and that is theirs, who for a
Partial Caufe of the Deluge, alTign either a
Change of the Center of theJEarth, or a yio-
lent
the Deluge. 73
lent DepreiHon pf the Surface of the Ocean,
and a Fo^iftg-tlie Waters up from the fubter-
raneous Abyfs through the Channels of the
Fountains that were then broken up and o-
pened.
First then, let us confider what Caufes
the Scripture ailigns of the Flood i and they
are two. i. The Breaking up the Fountains
of the great Deep. 2. The Opening of the
Windows of Heaven. I Ihall firft treat of
this laft. By the Opening of the Windows
of Heaven, is (I fuppofe) to be underftood
the Caufing of all the Water that was fu-
fpended in the Air to defcend down in Rain
upon the Earth ^ the Effect hereof here men-
tioned being a long continuing Rain of for%y
Natural Days ; and that no ordinary one nei-
ther, but Catarrads or Spouts of Water ; for
fo the Septiiagint interpret the Windows of
Heaven were opened, Kai olI nciTappoLiiTOLi tQ
BpoLvs vivs(hx^m<^v, The Catarra^ts or Spouts of
Heaven were opened. And that thefe Trea-
furies of the Air will afford no fmall Quan-
tity of Water, may be made appear, both by
Scripture and Reafon. i. By Scripture,
which oppofes the Waters that are above the
Heavens or Firmament, to thofethat are un-
der them ; which if they were not I'crop'poToCy
and in fome Meafure equal, it would never
do. Gen, i. 6, God // [aid to make a Fir-
mament in the midft of the Wate^-s^ and to di-
vide the Waters which were und.r the Firma-
ment^
74 Confequences of
mentj frotn the Waters which were abcyve the
Firmament. And this was the Work of a
whole Day, and confequcntly no inconfide-
rable thing. 2. The fame may be made ap-
pear, by Reafon grounded upon Experience.
I myfelf have obferved a Thunder-Cloud in
Paffage, to have in lefs than two Hours Space
poured down fo much Water upon the.
Earth, as, befides what funk into the parch-
ed and thirfty Ground, and filled all Ditches
and Ponds, caufed a confiderable Flood in
the Rivers, fetting all the Meadows on £oat.
[And Dr. Wittie^ in his Scarborough Spaw,
tells us of great Spouts of Rain that ordina-
rily fall every Year, fome time or other, in
S«mmer, that fet the whole Country in a
Flood.] Now had this Cloud, which might,
for ought I know, have moved forty Miles
forward, flood ftill and emptied all its Wa-
ter upon the fame Spot of Ground it firft
hung over, what a fudden and incredible
Deluge would it have made there ? and yet
what Depth or Thicknefs of Vapours might
remain uncondenfed in the Air above this
Cloud, who knows? That the Ocean af-
forded but little, appears in that the Vapours
raifed out of it, and brought up in Clouds,
and poured down upon the Earth in Rain,
are fliortly carried off by the Ffivers, and re-
affumed into the Sea: But if the Waters of
the Flood encompaffed the whole Terraque-
ous Globe, (as is moft probable) then the
Ocean
the Deluge. 75"
Ocean contributed nothing ; for the Water
muft be railed higher above the Superficies of
the Ocean, than that of the dry Land ,• upon
which yet, at the end of the forty Days Rain,
the Waters were (o high as to bear up the
Ark, that it touched not the Ground.
Moreover, after this forty Days vio-
lent and impetuous Rain, it is probable, that
it rained, though more gently and inter-
ruptedly, till the 150th Day, becaufc till
that time the Waters prevailed and encreafed
upon the Earth. All this Water that fell in
Rain, muft be contained in the vaft Treafu-
ries of the Middle and Superior Air, or elfe
immediately created by G o d.
Ip the whole Ocean indeed \yere railed up
in Vapour, and that Vapour condenfed into
Rain, and poured forth upon the dry Land,
and there fufpended and miraculoufly flop-*
ped from going off by the Almighty Power
of God, then might it, together with an
equal Quantity of Water raifed up from the
great Deep, have a confiderable Intereft in the
Deluge. But of this there cannot be any
Proof gathered from the Scriptures.
I RETURN now to the firft Caufe or Means
of the Deluge afifigned by the Scripture,, and
that is, the Breahng up of all the Fountains
of the great Deep. By the great Deep^ in this
Place, I fuppofe, is to be under ftood the fub^
terraneous Waters, which do and muft ne-^
celTarily communicate with the Sea. For we
fee.
7^ Confequences of
fee, that the Cafpian^ and fome other Seas,
receive into themfelves many great Rivers,
and yet have no vifibie Outlets j and there-
fore, by fubterraneous PafTages, muft needs
difcharge their Waters into the Abyfs of Wa-»
ters under the Earth, and by its Intervention
into the Ocean again.
That the Mediterranean Sea doth not (as
I fometimes thought) comriiunicate with the
Ocean by any fubterraneous PalTages, nor
thereby impart any Water to it, or receive
any from it, may be demonftrated, from
that the Superficies of it is lower than the
Superficies of the Ocean, as appears from
the Waters running in at the Streights of
Gibrattar , for if there were any fuch Com-
munications, the Water keeping its Level,
the Mediterranean^ being the loweft, muft
by thofe PafTages receive Waters from the
Ocean i and not the Ocean^ which is (as we
have proved) the higheft from the Medi-
terranean, But that it doth not receive any
by fubterraneous PafTages, is moft likely,
becaufie it receives fo much above Ground.
Hence it neceffarily follows, that the Medi^
terranean fpends more in Vapour than it re-
ceives from the Rivers, which is Mr. Hal-
ley's Conclulion ; though in fome of his Pre-
mifes, or Hypothefes^ he is, I think, miftaken :
As, I. In that he numbers the Tiber amongft
his nine great Rivers, each of which may
yield ten times as much Water as the Thames^
whereas
the Deluge. 77
whereas I queftion whether that yields once
fo much : And whereas he paffes by all the
reft of the Rivers as fmaller than it, there
are two that I have feen in Italy itfelf, where-
of the one, 'u/2. the Arnus^ on which Flo^
rence and Pifa ftand, feemed to me not in-
ferior in Bignefs to the Tiber ; and the o-
ther, i)iz, the Athefu ^ on which Verona
ftands, I could not guefs to be lefs than twice
as big. 2. In that he thinks himfelf too li-
beral in allowing thefe nine Rivers to carry
down each of them ten times fo much Wa-
ter as the Thames doth. Whereas one of
thofe'nindj-.and that none of the biggeft nei-
ther, 'viz, the River Po^ if Ricciolm his Hy^
fothefes and Calculations be good, affords
more Water in an Hour, than Mr. Halley fup-
pofes th&Tha7nes to do in aDay ,* the hour-
ly Effufions of the Po being rated at eigh-
teen Millions of Cubical Paces, by Ricciolm ;
whereas the daily ones of the Thames are
computed to be no more than twenty five
Millions, three hundred forty four thoufand
Cubical Yards of Water, by Mr. Plalley j but
a Geometrical Pace contains five Feet, /. e,
1 1 of a Yard. Now if the Po pours fo much
Water hourly into the Sea, what then muft
the Danow and the Nile do ? each of which
cannot (I guefs) be lefs than treble of the
Po, Tanais^ Boryfthenes^ and Rhodanus^ may
equal, if not exceed it. Howbeit, I cannot
approve Ricciolus his Hypothefes^ judging
them
^^8 Confequences 'of
them to be too exceffive, but do believe that
as to the whole, Mr. Halley comes nearer the
Truth. Sure enough it is, that in the Me-
diterranean^ the Receipts from the Rivers
fall fhort of the Expence in Vapour j though
in Part of it, that is, the Euxine^ the Receipts
exceed, as appears from that there is a con-
ftant Current fets outward from thence
through the Thracian Bofphorus^ and Helle-
fpont.
But though the Mediterranean doth in-
deed evaporate more than it receives from
the Rivers", yet, I believe, the Cafe is npt the
fame with the Cafpian Sea^ the Superficies
whereof feems to me not to bear any great*
er Proportion to the Waters of the Rivers
that run into it, than that of the Euxine
doth to its ; which we have obferved not to
fpend the whole Receipt in Vapour.
You will fay. Why then do not great Floods
raife the Seas ? I anfwer, as to the Cafpian^
if it communicates with the Ocean, whether
the Rivers bring down more or lefs, it's all
one ; if more, then the Water keeping its
Level, the Cafpian raifeth the Ocean ; if lefs,
then the Ocean communicates to the Cafpian^
and raifes that. But as to the Mediterra-
nean^ we may fay, that wt\en it receives
more on the one Side, it receives lefs on the
other, the Floods and Ebbs of the Nilus^ and
the other Rivers, counterbalancing one ano-
ther: Befides, by reafon of the Snows lying
upon
the Deluge. 7p
upon.the Mountains all Winter, the greateft
Floods of thofe great Rivers in Europe do
not happen when the Mediterranean evapo-
rates leaft in the Winter-time, but in the
Spring.
You will demand farther, if the Meditev"
ranean evaporates fo much, what becomes of
all this Vapour ? I anfwer. It is caft off upoa
the Mountains, and on their Sides and Tops
is condenfed into Water, and fo returned a-
gain by the Rivers unto the Sea.
I F you proceed to ask what becomes of
the Surplufage of the Water, which the Me^
diterranean receives from the Ocean^ and
fpends in Vapour 5 I anfwer. It feems tome
that it mufl: be caft farther off over the Tops
of the Mountains, and fupply in part Rain
to thefe Northern Countries ,• for we know
that the South Wind brings Rain with us, and
all Europe over.
Madidis Notus C'volat allr, Ovid. Metam.
A s to the great Ocean, I do not believe
that it evaporates fo much as the Mediterra-
nean : Both, I . Becaufe the \vhole Mediter-
ranean^ excepting the Euxine^ lies in a hot
Climate, and a great Part of it as it were in
a Valley, Ridges of high Mountains, Atlas
on one Side, and the Alp and Afpennme^ &c.
on the other running along it. And, 2. Be-
caufe the Surface of the whole Ocean bears a
greater Proportion to the Waters it receives
from
8d Confequences of
from the Rivers of at leaft this Continent,
• than that of the Mediterranean doth to its.
And therefore I think alfo that Mr.Halley
exceeds in his Eftimate of the Heat of the Sti^
perficies of the Sea Water. I cannot perfuade
niyfelf, that were it all commixt, I mean the
hotter Part with the cooler, all the Surface
over to fuch a Thicknefs, it would equal the
Heat of our Air in the hotteft time of Sum-
mer. But I leave that to farther Tryal and
Enquiry.
Here give me leave to fuggeft, that wc
ar€ not to think, that all the Vapours that
fupply our Rains and Dews proceed from the
Sea i no, a great Part of them, 'viz. all that,
when condenfed, waters the Earth, and ferves
for the Nutrition of Plants and Animals, (if
not the fame individual Water, at leaft lb
much) was exhaled out of the Earth before,
and returned again in Showers and Dews upp-
on it: So that we receive no more from
the Sea, than what the Rivers carry back, and
pour into it again. But fuppoiing Mr. Hal^
lefs Hypothefes to be good, and that the Ocean
doth evaporate, and caft oif to the dry
Land ^^ of an Inch Thicknefs daily, and this
fuffices for the Supply of all the Rivers ; how
intolerably extravagant muft their Hypothec
fcf be, who fuppofe the Rivers of all the World
together to yield half an Ocean of Water
daily ? Though I muft confefs myfelf to be
at a Lofs, as to thofe vaft Rivers of America
of
the Deluge. 8 1
of ninety Miles broad ; for if they Ihould
run with any thing a fwift Current, it is in-
deed ineftimable what a Quantity of Water
they may pour forth. All, therefore, that I
have to f:iy to them, is, That we want a true
Hiftory and Account of their Fhtenomenafvovci
their Fountains to their Outlets.
But in contradiction to what I have faid,
concerning the Water keeping its Level, and
flowing in only at the Straits -Mouthy I un-
derhand, that it is the concurrent and unani-
mous Vote and Suffrage of Mariners, Voya-
gers, and Philofophers,that there is an Under-
Current at the Straits of Gibraltar^ the Thra-^
clan Bofphoruf^ and the Balticl Sound, Par-
ticularly, M, Marjilly affirms. That the low-
er Water in the Channel of the Thracian
Bofphorus is driven Northward into the E«-
xine Sea, whiift the upper flows conftant-
ly from the Euxine Southward : And, That
that which flows from the South is falter
and heavier i which he found by letting
down a Veffel clofe fhut up, fitted with a
Valve to open at pleafure, and let in the low-
eft Water, which being brought up and weigh-
ed, was obferved to be ten Grains heavier
than the upper. That the upper and lower
flows contrary ways, he found by the Filher-
mens Nets, which being let down deep from
Veflels that were fixed, were always, by the
Obfervation of the Filliermen, by the Force
of the Current driven towards the Blacl Sea^
G and
82 Confeqiiences of
and by the letting down of a Plummet , for
if it were ftopp'd and detained at about five
or fix Foot depth, it did always decline to-
wards the Marmora or PropoJitif ; but if it
defcended lower, it was driven to the con-
trary part, that is, the Euxine. But, I think,
thefe Experiments are not fufficient to efta-
blilh and demonftrate fuch anUnder-Currenr,
becaufe, poflfibly there might be feme Miftake
in them : And Mr. Smith mentions no fuch
thing as any Under-Current tliere. But yet
the fame Mr. Smith endeavours to prove an
Under- Current, by two Experiments: The
firft is, the Running-Tide and Half-Tide ici
the Offing^ between the North-Foreland and
South-Foreland, Now where it flows Tide
and Half-Tide, though the Tide of Flood
runs aloft, yet the Tide of Ebb runs under^
foot, that is, clofe by the Ground. SeQ
Philofophical Tranfatiiom ^ Numb. 158.
p. 564.
The fecond is, an Experiment made in
the Baltic^ Sound: In one of the King's
Fregats they went with their Pinnace into
the middle Stream, and were carried vio-
lently by the Current : Soon after, they
funk a Bucket with a large Cannon Bullet,
to a certain Depth of Water, which gave
check to the Boat's Motion , and finking it
ftill lower and lower, the Boat was driven a-
head to Windward againft the Upper-Cur-
rent, the Current aloft being not above four
or
the Deluge. 83
or five Fathom deep j and the lower the Buc-
ket was let fall, they found the Under-Cur-
rent the ftronger.
To all this I reply ; That I do not under-
ftand how Waters can run backward and for-
ward in the fame Channel, at the fame time.
For there being but one Declivity ,• this is as
much to affirm, as that a heavy Body lliould
afcend. It is a CrofTmg of Proverbs, ''Avw
TTorcifjMv^ making Rivers afcend to their
Fountains, affirming that to be done, which
all the World hitherto hath lookM upon as
abfurd and impoffible. And, therefore, the
Matter of Fad had need be well attefted :
Which, when to me it (hall be, I rauft then,
7nanus dare^ yield up the Bucklers, and ftu-
dy fome Means to folve the Ph^no?nena,
Suppose we, that the Mediterranean em-
pties itfelf into the Ocean by an Under-Cur-
rent ,• there muft be a Declivity to carry it
down, and, confequently, the upper Super-
ficies of this Under-Current muft have its De-
clivity too, and like wife the contiguous Su-
perficies of the Upper-Current ; and fo, the
Upper-Current muft needs afcend in its
Courfe inwards. If you fay, it's forc'd in by
the Motion of the Ocean, that feems unlike-
ly, becaufe it runs in conftantly, as well Ebb
as Flood. And, therefore, there feems to be
no better Account of it than the Superficies
of the Ocean being higher than that of the
Mediterranean*
G z But
84 Confequences of
B u T to put this Matter out of all doubt,
that learned and curious Obferver of all Na-
tural and Artificial Rarities that came in his
way, Mr. '/j-ohn Greu'ves^ in whofe time there
was no talk of anUnder-Current at th^Straits-
Mouthy but of contrary-lide ones, affirms of
his own Knowledge and Obfervation, T'hat
it was a great Miftah^ and that there was no
fuch thing as a contrary Current^ but that the
Water flowed equally inward^ as well on the
one fide of the Channel as on the other. Pyra-
midograph. f. 10I5I02.
By the Breaking up of the Fountains of
the Great Veep^ is, I conceive, meant, the
making great Kfues and Apertures for thefe
fubterraneous Waters to rufh out. You will
fay, how could that be, fith the Water keeps
its Level, and cannot afcend to a greater
Height above the common Center, than the
Superficies of the Sea is, much lefs force its
Way, remove Obftacles, and break open Paf-
fages ?
I AN sw E R, According to them that hold
that all Rivers come from the Sea by fub-
terraneous PafTages, it is no more than daily
happens. For they muft needs grant, that
the Water in fubterraneous Channels, is rai-
fed as far above the Level of the Ocean,
as are the Heads and Fountains of great Ri-
vers. Which, confidering the Height of their
firft Springs up the Mountains, the Length
of their Courfcs, and the Swiftnefs of their
Streams
the Deluge. 8^
Streams for a great part of the Way, \s very
confiderablc, a conftant Declivity being ne-
ceffary to their Defcent. And, therefore, I
can by no means affent to the Learned Do-
dor Flot^ (if I underftand him aright) "" T^hat * Hiji.
the Valleys are as- much below the Surface of ^-it-stj/-
the Sea^ as Mountains are abo've it. For, ■|,^'^^' .
how then could Rivers defccnd down to the
Sea through thofe Valleys ? The Sea would
rather run into them, and make Sinus's ; or
elfe, if they were enclofed, the Water would
ftagnate there, and make Pools.
I F this be done by way of Filtration (which
feems to be the moft likely Means of raifing
the Water) I do not fee, but thefe Filters may
fuck up the whole Ocean ; and if Apertures
and Outlets large enough were made, pour
it out upon the Earth in no long time. But
I cannot be fully reconciled to this Opinion,
though it hath great Advocates, efpecially
the fore-mentioned very learned and inge-
nious Perfon, Dr. Robert Plot, I acknow-
ledge fubterraneous Waters : I grant a Con-
fluence and Communication of Seas by Un-
der-ground Channels and Paffages : I believe,
that wherever one Ihall dig as deep as the
Level of the Sea, he ihall feldom fail of Wa-
ter j the Water making its wuy through Sand,
and Gravel, and Stones. In like manner, as it
is obferved of the River Seine^ that in Flood-
times all the neighbouring Wells and Cellars
are filled with Water, and when the River
G 3 decreases
S6 Confequences of
decreafes and finks again, thofe Waters alfo
of the Wells and Cellars diminilli, and by de-
grees fall back into the River, fo that there
are fcarce any Wells or Fountains in the
Plains near the River, but their Waters keep
the Level of the Rivers, rifing and falling
with it.
But this inferior conftant Circulation and
perpetual Motion of Water^ feems to me not
yet fufficiently proved and made out. I think
that the Patrons and Abettors of this Opi-
nion,' have not fatisfai^torily demonftrated,
how it is, or can be performed. To what
is offered concerning the Center of Gravity
being nearer to our Continent, by reafon of
the Preponderancy of the Earth, and the
Waters lying, as it were, on an Heap in the
other Hemiiphere, I anfwer, i. That in the
prefent terraqueous Globe, the New Wbrld^
which lies between the two great Seas, and
almoft oppolite to our Continent, doth in*
fome meafure counterpoife the 0/^, and take
off a great part of the Advantage, which, by
reafon of its Preponderancy, it might other-
wife have. Moreover, 1 am of Mr. Brier-
wood's Opinion, that there may be, and is a
vaft Continent toward the Southern Pole,
oppofite to Europe and Afia^ to counterpoife
them on that fide , nay, I do verily believe,
that the Continents and Iflands are fo pro-
portionabJy fcattered and difpofed all the
World over,. as if not perfedly and exadly,
yet
the Deluge^ 87
yet very nearly to counter-balance one ano-
ther; fo that the Globe cannot waiter or
reel towards any Side : And that the Center
of the Convex Superficies of the 5 zi^ is the
true Center of the whole Terre{<:r:al Sphere,
both of Motion, and of Gravity. I add alfo
of Magnitude, which is exceedingly con-
venient, as well for the Facility as the Equa-
bility of the Earth's Diurnal Motion. This
Hypothefis of the Continent's being difpers'cl
equally on all Sides of the Globe, makes thefe
Centers concurr in one Point, whatever Caufe
we aflign of the railing up the dry Land at
firft. Whereas if we Hiould fuppofe the dry
Land to have been raifed up by Earthquakes
only on one Side of the Globe, and to have
caft off the Water to. the other, and alfo that
the Waters could find no Way into the Ca-
verns that were left within j then the watery
Side muft needs preponderate the Land Side,
and bring the Center of Gravity nearer to
its own Superficies^ and fo raife the Land
ftill a great deal higher, and make a confide-
rable Diftance between the Centers of Mag-
nitude, and of Gravity. In our Hypothefis
of the equal Difperfion of the Continents
and Iflands, no fuch thing would happen, but
each Continent, taking it with all its internal
Caverns, whether lighter or heavier than its
Bulk in Water, that is, whether the Water
did make its way into the Caverns thereof,
or did not, ffor in the firft Cafe it would be
G 4 heavier.
5 \
88 Conjequences of
heavier, in the fecond lighter) would have
its Counterpoife on the oppofite Side, fo that
the Centers would ftill concurr. The Cafe
would be the fame, if the dry Land were
difcovered, and the Mountains raifed by the
immediate Application of the Divine Power.
2. The Sea being no where above a Gerrnan
Mile deep, (for which we have good Au-
thority) in mod Places not half fo much,
taking then, as a Middle Term, half a Mile.
Suppofe it every where half a Mile deep,
(the Earth below the Sea, we have no rea-
lon to fuppofe of different Gravity) what
Proportion hath this half Mile's Thicknefs of
Water to the whole Terraqueous Globe,
whofe Semidiameter is, by the Account of Ma-
thematicians, Three thoufand four hundred
and forty ItalianMilts^ What little Advan-
tage then can it have of the Earth oppoEte to
it, in Point of Preponderancy ? 3 . Granting
the Center of Gravity Ihould be nearer our
Continent: The Center being the loweft
Place, and the Water a fluid Body, unlefs
flopped, (which it might indeed be, if it were
encompalTcd round with high Shores, as high
as the Mountains, without any Breaks or
Outlets in them) where it found Declivity,
it would defcend as near as it could to it,
without any Regard of the Earth's Preponde-
rani:y. And though we fhould grant, that
the Drynefs of the Shores might ftop it, and
caufe it to lie on a Heap, yet would it run up
the
the Deluge. 89
the Channels of Rivers, till it come as near
as poflible to tW Center of Gravity. Indeed
the Rivers themfelves could not dcfcend, but
muft run towards the Middle of the Conti-
nent! All this, 1 think, will follow from this
Hypothefif by as good Confequence, as the
Waters being forced through the Subterra-
neous Channels out at the Springs. Dr.HooFs
Opinion, That the Preponderancy of the
fait Water above the frelh, raifes up the frefli
Water above the Level of the fait, as high as
the Springs and Fountain-Heads, and forces
it out there, would have a great Probability
in it, were there continued ftrait Channels
or Conduits from the Bottom of the Sea to
the Eruption of Springs, which I believe
there are not. I do not peremptorily affirm,
that all Fountains do proceed from Rain;
only I contend, that Rain may fuffice to feed
them, and that probably it doth feed ordi-
nary Springs. This the ingenious French
Author doth well demonftrate in the River
Seine^ and I believe it is demonftrable in
moft other Rivers.
The little Brook that runs near my Dwel-
ling, and hath its Head or Source not above
four or five Miles off, where there is no ex-
traordinary Eruption of Water, all along its
Courfe receives fmall Rivulets on both Sides ;
which though they make a confiderable
Stream at five Miles Diftance from the Foun-
tain-FIead, yet fingly are fo fmall, that they
may
po , Confequences of
may very well be conceived to drain down
from the higher Grounds that lie about
them. And taking the whole together, it is
a very confiderable Length and Breadth of
Land, that contributes to the Maintenance
of this little River : So that it may eafily be
believed, that all its Water owes its Original
to Rain : Efpecially, if it be confidered far-
ther, that in Winter-time, after the Rains are
fallen, the Ground fated, and the Ditches
full, the Stream of this River, during the
whole Winter following, is for the moft
part, unlefs in Frofts, double of what it was
in Summer. Which Excefs can proceed
from nothing but Rain and Mifts ; at leaft
it would be Rafhnefs to affign any other
Caufe, when there is fo obvious and mani-
feft an one. Moreover, that Rain affords no
fhiall Quantity of Water, is clear alfo from
great Floods, wherein it might be proved,
that in few Days there defcends more Wa-
ter than would fupply the ordinary Stream
for a good part of Summer. Now, to com-
pare great Things with fmallj I have fcen
many of the biggeft Rivers in Europe^ the
DanoWj Rhine, Rhofne^ and Po; and when
I confider the Length of their Courfes, the
Multitude of confiderable Rivers and Brooks
they receive ,• and all thefe from their firft
Rife, made up by Degrees of little Rivulets
and Gills, like my neighbouring Brook ; the
huge Mountains and vaft Extent of higher
Grounds
the Deluge. 91
Grounds they drain : Tome it feems (and
I have feen all dicir Streams near their Out-
lets, except the Vanow'Sy and its after four
hundred Miles Dcfcent) that they do not
bear any greater Proportion to the Rivers and
Rivulets they receive, and the immenfe
Tra<5t5 of Land that feed them, than my
Brook doth to its^mall Rills and Compafs of
Ground.
But in this, I confefs, I do not defcend to
the Nicenefs of Meafuring and Calculation,
but fatisfy myfelf with rude Conjedures^
taking my Meafures, as the Ceftriam fiiy, by
the Scale of the Eye.
It will here be objedcd, That the Rain
never finh above ten Toot deep at ?noft into
the Earthy and therefore cannot fupply the
Spings,
Anfw, This indeed, i^ it were true,
would much enervate, nay, quite overthrow
our Opinion : And therefore we muft forti-
fy this Point, and effedually demonftrate,
beyond all PoiTibiiity of Denial or Contra-
didion. That Rain-water doth fink down,
and make its Way into the Earth; I do not
lay, ten, or twenty, nor forty, but an hun-
dred, nay, two or three hundred Foot, or
more.
First then, in Pool-Hole^ in the Peal of
Derbyjhire^ there are in fome Places conftant
Droppings and Deftillations of Water from
the Roof: Under each of which (to note that
by
5)2 Confequences of
by the by) rifes up a Stone Pillar, the Water
precipitating fonie of thofe ftony Particles,
which it had waflicd off the Rocks in paflfing
through their Chinks. Thefe Droppings
continue all the Summer long. Now it
feems clear to me, that the Rain-water ma-
king its Way through the Veins and Chinks
of the Rocks above it, and yet but (lowly,
by reafon of the Thicknefs of the Mountain,
and Straitnefs of the PafTages, fupplies that
Dropping all the Year round i at leaft, this is
much more rational than any different H}'-
potbefis. If the Water diftills down fafter in
Winter-time and wet Weather, than it doth
in Summer (which I forgot to ask) the Ex-
periment would infallibly prove our Alfer-
tion. In Confirmation of this Argument,
Alkrtuf Magnus (as I find him quoted in
Dr. Wittie's Scarborough Spaw) tells us, That
at the Bottom of a [olid Rock one hundred and
thirty Fathoms deep^ he [aw Drops of Water
dijiilling from it in a rainy Seafon,
Secondly, It is well known, and attefted
to me by the People at Buxton when I was
there. That out of the Mouth of the fame
Fool-Hole^ after great and long continuing
Rains, a great Stream of Water did ufually
iffue forth : And I am fure it muft make its
Way through a good Thicknefs of Earth, or
Rocks, before it could come in there.
Thirdly, What becomes of all the Water
that falls on Newmarket-Heath^znd Gog?nagog
Hills,
the Deluge. p^
Hills., I prefume alfo Salisbm-^-Plain^ and
the like fpungy Grounds all Winter long,
wh:rc we fee very little run off any way ?
It niuft needs fink into the Ground more
tlian ten Foot deep.
Fourthly^ Many Wells, w^hofe Springs
lie at leaft twenty Foot deep, we find by
Experience, do often fail in great Droughts
in Summer-time.
F I F T H L Y, In Coal Delfs, and other Mines,
in wet Weather the Miners are many times
drown'd out, (as they phrafe it) though no
Water runs down into the Mouths of their
Pits or Shafts. Nay, Dr. Wittie tells us, in
his Defcription of the Vertues of the Scarbo-
row Spaw^ pag. 105. That after great Imin-
dations of Rain^ the Minerr find the Water
freque?itly diftlllmg through the folid Earth
upon their Heads j whereas in Summer^ or dry
SeafonSj they find no Interruption fro?n thence
at all.
Farther, to confirm this Particular, I
wrote to my Honoured Friend Sir Thomas
Williighby^ Bar. deliring him to examine
his Colliers concerning it, and fend me Word
what Report they make i and from him re-
ceived this Account : If there be Springs lie
before you come at the Coal^ they carry the
Water away i but if there be none^ it falls in-
to the Works in greater or lefs Quantity^ ac-
cording as the Rains fall. Which Anfwer is
fo much the ijiore confiderable, in that it
gives
^4 Confequences of
gives me a farther clear Proof, that Springs
are fed by Rain-water, and not by any Com-
munications from the Sea i their Original be-
ing above the Beds of Coal, they receiving
the Rain-water into their Veins, and deriving
it all along to their Fountains or Eruptions,
above the Coals.
1 MIGHT add out of him, [Dr. Wittie] Fifth-
ly, p. 85. T^hat the Scarborough Spaw, not-
withftanding it breah out of Ground within
three or four Tards off the Foot of the Cliffy
which is near forty Tardy high^ arid within a
Quarter of a Mile there /; another Hill^ that is
ifiore than as high again as the Cliffy arid a
Defcent all the way to the Cliffy fo as the Rain-
water ca?mot lie long upon the Ground ; yet it
is obfervable^ that after a long Rain^ the Wa-
ter of the Spaw is altered in its T'afte^ and
leffened in its Operation j whereas a rainy Day
or two will not fenfibly hurt it. And now I
am tranfcribing out of this Author, give me
Leave to add an Obfervation or two in Con-
firmation of Rains being the Original of
Springs. Thefirftis (pag.^j,) this:
In England, in theTears 1654, 55, and 5^.
when our Climate was drier than ever it had
been inentioned to be in any Stories^ fo as we
had very little Rain in Summer^ or Snow in
Winter^ mofl of our Springs were dried up^
fitch as in the Memory of the eldeft Men li-
ving had never wanted Water ^ but were of
thofe Springs we call Fonces Perennes, or at
leaft
:M:-
the Deluge. ^^
leafl were ejleevied fo. He inftances alfo a
parallel Story out of Heylin's Geography^ in
the Defcription of Cyprm^ where the Au-
thor relates ; 'that in the Days o/Conftantine
the Great ^ there was an exceeding long Drought
there^ fo as ir} thirty fix Tears they had w
Rain^ infoiniich as all the Springs and Tor-
rents^ or Ri'vers^ were dried up ; fo that the
Inhabitants were forced to forfake the Ifland^
and to feek for 7iew Habitations for want of
freJJj Water,
The fecond is, p, 84. That in the Wolds
or Downs 0/ Yorkfhire they have?nany Springs
break out after great Rains , which they
call Gypiies, which jet a?id fpout up a great
Height.
Neither is this Eruption of Springs after
long Rains, proper and peculiar only to the
Wolds of Torkfljire^ but common to other
Countries alfo, as Dr.'^CMJr^^witnelfeth, in *Briun-
thefe Words : Sometimes there breaks out nU ba-
Water in the manner of a fudden Land Floods ^^^^^^
out of certain Stones^ that are like Rocks
ftanding aloft in open Fields^ near the Rifing
of the River Kynet [/« Kent] which is repu-
ted by the common People a Fore-runner of
Dearth. That the fudden Eruption of Springs
in Places where they ufe not always to run^
JJjould be a Sign of Dearth ^ is no Wonder. For
thefe unufual Eruptions^ {which in Kent we call
Nailbourns) are caufed by extreme Gluts of
Rain^ or lajting wet Weather^ and never hap-
pen
^6 Confequences of
pen but in wet Tears -^ witnefs the Tear 154S.
when there were many of them ; and to our
Purpofe "Very remarkable it was^ that in the
Tear 165 4. fe-veral Springs and Rivulets were
quite dried up^ by reafon of the precedent
Droughty which raged moji in 1651, 16^2^
and 1653. As the Head oj the Stour, that
rifes ^f^rEltham in Kent^ and runs through
Canterbury, was dry jor fome Miles Space '':
And the like happened to the Stream that crof-
feth the Road-way between Sittingburn a?id
Canterbury, at Ofpring near Feverfliam,
which at other times ran with a plentiful Cur-
rent^ but then wholly failed. So we fee that
it is not infrequent for new Springs to break
out in wet Years -, and for old ones to fail in
great D roughts. And Strabo^ in his firft Book
out of Xanthus the Lydian^ tells us, 'That in
the Time 0/ Artaxerxes, there was fo great a
Droughty that Rivers^ and Lahs^ and Wells
of Witter failed^ and were dried up,
I CANNOT here alfo forbear to add, the pro-
bable Account he [Dr. Wittie'] gives of the
Supply of the Spring-Well on the Caftle-Hili
at Scarborough i at which, I confefs, I was
fomewhat puzzled. This Well^ faith he, though
it be upon the Top of the Rocky ?iot many Tards
deep^ and alfo upon the Edge of the Cliffy is^
doubtlefsy fupplied by fecret Channels within
the Ground^ that convey the Rain and Showers
into it^ being placed on a dependent Fart of
the Rock ; near unto which^ there are alfo CeU
lars
the Deluge. py
lars under an old ruinated Cbappel^ which^ after
a great Rain^ are full of Water ^ but are dried
up in a long Drought,
A s for what is faid concerning the River
IVogla's pouring out fo much Water into the
Cafpian Sea^ as in a Year's time would make
lip a Mafs of Water equal to the Globe of
the Earth ; and of the hourly Effufions of
the River Po in Italy^ which Ricciolus hath
computed to amount to 18000000 cubical
Paces of Water ,• whence a late learned Wri-
ter hath probably inferred, that all the Ri-
vers in the World together, do daily dif-
charge half an Ocean of Waters into the Sea ;
I muft confefs myfelf to be unfatisfied there-
with. I will not queftion their Calculations,
but I fufped they are out in their Hypothe^
fey.
The Opinion of Mr. Edmund Halley^ that
Springs and Rivers owe their Original to
Vapours condenfed on the Sides of Moun-
tains, rather than unto Rains, I acknowledge
to be very ingenious, grounded upon good
Obfervations, and worthy of its Author ; and
I will not deny it to be in part true, in thofe
hot Countreys in the Torrid Zone, and near
it ; where, by reafon of the great Heats, the
Vapours are more copioufly exhaled out of
the Earth, and, it's likely, carried up high in
the Form of Vapours. The inferiour Air, at
leaft, is fo charged with them, and by that
means fo very moift, that, in fome Places,
H their
^8 Confeqiiences of
their Knives ruft even in their Pockets ; and
in the Night, fo very freih and cold, partly
alfo by reafon of the Length of the Nights ;
that expofing the Body to it, caufes Colds and
Catarrhs, and is very dangerous : Whence
alfo their Dews are fo great, as in good mea-
fure to recompenfe the Want of Rain, and
ferve for the Nourilhment of Plants i as they
do even in Spain itfelf.
I SHALL firft of all propofe this Opinion in
the Words of the Author, and then difcourfe
a little upon it. After he had enumerated
many of the high Ridges and Tracts of
Mountains in the four Quarters of the World,
he thus proceeds : Each of which far furpafs
the ufual Height to which the aqueous Vapours
of the??ifehes afcend^ and on the Tops of which
the Air is fo cold and rarified^ as to retain
but a fmall Fart of thofe Vapours that fljall be
brought thither by the Winds, Thofe Vapours^
therefore^ that are raifed copioufly in the Sea^
and by the Winds^ are carried o^er the low
Land's to thofe Ridges of Mountains^ and are
there compelled Jjy the Stream of the Air^to mount
up with it to the Tops of the Mountains^ where
the Water prefently precipitates gleeting down
by the Crannies of the Stone ; and part of the
Vapour entring into the Ca'vities of the Hills^
the Water thereof gathers ^ as in an Ale?nbicJi,
into the Bafons of Stone it finds y which be-
ing o?ice filled^ all the O'verplus of Water that
comes thither^ runs over by the lowefi Place^
and
the Deluge. pp
and brealing out by the Sides of the HilU^
forms fingle Springs. Many of thefe running
down by the Valleys^ or Guts ^between the Ridges
of the Hills ^ and coming to unite ^ form little
Ri'vulets or Brooh. Many of thefe^ again^
meeting in one common Valley ^ and gaining
the plain Ground^ being grown lefs rapid^ be-
come a River : And many of thefe being united
in one common Channel^ juake fuch Streams^
as the Rhine, and RhofnCj and the Danube j
which latter one would hardly think the Col-
Mtion of Water condenfed out of Vapour^ un-
lefs we confider how vaji a Tra^f of Ground
that River dMns^ and that it is the Sum of
all thofe Springs^ which break out on the South--
Jide of the Carpathian Mountains ^ and on the
North-fide of the i?n?ftenfe Ridge of the Alps^
which is one contained Chain of Mountains
from Switzerland to the Black Sea. And it
may almofl pafs for a Rule^ that the Magni-
tude of a River ^ or the ^lantity of Water it
evacuates^ is proportionable to the Length and
Height of the Ridges^ from whence its Foun-
tains arife. Now this Theory of Springs is
not a bare Hypothefis, but founded on Expe-
rience^ which it was my Luck to gain in my
Abode at S, Helena i where ^ in the Night-time^
on the Tops of the Hills ^ about Eight hundred
Tards above the Sea^ there was fo firange a
Condenfation^ or rather Precipitation of the
Vapours^ that it was a great Impediment to
my Celeftial Obfervations i for^ in the clear
H 2 Sky^
lOO Confequences of
Sk% the Dew would fall fo faft^ as to conjetr
each half-quarter of an 'Hour ;//y Glaffes with
little Drops ^ fo that I was necejjitated to wife
them off fo often j a7td my Paper ^ on which I
wrote ?ny OSfervationSj would immediately be
fo wet with the Dew^ that it would not bear
hiTi : By which it may be fuppofed^ how faft
the Witter gathers in thofe mighty high Ridges
I but now named. At laft he concludes :
And I doubt not but this Hypothefis is more
reafonable^ than that of thofe who derive all
Springs from the Rain-waters^ which yet are
perpetual^ and without Diminution^ even when
no Rain falls for a long fpace of Time,
This may, for ought I as yet fee or know,'
be a good Account of the Original of
Springs in thofe fervid Regions, though even
there, I doubt, but partial i but in Europe^
and the more temperate Countries, I believe
the Vapours in this manner condenfed, have
but little Intercft in the Produ(5tion of them,
though I will not wholly exclude them.
For,
• Firfl^ The Tops of the Alps above the
Fountains of four of the greateft Rivers in
Europe^ the Rhine^ the Rhofne^ the Danow^
and the Fo^ arCj for about fix Months in the
Year, conftantly covered with Snow, to a
great thicknefs ^ fo that there are no Va-
pours all that while that can touch thofe
Mountains, and be by them condenfed into
Water i there falls nothing there but Snow,
and
the "Deluge . loi
and that continuing all that while on the
Ground without Diifolution, hinders all Ac-
cefs of Vapours to the Earth j if any rofe, or
were by Winds carried fo high in that Form,
as I am confident there are not. And yet, for
all that, do not thofe Springs fail, but con-
tinue to run all Winter ^ and it is likely too,
without Diminution i which is a longer time
than Droughts ufually laft j efpecially, if we
confider that this Want of Supply is con-
ftant and annual -, whereas. Droughts are but
rare and accidental. So that we need not
wonder any more, that Springs Ihould con-
tinue to run, and without Diminution too,
in times of Drought. True it is, that thofe
Rivers run low all Winter, fo far as the Snow
extends, and to a good diftance from their
Heads j but that is for want of their acciden-
tal Supplies from Showers. Nay, I believe,
that even in Summer, the Vapours are but
rarely raifed fo high in a liquid Form in
the free Air, remote from the Mountains,
but are frozen into Snow, before they arrive
at the Height. For the Middle Region of the
Ai}\ where the Walk of the Clouds is^ at
leaft thefuperiour part of it, isfo cold, as to
freeze the Vapours that afcend fo high, even
in Summer-time. For we fee, that in the
Height and Heat of Summer, in great Thun-
der-ftorms, for the moft part it hails : Nay,
in fuch Tempefts I have feen mighty Show-
ers of great Hail-ftones fall, fome as bi^ as
H 3 Nut-
I02 Confequences of
Nutmegs or Pigeons Eggs j and in fome pla-
ces, fuch Heaps of them, as would load Dung-
Carts, and have not been difTolved in a day
or two. At the fame Seafons, I have obfer-
ved, in fome Showers, Hail-ftones fall of ir-
regular Figures, and throughout pellucid,
like great Pieces of Ice, with feveral Snags
or Fangs iffued out of them : Which, how
they could be fupportedin the Air till tbey a-
mounted to that Bulk and Weight, is a thing
worthy to be more curioufly confidered.
For either they muft fall from an incredible
Height, the Vapours they encountred by the
Way, condenfing, and, as it were, cryftallizing
upon them into Ice, and in time augmenting
them to that Bulk ; or elfe, there muft be
fome ftrange and unknown Faculty in the
Air to fuftain them. That the fuperiour Air
doth fupport heavy Bodies better than the
inferiour, the Flight of Birds feems to be a
clear Demonftration. For, when they are
mounted up on High, they fly with lets Fa-
tigue, and move forward, with greater Faci-
lity, and are able to continue longer upon
the Wing without DelafTation, than in the
lower Air they could polTibly do. And^there-
fore, when they are to make great Flights,
they foar aloft in the Air, at a great Height
above the Earth. So have I often feen a
a Flock of Wild-geefe mounted fo high, that
though their Flight be fwift, they feemed to
make but little Way in a long time, and to
pro-
the Deluge. lo
proceed on their Journey with eafe, and very
leifurely, by reafon of their Diftance. And
yet one would think, this were contrary to
Reafon, that the lighter Air, fuch as is the
fuperiour, fhould better fupport a weighty
Body than the heavier, that is, the inferiour.
Some imagine, that this comes to pafs by
reafon of the Wind, which is conftantly mo-
ving in the upper Air, which fupports any
Body that moves contrary to it. So we fee
that thofe Paper-kites which Boys make, are
raifed in the Air, by running with them con-
trary to the Wind : And when they are ad-
vanced to a great Height, do but flick down
the nether End of the Line, to which they are
faftned, into the Ground, they will be conti-
nued by the Wind at the fame Height they
were, fo long as it lafts and abides in the
fame Quarter. In like manner, the Birds fly-
ing contrary to the Wind, it fupports and
keeps them up. But if this were the only
Reafon, methinks it lliould not be fo ealie,
but rather very laborious for Birds to fly
againft the Wind, fo as to make any confide-
rable Progrefs in the fuperiour Air, as we
fee they do. And, therefore, poiTibly they
may be nearer the Right, who fuppofe, that
the Gravity of Bodies decreafes proportion-
ably to their Diftance from the Earth ; and
that a Body may be advanced fo high, as
quite to lofe its Gravity and Inclination, or
Tendency to the Center : Of which I do not
H 4 fee
I04 Confequences of
fee how it is poflible to make Experiment;
For, to what is faid by fome, to have been
tried, that a Bullet fhot perpendicularly up-
ward out of a great Gun, never defcended
again, I give no credit at all.
But to leave that, it is certain, that the
Vapours, after they are mounted up to a
confiderable Height in the Air, are congeal-
ed and turned into the immediate component
Principles of Snow, in which Form I con-
ceive they acquire a Lightnefs, and are apt
to afcend higher than they could do, Ihould
they retain the Form of a humid Vapour j
as, we fee. Ice is lighter than Water, out of
which it is frozen. But whether this be the
reafon of their Afcent, or not^ I am fure of
the Matter of Fadt, that thefe Snow-Clouds
do afcend far above the higheft Tops of
the Alps i For, palling over a Mountain in
the Grifons Country, on the very Ridge of
them, in the beginning of the Spring, it
fnowed very faft during my whole Paffage
for fix hours ; and yet the Clouds feemed to
be as far above my Head, as they do here in
England ; and a great Height they muft be,
for the Snow to gather into fo great Flakes,
and to continue fo long falling ; nay, it may
be three times fo long. Moreover, we fee,
that the higheft Pil^|^nd Summits of thofe
Mountains are covered with Snow. And I
am affured, that all the Winter long, at inter-
valSj it inows upon the Tops of the Alps,
. " 2. In
the Deluge. lo^
2. In the Spring-time, when the Snow dif-^
{blves, fome of thefe Rivers that flow down
from the Alpine Mountains, run with a full
Stream, and overflow their Banks, in clear
Sun-lliine Weather, though no Rain falls, as
I myfelf can witnefs ,• and, therefore, I pre-
fume, that all the reft do fo too, as the Inha-
bitants affirmed. But, in the Summer-time,
after the Snow hath been fome time melted,
their Streams decay again, notwithftanding
any Vapours condenfed upon them, propor-
tionable to the Droughts ^ neither are there
any Floods, but upon Falls of Rain.
3 . T H A T the Snow diffolved, and foaking
into the Earth, is the Original of the Alpine
Springs ; a probable Argument may be taken
from the Colour of the Water of thofe Ri-
vers which defcend from the Alp^^ at leaft on
this Northern-fide, which I obferved to be of
of a Sea-green, even to a great diftance from
their Heads j which, whence can it proceed,
unlefs from the nitrous Particles of the Snow-
water, of which they confift ? Another alfo
from the Bronchocele^ or "^ guttitrine Tumour^ * Swoin
an Endemial Difeafe of the Natives of thofe Throats.
Parts, which Phyficians and Naturalifts at-
tribute to the Water they drink, not without
good Reafon ^ becaufe, fay they, it confifts
of melted Snow, whi^i^ives it that malig-
nant Quality, f Scaliger fpeaking of this \DeSuh.
Difeafe, faith, Jd ab aqua fit e jiivibus lique- t'^'«- ^'^•
fastis ^ qUi£ multum terreflris & cmdi continent, sei. 2.*
But
Io6 Confeqtiences of
But becaufe Julius Palmarms may poffibly
be in the right, who imputes this Difeafe to
the Steams of the Minerals, efpecially Mer-
curial, wherewith thefe Mountains abound,
which infed the Waters, and render them
noxious to the nervous Parts , I fliall not in-
(ift upon this Particular.
In confirmation of what I have faid con-
cerning the Original of the Alpine Springs,
I fhall add the Opinion of the Learned Al-
phonfus Borellus^ concerning the Fountains
fpringing up, or iffuing out of the Sides of
Mount j/Etna in Sicily.. They are probably
(faith he) either generated^ or at leaft en~
creafed^ frotn the melting of the Snow^ which
doth perpetually occupy the Top of the Moun-
tain, And this is ?nanifeft^ in that they are
not diminijhed, nor decreafe in Summer^ as elfe-
where it happens^ but often flow more plenti-
fully. Lib. De incendiis JEtnx,
What Mr. Halley faith of Springs, That
they are perpetual, and without Diminution,
even when no Rain falls, for a long Space of
Time. If he underftands it generally of all
Springs, I add, that are accounted quick
ones too, I deny his Affertion : That fome
there may be of that Nature, I grant. A Rea-
fon whereof may be given, "viz, that the
Outlet is too fmall 10 empty the Water of
all the Veins and Earth that lie above it in a
long time. In our Native Country of Eng-
land^ there are living and lafting Springs ri-
fmg
the Deluge. 107
fing at the Feet of our fmall Hills and Hil-
locks, to which, I am fure, the Vapours con-
tribute very little \ which is fo obvious to
every Man, that, I think, I need not fpend
time to prove it.
Yet muft I not diflemble or deny, that in
the Summer-time the Vapours do afcend, or
are carried up in that Form, by the Sides of
the Mountains to their higheft Tops, and a-
bove them ^ for there falls no Snow there, in
the Heat of Summer ,• and that which lies
there, is, for the moft part, diffolved. But
that Rain falls, plentifully there, I myfelf
can witnefs ; having been on the two higheft
Tops of the Mount Juva^ (which keeps the
Snow all Winter) on the one called Thuiri
in a Thunder-fliower ; and on the other, cal-
led la DolaZj in a fmart and continuing Rain :
So that I will not deny, but in Summer-time
the Vapours may contribute fomewhat to the
Springs ; as I have elfewhere intimated :
Clouds almoft continually hanging upon the
Tops of the Mountains, and the Sun having
there but little Power.
And now that I am difcourfing of thefc
things, give me leave to fet down an Obfer-
vation I made in the lalt great Froft, the
lliarpeft that was ever known in the Memo-
ry of Man, which I had before met with in
Books, but did not give firm credit to, that
is, that notwithftanding the Violence of the
Froft, all the Springs about us brake out, and
ran
lo8 Confequences of
ran more plentifully than ufually they did at
any other time : Which I knew not what to
impute to, unlefs perchance the clofe Stop-
ping the Pores of the Earth, and keeping
in that Part, which, at other times, was wont
to vapour away \ which Account I neither
then could, nor can yet fully acquiefce in.
To this I will here add an Abftrad of a
Letter, written by my honoured Friend Dr.
Tancred Robinfon,
c V O U may, peradventure, meet with fome
■*■ ^ Oppofition againft your Hypothefis of
Fountains, though, indeed, I am more and
more confirm'd in your Opinion of them, and
the Ufe of the Mountains. Father Tachart^
in his fecond Voyage to Siam^ fays, When
he went up to the Top of the Table Moun-
tain at the Cafe of Good Hope^ the Rocks and
Shrubs were perpetually dropping, and feed-
ing the Springs and Rills below, there be-
ing generally Clouds hanging on the Sides,
near the Top, This conftant Diftillation of
Vapours from the Ocean, on many high
Ridges of that great Promontory, may, per-
adventure, be one Caufe of the wonderful
Fertility and Luxury of the Soil, which pro-
duces more rare Plants andAnimals than any
known Spot of Ground in the World i the
Difcovery whereof is owing to the Curiofity
and Wifdom of the Dutch, The fame Ob-
fcrvation hath been frequently made by our
[ Englijh
the Deluge. 109
* EngliJIj Merchants in the Madera and Cana^
* r) Iflands, (the firft of which is near in the
' fame Latitude on the. North of the jEquator^
' that the aforementioned Cape is in the South)
* e{pecially,in their Journeys up to thcPike of
* leneriff^ in which, at fuch and fuch Heights,
' they were always wet to the Skin, by the
* Droppings of the great Stones, yet no Rain
' over-head ; the fame I have felt in paflfmg
^ over fome of the Alpf, The Trees, which in
* the Iflandsof FerrOj St. T'hofnas^ and in Gut-
^ nea^ are faid to furnilli the Inhabitants with
^ mod of their Water, ftand on the Sides of
' vaft Mountains : Voffim^ in his Notes on
* Fomponim Mela^ affirms them to be Arbore-
' [cent Ferula's ; though indeed, according to
' Paludamis his dry'd Sample fent to the Duke
' of Wirtenberg^ they feem rather to be of the
' Laurel Kind j perhaps there are many dif-
' ferent Sorts of them. I believe there is iome-
' thing in the many Relations of Travellers
* and Voyagers concerning thefe Trees ; but
' then I fancy they are all miftaken, when they
* fay, the Water ilfues out of the Trees : The
' Vapours ftop'd by the Mountains, condenfe
* and diftill down by the Boughs. There be-
' ing no Mountains in Egjpt^ may be one Rea-
^ fon why there is little or no Rain in that
' Country, and confequently no frefh Springs i
* therefore in their Cara^vans they carry all their
* Water with them in greatBorr/^c/oV^and they
! owe the Inundation of their River Nile to the
[ ftationary
no Confequences of
ftationary or periodical Rains on the high
V'lvts o^ jEthiopia, This may be theCaufe
that the vaft Ridge and Chain of Mountains
in Peru are continually watered, when the
great Plains in that Country are all dry'd up
and parch'd. This Hypothefis concerning the
Original of Springs from Vapours, may hold
better in thofe hot Regions, within and near
theTropicks(where the Exhalations from the
Sea are moft plentiful, moft rarify'd,and Rain
fcarce) than in the temperate and frigid ones
(where it rains and fnows generally on the
Vertices of the Mountains) yet even in our
European Climates I have often obferv'd the
Firs, Pines, and other Vegetables near the
Summits of the Alps and Appennines^ to drop
and run with Water, when it did not rain a-
bove ; fome Trees more than others, accor-
ding to theDenfity and Smoothnefs of their
Leaves and Superficies, whereby they ftop
and condenfe Vapours more or lefs. The
Beams of the Sun having little Force on the
high Parts of Mountains, the interrupted Va-
pours muft continually moiftenthem, and (as
in the Head of an Alembick) condenfe and
trickle down ; fo that we owe part of our
Rain, Springs, Rivers, and GonveniencieS of
Life, to the Operation of Diftillation and Cir-
culation by the Sun, the Sea, and the Hills,
without even the laft of which, the Earth
would fcarce be habitable. This prefent Year,
in Ke?n^ they have had no Rain fince March
Maft,
the Deluge. Ill
* laft, therefore moft of their Springs are dry
^ at this very Day, as I am aflured from good
' Hands. The high Spouting of Water, even
' to three Fathoms perpendicular out of innu-
' merable Holes, on the Lake Zirknitz in Car-
' niola, after Rains on the adjacent Hills, ex-
* ceeds the Spirting Gips, or Natural Jet
' d'Eaus we have in England,
Nov. 12. 1 69 1. Tancred Kobinfml
Since the Receipt of this Letter, an Expe-
riment (give me leave fo to call it) occur-
red to me, which much confirmed me in the
Belief and Perfuafion of the Truth of thofe
Hiftories and Relations which Writers and
Travellers have delivered to us concerning
droppingTrees in FerroJSfTho7nefiiiinea^&<:*
of which before I was fomewhat diffident ;
and likewife in the Approbation of the Hypo-
thefu of my Learned Friend Dr. Tancred Ro-
binfon^ for the folving of that Ph^nojnenon.
The fame alfo induces me to believe, that Va-
pours may have a greater Intereft in the
Production of Springs, even in temperate
and cold Regions, than I had before thought.
The Experiment or Obfervation is this :
A.B o u T the Beginning of December^ 1 5p i,
there happened to be a Mift, and that no
very thick one, which continued all Day ;
the Vapour whereof, notwithftanding the
Trees were wholly devefted of Leaves, con-
denfed fo faft upon their naked Branches and
Twigs,
/-J5k
1 12 Confequences of
Twigs, that they dropped all Day at fuch a
rate, that I believe the Water diftilling from
a large Tree in twenty four Hours, had it
been all received and referved in a Velfel,
might have amounted to a Hogfhead. What
then may we rationally conjed:ure, would
have dropped from fuch a Tree j had it been
covered with Leaves of a denfe Texture, and
fmooth Supeijicies^ apt to collect the Parti-
cles of the Vapour, and unite them into
Drops ?
It is clear by this Effed, that Trees do
diftill Water apace, when Clouds or Mifts
hang about them ,• which they are reported
by Bcnzo conilantly to do about the Foun-
tain-Tree in Ferro^ except when the Sun
fliines hot upon it. And others tell us, that
that Tree grows upon a Mountain too : So
that it is no wonder, that it ihould drop a-
bundance of Water. What do I fpeak of
that Tree? all the Trees of that Kind grow
on the Sides of vaft Mountains, as Dr. Robin-
fon hath noted, yet he thinks that now and
then many Trees may run and diftill in
Plains and Valleys, when the Weather has
been fair, but then this Phenomenon happens
very rarely, whereas in the other 'tis regu-
lar and conftant. Befides, that in hot Regi-
ons Trees may in the Night-time diftill Wa-
ter, though the Air be clear, and there be
no Mift about them, feems neceftarily to fol-
low, from Mr. Hallefs Experiment.
Now,
the Deluge. II5
N o w, if there be in Mifts thus much Va-
pour condenfed upon Trees, doubtlefs alfo
there is in Proportion as much upon the Sur-
face of the Earth and the Grafs ^ an4 confe-
quently, upon the Tops and Ridges of high
Mountains, which are frequently covered
with Clouds, or Mifts, much more ; fo much
as muft needs have a great Intereft in the
Produdion and Supply of Springs, even in
temperate Countries.
But that invifible Vapours, when the Sky
is clear, do at any time condenfe fo faft up-
on the Trees, as to make them drop, I never
obferved in England^ or elfewhere, no not
in the Night Seafon, though I do not deny,
but upon the Appennine and Southern Side of
the Alpfj and elfewhere in the hotter Parts
of Europe^ in Summer Nights, they may.
However, confidering the Penetrancy of fuch
Vapours, that in moift Weather they will
infinuate themfelves deeply into the Pores of
dry Wood, fo that Doors will then hardly
Hiut, and Chinks and Crannies in Boards and
Floors be clofed up, I know not but that
they may likewife ftrike deep into the
Ground, and together with Mifts contribute
tO'the Feeding and Maintenance of Springs,
in Winter-time, when the Sun exhales but
little ; it being an Obfervation of the learn-
ed * Froinon^m^ £udd hyeme nee n'roali^ nee * Meteor,
imhrifera^ fontes tamen aquam largius qudm ^^'V^'^-
dftate (jnfi njalde pluvia fit) vojnant : That ^ '^' ^'
I in
I -.ML.. I
1 14 Confequences of
in Winters neither fnowy nor rainy ^ yet Foun^
tains pour forth more Water than in Simmer^
unlefs it happendo be a 'very wet Seafon, Yet
are their Contributions inconfiderable ^ if
compared with the Supplies that are afforded
by Rains. And one Reafon why in Winter
Fountains flow more plentifully, may be, be-
caufe then the Sun defrauds them not, nor
exhales any thing out of the Earth, as in Sum-
mer-time he doth.
Therefore, whenever in this Work I have
affigned Rain to be a fufficient or only Caufe
of Springs and Rivers, I would not be under-
flood to exclude, but to comprehend there-
in Mifts and Vapours, which I grant to have
fome Intereft in the Production of them,
even in temperate and cold Regions, and a
very confiderable one in hot. Though I
cannot be perfuaded, that even there they
are the principal Caufe of Springs, for that
there fall fucn plentiful and long continuing
Rains, both in the Eaft and Weft-Indies^ in
the Summer Months : That Rains are the on-
ly Caufe of the Fertility of the Earth, I am
convinced by what was lately fuggefted to
me by my honoured Friend Dr. Tancred Ro-
binfon^ that all Dearths proceed from Droughts
as well in hot Countries as in temperate and
cold, be the Vapours what they will. The
Scripture confirms this, by joining Rain and
fruitful Seafons together.
But
the Deluge. ii^
But to return from whence we digrefTed,
that iSj to the Confideration of that Hypothec
fiy, or Opinion, That all the Rivers of the
Earth difcharge into the Sea half an Ocean
of Waters daily.
The Fruitfulnefs of the Earth is alfo in a
great Meafure owing to Floods, which pro-
ceed from Rain falling upon the Mountains,
aiid wafliing down thence a great deal of
Earth , and fpreading it upon the lower
Grounds and Meadows, which renders thefe
fo fruitful, that they bear plentiful Crops of
Grafs yearly, without any Culture or Ma-
nuring. An eminent Inflance of this is the
Land of Egypt^ which owes its great Luxu-
riancy to the annual Overflowings of the Ri-
ver of Nile,
I H A V E read of fome Philofophers, who
Imagined the Earth to be a great Animal, and
that the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea was
the Refpiration of it. And now, methinks, if
this Dodrine be true, we have a farther Ar-
gument to confirm their Opinion : For this
perpetual Motion of the Water anfwers ve-
ry well to the Circulation or the Blood, the
Water moving fafter, in Proportion to its
Bulk, through the Veins of this round Animal,
than the Blood doth through thofe of other
living Creatures. To which we may add
farther, that to maintain this conftant Cii--
culation, there is alfo, probably, abq^t the
Center of the Earth a perpetual Fire, an-
I 2 fwering
11^ Confequences of
fwering to the Biohjchnium in the Heart; but
if not about the Center, yet certainly in pro-
found Caverns, and even under the very Bot-
toms of the Seas; to which fome, and no
mean Philofophers, have attributed the Eb-
bing and Flowing of its Waters.
But becaufe (as I faid before) this Opi-
nion feems to me intolerably extravagant, I
Ihall let it pafs without any ferious Confide-
ration ; and alfo omit the Inferences I made
from it in the former Edition of this Work.
For (as I have noted before) this forty
Days Rain, at the Time of the Deluge, was
no ordinary one, fuch as thofe that ufually
diftill down leifurely and gently in Winter-
time, but like our Thunder-Storms and vio/-
lent Showers, Catarra(5i:s, and Spouts, which
pour forth more Water in an Hour than they
do in four and twenty : So that in forty Na-
tural Days the Clouds might well empty out
more than eight Oceans of Water upon the
Earth. And ib we need not be to feek for
Water for a Flood ; for the Rain faUing at
that rate we have mentioned, would, with
the Addition of as much Water from the
fubterraneous Abyfs, or great Deep, in the
Space of forty natural Days, afford Water
enough to cover the Earth, lb far as to fet
the Ark afloat, or raife it up fo high, as that
its Bottom IKould not touch the Ground.
I H A V E but one thing more to add upon
this Subject ; that is, that I do not fee how
their
the Deluge. 117
their Opinion can be true, who hold that
fome Seas are lower than others; as for Ex-
ample, the Red-Sea than the Mediterranean.
For it being true that the Water keeps its
Level, that is, holds its Superficies every
where equidiftant from the Center of Gra-
vity,- or if by Accident one Part be lower,
the reft, by reafon of their Fluidity, will fpee-
dily reduce the Superficies again to an E-
quality ; the Waters of all Seas communi-
cating either above, or under Ground, or both
ways, one Sea cannot be higher or lower than
another: But fuppofing any Accident fliould
elevate or dcprefs any, by reafon of this Con-
fluence or Communication it would foon be
reduced to a Level again, as might demon-
ftratively be proved.
But I return, to tell the Reader what I
think the moft probable of all the Caufes I
have heard alligned of the Deluge, which
is, the Center of the Earth being at that
time changed, and fet nearer to the Center
or Middle of our Continent, whereupon the
Atlantic^ and Pacifick Oceans muft needs
prefs upon the fubterraneous Abyfs, and fo
by Mediation thereof, force the Water up-
ward, and at laft compell it to run out at
thofe wide Mouths and Apertures made by
the Divine Power breaking up the Foun-
tains of the great Deep. And we may fup-
pofe this to have been only a gentle and
gradual Emotion, no fafter than that the
I 3 Waters
1 1 8 Consequences of
Waters running out at the Bottom of the
Sea, might accordingly lower the Superfi-
cies thereof fufficiently, fo that none needed
run over the Shores. Thefe Waters thus
poured out from the Orifices of the Foun-
tains upon the Earth, the Declivity being
changed by the Removal of the Center,
could not flow down to the Sea again, but
muft needs ftagnate upon the Earth, and
overflow it^ "and afterwards the Earth re-
turning to its old Center, return alfo to their
former Receptacles.
This Hypothejif gives us a fair and eafy
Solution of all the Phdnoinena of the Deluge,
fave only the Generality of it, (making it to-
pical^ and confining it to our Continent)
"and delivers us from that great and infupera-
ble Difficulty of finding eight, nay, twenty
two Oceans of Water to effect it : For no
Ids is requifite to cover the whole Terraque-
ous Globe with Water, to the Height of fif-
teen Cubits above the Tops of the higheft
Mountains. But becaufe the Scripture ufeth
general Expreflions concerning the Extent of
the Flood, faying. Gen. i. 19. And all the high
Hills that were under the whole Hea'ven were co-
'vered; and again, "ver. 12. All in whofe Noflrils
was the Breath of Life ^ of all that was in the
dry Land^ died. And, becaufe the Ainericans
aifo are faid to have fome ancient Memorial
Tradition of a Deluge, (as credible Authors,
Acofia^ Herrera^ and others inform us) which
faith.
the Deluge. 1 1^
faith, That the whole Race of Manhnd was-
dejiroyed h) the Deluge^ except fojne few that
efcaped: (They are the Words of Auguftine
Corata^ concerning the Penroian Tradition j
and Lupuf Gomara faith the fanie^ from
thofe of Mexico) And the ingenious Author
of the T'heory of the Earthy hath, by a mo-
derate Computation, demonftrated. That
there muft be then more People upon the
Earth than now : I will propofe another-
way of folving this Ph^eno?nenon^ and that is,
by fuppofing that the Divine Power might
at that time, by the Inftrumentality of fome
natural Agent, to us at prefent unknown, fo
deprefs the Surface of the Ocean, as to force
the Waters of the Abyfs through the fore-
mentioned Channels and Apertures, and fo
make them a partial and concurrent Caufe of
the Deluge.
That there are, at fome times, in the
Courfe of Nature, extraordinary PrefTures up-
on the Surface of the Sea, which force the
Water outwards upon the Shores to a great
Height, is evident. We had upon our Coafts,
few Years ago, an extraordinary Tide, where-
in the Water rofe fo high, as to overflow all
the Sea-Banks, drown Multitudes of Cattle,
and fill the lower Rooms of the Houfes of
many Villages that flood near the Sea, fo
that the Inhabitants, to (live themfelves, were
forced to get up into the upper Rooms and
Garrets of their Houfes. Now, how this
1 4 could
I ZO Confequences, 6cc.
could be effeded, but by an unufual Pref-
fure upon the Superficies of the Ocean, lean-
not well conceive. In like manner. That the
Divine Providence might, at the time of
the Deluge, fo order and difpofe fecond Cau-
fes, as to make fo ftrong a Preffure upon the
Face of the Waters, as to force them up to a
Height fufficient to overflow the Earth, is no
way unreafonable to beUeve. But becaufe
there muft be another Miracle required, to
fufpend the Waters upon the Land, and to
hinder them from running off again into the
Sea 5 this is far more unlikely than the for-
mer Account.
These Hypotbefe^ I propofe, as feeming
to me, at prefent, moft facile and confonant to
Scripture, without any Concern for either
of them 5 and, therefore, am not felicitous to
gather together, and heap up Arguments to
confirm them, or to anfwer Objedions that
may be made againft them, being as ready
to relinquifh them upon better Information,
as I was to admit and entertain them.
G H A p.
Chap. III.
Of the Effe&s of the Deluge.
Come now to the Third Par-
ticular propofed ; that is. To
Enquire concerning the Con-
lequents of the Deluge ; What
confiderable Effects it had up-
on the Earth, and its Inhabitants.
I T had, doubtlefs, very great, in changing
the Superficies of the dry Land. In fome
Places, adding to the Sea, in fome, taking
from it ; making Iflands of PeninfuU^ and
joining others to the Continent ; altering the
Beds of Rivers, throwing up lelTcr Hills, and
walking away others, (jc. The moft re-
markable Effc(5ts, it's likely, were in the Skirts
of the Continents ; becaufe the Motion of
the Water was there moft j^iolent. "^ Athana^ *De Ar-
fitly Kircher gives us a Map and Defcrip- '^'^ ^^^
tion of the World after the Flood, {hewing
vx^hat Changes were made therein by it, or
upon occalion of it afterward, as he fanlies
or conjedures. But becaufe I do not love to
trouble the Reader with uncertain Conje-
ctures, I Ihall content myfelf to have faid in
genera], that it may rationally be fuppoicd,
there were then great Mutations and Altera-
tions made in the fuperficiai Part of the
Earth :
p. 192.
122 Confequences, &c.
Earth ; but what they were, though we may
guefs, yet can we have no certain Know-
ledge of : And for Particulars, referr the Cu-
rious to him.
One mah'gnant Efifed it had upon Man-
kind, and probably upon other Animals too,
in fliortning their Age, or the Duration of
their Lives ; which I have touched before,
and (hewn, that this Diminution of Age is
to be attributed either to the Change of the
Temperature of the Air, as to Salubrity, or
Equality, (fudden aftd frequent Changes of
Weather having a very bad Influence upon
the Age of Man in ai3breviating of it, as I
could eafily prove) or elfe to the Deteriority
of the Diet ,• or to both thefe Caufes. But
, how the Flood fliould induce or occafion
fuch a Change in the Air, and Productions
of the Earth, I do not comprehend.
Chap.
i'i iM ;ji iji iji ;;. ij. ;;; iji i%i ij; ij; .j; w ijj ij- jji ij- ij; rli rK •}• -I- •;• •!• •;• •;• <• -Ir f> •!• -I- ■£• •;• S- •> •{•
Chap. IV.
Of formed Stones^ Sea-Jhelh^ and other
Marine-like Bodies found at great Di^
fiances from the Shores^ Jiippofed to have
been brought in by the Deluge,
Not HER fuppofed Effed of the
Flood, was a bringing up out
of the Sea, and fcattering all the
Earth over, an innumerable Mul-
titude of Shells and Shell-fifh ,•
there being of thefe Shell-like Bodies, not
only on lower Grounds and Hillocks, but
upon the higheft Mountains, the Appennine
and Alpf themfelves. A fuppofed Effed, I
fay, becaufe it is not yet agreed among the
Learned, whether thefe Bodies, formerly cal-
led petrified Shelby but now-a-days paflfmg by
the Name of formed Stones^ be original Pro-
dudions of Nature, formed in Imitation of
the Shells of Fiihes j or the real Shells them-
felves, either remaining ftill entire and un-
corrupt, or petrified and turned into Stone,
or, at leaft. Stones call in fome Animal Mold.
Both Parts have ftrong Arguments and Pa-
trons. I fhall not balance Authorities, but
only confider and weigh Arguments.
Those for the latter Part, wherewith I
fiiall be^in are.
124 Confequences of
Firjl^ Becaufe it feems contrary to that
great Wifdom of Nature, which is obferva-
ble, in all its Works and Productions, to de-
fign every thing to a determinate End, and,
for the attaining that End, make ufe of fuch
Ways, as are moft agreeable to Man's Reafon,
that thefe prettily fhaped Bodies Ihould have
all thofe curious Figures and Contrivances
(which many of them are formed and a-
domed with) generated or wrought by a
Plajiick Vertue^ for no higher End, than only
to exhibite fuch a Form. This is Dr. HoolCs
Argumentation. To which Dr. Plot an-
fwers, T^hat the End of fuch Produdiom />,
to beautify the World with thofe Varieties;
and that this is no more repugnant to the Fru-
dence 0/ Nature, than is the Production ofmofi
Flowers, Tulips, Anemones, &C, of which
we know as little ufe of as of formed Stones^
But hereto we may reply, That Flowers are
for the Ornament of a Body, that hath fome
Degree of Life in it:, A Vegetative Soul,
whereby it performs the Adions of Nutri-
tion, Audion and Generation j which it i§
reafonable lliould be fo beautified. And,
Secondly y Flowers ferve to embrace and che-
rilh the Fruit, while it is yet tender i and
^ to defend it from the Injuries of Sun and
Weather ; efpecially, for the Protedion and
Security of the Apices^ which are no idle
or ufelefs Part, but contain the Mafculine
Sperm, and ferve to give Fecundity to the
Seed,
the Deluge. 12^
Seed. Thirdly^ Though formed Stones may
be ufeful to Man in Medicine, yet Flowers
afford us abundantly more Ufes, both in
Meat and Medicine.
Y E T I muft not dilfemble^ that there is a
Fhtenomenon in Nature, which doth fome-
what puzzle me to reconcile with the Pru-
dence obfervable in all its Works, and feems
ftrongly to prove, that Nature doth fome-
times ludere^ and delineate Figures, for no
other End, but for the Ornament of fome
Stones, and to entertain and gratify our Cu-
riofity, or exercife our Wits : That is^ thofe
elegant ImprefTions of the Leaves of Plants
upon Cole-jlate^ the Knowledge whereof^ I
muft confefs myfelf to owe to my learned
and ingenious Friend, Mr. Edward Lhwyd
of Oxford^ who obferved of it in fome Cole-
pits in the Way from Wychefter in Glocefler-
Jhire, to Briftoli and afterwards communi-
cated to me a Sample of it. That which he
found, was marked with the Leaves of two
or three Kinds of Perm and of Harts-tongue^
He told me alfo, that Mr. Woodward^ a Lon-
doner J ftiewed him very good Draughts of
the common Female Fern^ naturally formed
in Cole,which himfelf found inMendip Hills i
and added. That he had found in the fame
Pits, Draughts of the common Cmquefoil^
Clover-graf^ and Strawberries. But thefe Fi-
gures are more diligently to be obferved and
confidered.
Dr.
iz6 Confequences of
Dr. Woodward will have thefe to be the
Imprellions of the Leaves of Plants^ which
were there lodged at the Time of the gene-
ral Deluge.
Secondly^ There are found in the Earth
at great Diftance from the Sea, real Shells
unpetrified and uncorrupted, of the exad
Figure and Confiftency of the prefent natu-
ral Sea-fhells, and in all their Parts like them,
and that not only in the lower Grounds and
Hillocks near the Sea, but in Mountains of
a confiderable Height, and diftant from the
Sea. Chrifiianus mentzelm^ in his Difcourfe
concerning the Bononian Phofphorus^ gives us
a Relation of many Beds of them found
mingled with Sand in the upper Part of a
high Mountain not far from Bologna in Italy.
His Words are thefe, Non procul monte Pater-
no di^to^ lapidis Bonomenfis patria^ unico forte
?nilliari Italico dtftanti ( loci nomen excidit
me?norid) ingem mens i?ft?ninet prteruptuf a
"vhkntia torrent hwi aqitarum^ quay imbres fre-
qiientcs ex "vicinis montibus confluentes effici-
urit^ atque infignes terrarum jnoles ab ifto monte
froftermmt ac dcjiciunt. In hac niontis ruina^
fuperiore in parte vifuntur midtts ftrages fe-
riefve^ ex teftis conchylionim omnis generis^
plurimd arena interje^d^ inftar ftrati fuper
ftratum (tit chymkorum 'vulgm loquitur,) Et
enim inter hafce tejlarum conchyliorum ftrages
ferief've arena ad crajjitiem id?u & ultra in-
terpofita. Erant autein tefta ^variorum conchy-
liorumy
the Deluge. IZ7
liorum^ omnes ah invicem dijiintia^ nee cui^
qua?n lapidi impact th, Clay, &€, which
is nigh feven Foot deep. Then, im-
- mediately above this, is a ftiff red Clay,
( which is the uppermoft Stratum ) of
which we make our Tiles. The Depth
K 2 'of
132. Confequences of
of this cannot conveniently be taken, it be-
ing fo high a Hill j upon the Top of which,
is, and hath been dug, a little common
Earth, about two Foot deep ^ and imme-
diately under, appears this red Clay that
they make Tiles withal. I dug {faith he)
feveral whole Oyfters, with both their
Valves or Shells lying together, as Oyfters
before opened ; in their Cavity was got in
fome of the forementioned green Sand.
Thefe Shells are fo very brittle, that in
digging them up, one of the Valves will
frequently drop from its Fellow ,• but 'tis
plainly to be feen, that they were united
together, by placing the Shell that drops
off to his Fellow Valve, which exadly cor-
refponds ; but I dug up feveral that were
entire, nay, fome double Oyfters, with all
their Valves united. " So far Mr. Brewer.
For, that Nature Ihould form real Shells,
without any Defign of covering an Animal,
is indeed fo contrary to that innate Proiepji;
we have of the Prudence of Nature, (that is,
the Author of Nature) that without doing
fome Violence to our Faculties, we can hard-
ly prevail with ourfeives to believe it ^ and
gives great Countenance to the Atheifts Af-
fertion, That Things were made or did exift
by Chance, without Counfel or Direction to
any end.
Ac>D hereto,*T'^/Vi/y, That there are other
Bodies befides Shells found in the Earth, re-
fembling
the Deluge. I55
fembling the Teeth and Bones of fome Fiflies,
which are fo manifeftly the very Things
they are thought only to refemble, that it
might be efteemed Obftinacy in any Man
that hath viewed and confidered them^ to de-
ny it. Such are the Glojfopetra dug up in
Malta in fuch abundance, that you may buy,
them by Meafure, and not by Tale : And alfo
the Vertebres of Thornbacks, and other car-
tilagineous Fifhes there found, and fold for
Stones among the GloJJopetr^^ which have
no greater Diflimiiitiide to the Teeth of a
living Shar^j and Vertebres of a Thornbac'k^
than lying fo long in the Earth, as they muft
needs have done, will neceifarily induce.
Mr. Doody has in his Cuftody a petrify'd
Lump of Fillies, on fome of which the Scales
themfelves ftill remain. And if the very In-
fpedion of thefe Bodies is not enough to
convince any Man that they are no Stones,
but real Teeth and Bones, Fabius Colutnna
proves it by feveral ftrong Arguments.
I. Thofe Things w^hich have a woody, bony,
or flefhy Nature, by burning are changed
firft into a Coal, before they go into a Calx
or Afhes : But thofe v^'hich are of a topha-
ceous or ftony Subftance, go not firft into a
Coal, but burn immediately into a Calx or
Lime, unlefs by fome Vitreous or Metallick
Mixture they be melted. Now thefe Teeth
being burnt, pafs prefently into a Coal, but
thetophousSubl^ance adhering to them, doth
K 3 not
134 Confequences of
not fo j whence it is dear, that they are of
an olTeous, and no ftony Nature.
Next he fliews. That they do not fiioot
into this Form after the Manner of Salts or
Cryftal, which 1 fhall have Occafion farther
to treat of by and by. Then he proves it
from the Axiom, Natura nihil facit fruftra ;
Nature makes nothing in vain. But thefe
Teeth, were they thus formed in the Earth,
would be in vain ; for they could not have
any Ufe of Teeth ; as neither the Bones of
fupporting any Animal. Nature never made
Teeth without a Jaw, nor Shells without an
Animal Inhabitant, nor fingle Bones, no not
in their own proper Element, much lefs in
a ftrange one. Farther he argues, from the
Difficulty Or Impoffibility of the Generation
of Gloffopetr^e in fuch Places ,• becaufe, among
Tophi and Stones in thofe dry Places, there
could not be found Matter fit to make
them of. But granting that , he queries
whether they were generated at firft all of a
fudden, or grew by little and little from
fmall to great, as Animals Teeth, whofeForm
they imitate, do. If the firft be faid, he de-
mands, Whether the Tophus^ out of which
they were extracted, were generated before,
or after the Teeth were perfected ? If it be
faid before, he asks, Whether there were a
Place in it of the Figure and Magnitude of the
Tooth, or did the Tooth make itfelf aPlace ?
If the Tophus were concrete before, and with-
out
the Dehige, 13^
Qut a Cavity, the vegetative Power of the
Stone now in Birth, could not by Force make
itfelf a Place in the hard and iolid Tophus ;
or if it could, and did, the Tophus muft needs
be rent. Againft the Produd:ion of thefe
Bodies in a conipad: Earth or Stone, Nic.
Stcno argues thus : Things that grow, ex-
panding themfelvcs ieiiurely or (lowly, may
indeed lilt up great Weights, and dilate the
Chinks and Veins of Stones, as we fee the
Roots of Trees lometimes do ,• but yet
while they do thus make room for them-
felves, they cannot but be often hindred by
the Refiftance of fome hard Obftacle they
meet with, as it happens to the Roots 'of
Plants, which in hard Earth, being a thou-
fand ways writhen and comprelTed, recede
from the Figure, which otherwife in foftLand
they are wont to retain ; whereas thefe Bo-
dies, whereof we are now difcourfing, are
all like one another, whether they be dug
out of foft Earth, oc cut out of Stones, or
pluck'd off Animals. Wherefore they feem
not to be at this Day produced in thofe Pla-
ces where they are found, becaufe (as we
have faid) thole things which grow in com-
pad Places are found ftrangely milhapen and
irregular, which thefe are not : Nor was the
Earrh compacted when they were there pro-
duced for the fame reafon. Columna pro-
ceeds. If there were a Place before ready
made in the Tophus^ then was not that Fi-
K 4 gure
13^ Confequences of
gure excavated in the Tophus by the vegeta-
tive Nature of the Tooth itfelf; but the To-
phu;^ by its own Nature and precedent Cavity,
gave the Form to the Tooth. If the latter
Part be chofen, and it be faid, that the Stone
by its vegetative Power grew by Degrees ^
it may be anfwered as before, that could not
be, becaufe the Hardncfs of the Tophus could
not have yielded to the vegetative Force of
the Tooth, but would rather have been rent
or divided by it ; or rather the Tophus it-
felf muft have vegetated, containing a Cavi-
ty or Uterus of the Shape of the Tooth, into
which an offeous Humour , penetrating
through the Pores, and filling the Cavity of
the Uterus^ muft there have coagulated, and
taken the Form thereof, as is obferved in
Stones that have their Original from a Fluor,
That both Tooth and Cafe might vegetate
together, he denies, becaufe in ali the Teeth
which he had feen, the Bafis or Root was
found broken, and that smi with an uniform
Fracture, but different in every one. Which
Argument is not to be flighted, for that it
ihews or proves, that there was no Vegeta-
tion in the cafe ; becaufe in all other figured
Foflils it is obferved, that they are never
found mutilous, broken, or imperfed^. Nei-
ther can it reafonably be faid or believed,
that thefe Roots or Teeth were by fome
chance broken within the Tophi ^ but rather,
that when they were cafually overwhelmed
and
the Deluge. 137
and buried in that tophous Earthy they were
broken otf from the Jaws of the Animal in
thofe Volutations, and fo in that manner mu-
tilated. Againft the Generation of thefe and
the 'like Bodies in any hard Earth or Stone,
N, Stem argues thus. That they are not at
prefent produced in hard Earth, one may
thence conjcdure, that in all the Parts of
fuch Earth or Stone throughout, they are all
found of the fame Confiftence, and encom-
paffed round on all Sides with that hard Mat-
ter ; For if there were fome of them pro-
duced anew at this prefent Day, the con-
taining or ambient Bodies ought to give way
to them while they are growing, which they
cannot ^ and the Bodies themfelves that are
now produced, would, without doubt, difco-
ver fomething wherein they differed from
thofe that were generated of old. Another
Argument to prove them to be true Teeth,
and no Stones, he brings from their various
Parts and Figures, jwhich muO: elfe have been
fo wrought and formed in vain. The Tooth
being not one homogeneous Body, but com-
pounded of Parts of a different Conftitution,
there muft in the Formation of it be made a
various Election of Humours, one for the
Root, one for the inner Parr, one for the
Superficies of it. Then for the Figures, Mag-
nitude, Situation or Pofture, and Fitting of
them 5 fome are great, and broad, and al-
moft triangular i others narrower and Imal-
ler.
138 Consequences of
ler, others very fmall and narrow, of a py-
ramidal Figure j fome ftreight, fome crook-
ed, bending downwards, or toward the ne-
ther Side ; fome inclining: toward the Left,
others toward the Right Side ; fome ferrate
with fmall Teeth, others with great Inden-
tures, (which is obferved in the lelTcr trian-
gular ones) fome fmooth without any Teeth,
as the narrow pyramidal ones. All which
Things are obferved in Sharks Teeth, not
only by the learned Naturalifts, but alfo by
Fifhermen and Mariners. The firft Row of
Teeth in thefe Animals hanging out of the
Mouth, bend forward and downward ; the
fecond Row are ftreight, efpecially toward
the Sides of the Mouth, where they are tri-
angular and broad, the other Rows bend
downward toward the inner Part of the
*Dijfert. Mouth. Thus fsiv "^ Columna.
Vt Ghf- This Argument is alfo made ufe of by
fopetr^' jgoftino Scilla : ' The Apopbyfes alfo, ( faith
' he) or Proceffes, in the Gloffopetra^ de-
' monftrate their Original, were there no-
' thing elfe ; fince they exadly anfwer to
* thofe in Sharks Teeth, whereby every
' Tooth is inferted into its Neighbour in the
' living Animal, with thofe Parts porous,
* and thofe fpongious, that are fo in the Tooth
* of the Filli. Nay, whereas Sharks Teeth
* are mortiffed into one another, in fuch a
* mann r, that a Man may eafiiy tell, which
[ belongs to which Side, which lie near the
! TlM-oat,
the Deluge. i^p
* Throat, which near the Snout, which lie
* to the Right, which to the Left. And
' whereas, in a Shark's Jaw, the Teeth on the
* Left Side will »ot fit on the Right, nor thofe
* above fcrve below ; fo that upon feeing a
^ Tooth, one may know which Side and
* what Jaw it belongs to. " He hath obfer-
ved every one of thefe things, in his GloJJc^
fetra^ which pundually anfwer in every Pare
to the feveral Ranks of the Teeth in a living
Shark.
Fourthly^ If thefe formed Stones be in-
deed original Produdions of Nature, in Imi-
tation of Shells and Bones, how comes it to
pafs, that there fiiould be none found that
refemble any other natural Body, but the
Shells and Bones of Fillies only ? Why fiiould
not Nature as well imitate the Horns, Kocfs,
Teeth, or Bones of Land Animals, or the
Fruits, Nuts, and Seed of Plants? Now, my
learned Friend, Mr. Edward Lhwyd^ above
mentioned, who hath been moft diligent in
colle(5ting, and curious in obferving thefe Bo-
dies, of any Man I know, or ever heard of,
tells me. That he never found himfelf, or
had feen in any Cabinet, or Colledion, any
one Stone that he could compare to any part
of a Land Animal. As for iuch that do not
refemble aTny part of a Fifh, they are either
Rock Plants, as the Aftroites^ Ajlerite tro-
chites^ &c, or do llioot into that Form, after
the
140 Confequeuces of
the manner of Salts and Fluorf^ as the Ee-
levinites and Selenites,
Fifthly^ Thofe that deny thefe Bodies to
have been the Shells and Bones of Fiihes,
have given us no fatisfadory Account of the
manner of their Produdion. For that they
do not flioot into that Form after the man-
ner of Salts, may be proved by many Ar-
guments. Firft^ All Salts that fhoot, their
Cryftais or Concretions are of one uniform
Subftanccj as Signor Agoftino .S'ci//^ clearly
demonftrates. ' Salt {faith he) is Salt as well
' within as without ^ A Granate and a To-
' paz is a Granate and a Topaz throughout ;
' Diamonds and Rubies are Diamonds and
* Rubies all over j they are Agregates of fi-
' milar Particles which compofe the whole
^ Mafs, be it greater, or be it lefs : Where-
' as, Glojfopetr^^ for Example, like all other
' vegetating Subflances, are made up of va-
* rious and diflimilar Corpufcles, put toge-
' ther in fuch a manner, as is peculiarly fub-
^ fervient to the End for which they were
' made : Accordingly, the Cortex is of one
' Subftance, the Medulla of another, and
' that lodged in proper Cells, the Root di-
' ftind from them both. " In other Bodies
that Ihoot, as the Pyrites and Belemnites^ one
may obferve ftreight Radii or Fibres pro-
ceeding from one Center. Semtdly-^ Did
thofe Bodies flioot into thefe Figures, after
the manner of Salts^ it feems flrange to
me.
the Deluge. 14 1
me that two Shells fliould be fo adapted
together at the Heel, as to (hoot out to the
fame Exteniion round, and the upper and ne-
ther Valve be of different Figure, as in natu-
ral Shells. Thirdly^ Were thefe Bodies pro-
duced in the manner of faline Concretions,
it's ftrange there fhould be fuch Varieties of
them, and their Shapes fo regular, and ex-
adlly circumfcribcd : So great a Diverfity of
Figures, arguing a greater Variety of Salts,
or of their Modifications and Mixtures, than
are likely to be found in Nature i and the
Concretions of Salts never, that I have yet
feen, appearing in that Regularity of Figure,
and due Circumfcription, as in thefe Bodies.
This Argument, Steno^ in his Difcourfe con-
cerning thefe Bodies, improves and urges
thus ; ' Who can deny, that the hexaedrical
' Figure of Cryftal, the Cubes of Marcalites,
' and the Cryftals of Salts in Chymical Opc-
' rations, and infinite other Bodies coagu-
^ lating and cryftallizing in a Fluid, have
' Figures much more ordinate than are
' thole of Scallops ^CocUes^ and other Bivalves,
' and alfo Periwi?icMef and Turbens ? Yet
* we fee, in thefe iimple Bodies, fometimcs
'■ the Top of a folid Angle cut off j fome-
' times many of them, without any Order,
' flicking one to another j fometimes their
^ Planes differing among themfelvcs, in Mag-
' nitude and Situation ^ and . many other
f Ways receding from their ufual Figure :
' Which
142 Consequences of
Which being fo, how much greater and
more notable Defe(5ts muft there needs
have been in Bodies that have a far more
compound Figure, fuch as are thofe which
imitate the Forms of Animals, if they were
in like manner generated ? Seeing, there-
fore^ in thefe Bodies, which are very much
compounded, thefe Defeds do feldom oc-
curr, which in thofe other moft fimple Bo-
dies, are very frequent ; feeing there are
no Defe6ts obferved in thefe compound Bo-
dies, the like whereto are not in like man-
ner feen in the Bodies of Animals : And
feeing that wherefoever th-y are found,
they are exceeding like both among them-
felves, and to the Parts of Animals^ it is
very unlikely they Ihould fhoot into thofe
Figures after the manner of Salts i but on
the contrary, highly probable that they
were originally the Parts of Animals \ the
Similitude of Conformation in their Pores,
i'friif 3 Hinges, Teeth, Prominences,Threds,
&c, almoft neceffarily inferring a Simili-
tude of Original ; which is an Argument
of the Government of fome Principle, fu-
periour to Matter figured and moved, in
their Formations. "
Fourthly^ Were thefe Bodies nothing but
Concretions of Salts, or faline Mixtures, it
feems no lefs ftrange, that fo many Liquors
impregnated with all forts of Salts and Mi-
neral Juices, in all Proportions, having been
at
the Deluge. 147
at one time or other induftrioufly or acci-
dentally expofed to cryftallize, and let ftand
long in VefTels, there fhould never have
been found in them any fuch Concretions.
For if any had happened, we fhould, doubt-
lefs, have heard of them, and the Obfervers
would have improved fuch an Experiment
to the Produdion of the like Bodies, at their
Pleafure.
Two farther Arguments, to prove that
thefe Bodies were not primary Produ<^ions
of Nature, the forementioned Signor Scilla
affords us. ' Nature {fays he) fometimes
produced monftrous and defedive Things.
An Animal "ibmetimes wants a Limb i A
Tree is without fomc principal Branches ;
A Fruit may want fome of its chiefeft
Parts. Yet ftill we may obferve, that Na-
ture covers that Defe(5i: with a Skin, or
Bark, or Rind, fo that it never appears
torn off, or rent, to the naked Eye, as it
would, if it were torn off by a Hand, oi*
cut off with a Knife. This is Nature's con-
flant Courfe -, which evidently fhews, that
lufm Nature (as thefe are erroneoufly
called) were never produced in the Earth ;
fince all the Bruifes and Erasures which
they have met with, are apparent, without
any Difguife to hide them j fuch as Na-
ture always employs to hide the De-
feds of her own irregular Produ*5li'-
ons. "
But
144 Consequences of
But this may be folved, by faying, that
thefe Fractures and Bruifes happened to them,
after they were perfedly formed, and, as I
may fo fay, out of Nature's Hands ^ and fo.
Nature not concerned to cover their De-
feds.
Secondly^ All the Echini^ or other Land-
Shells, which he found upon the Calabrian
or Mejjineze Hills, or had been brought him
from Malta^ were bruifed by a perpendicu-
lar Preffure, which he explains thus : ^ The
Cruft of all Echini has two Centers, one
directly oppofite to the other j fo that if
they happened to lie in the liquid Mud, in
fuch a manner as that the loweft Center
was perpendicular to the Horizon^ they
were bruifed fo as not to lofe their circu-
lar Figure, only they were much compref-
fed. If they lay on one Side, they were
fqueezed out of that Shape, and the Mem-
branes of the Ligatures parted from each
other varioufly, according to the Situation
of thefe Shells in the Mud, at that Time,
All which plainly fhews, that as the Mud
dried, the fuperincumbent Weight preffed
perpendicularly upon the enclofed Bodies,
which were then compreffed together in
that Pofture they happened to be in ; and
were more or lefs comprelTed, according
as the Mud got into their Cavities, in greater
or leffer Quantities^ and, as it dried, prop-
ped them up on the Infide, againft the
' Pref-
the Deiuge. 14^
' PiefTurc of the Matter in which they lay^ '*
So far Scilla. By all which it appears. That
thefe Shells were not formed in the Mud
where they lay, but precedently in the Sea;
and were, by extraordinary Tides or Inun-
dations of the Sea, thrown up together with
the Mud ; which elfe would noc have had
thofe Effe<5ts upon them.
A s for what may be objcded out of Sir
'^ohn Narborough' sY oy ^%Q ; ' That the Hills
' round about Port S. Julian^ are full of
' Beds of great Oyfter-lliells, which could
^ not come {^faith he) from the Sea or Flood,
' becaufe there is no fuch ShelUFifli in
* thofe Seas or Shores. " I anfwer^ That
there might be fuch in the Seas thereabout^
although it was not Sir Johri's Hap to meet
with them, or elfe they might be brought^
by tempeftuous Wind, from a great way off,
as were thofe Shells brought into Calabria^
which we have before mentioned out of Ago-^
ft'mo Scilla.
Sol have finiihed what I have to ailed ge,
in Defence of the latter Part, That thefe for-
med Stones were fometimes the real Shells
or Bones of Filhes, I mean the figured Part
of them.
I PROCEED now to fet down^ what may
be objected againft this Opinion^ of offered
in Affcrtion. of the contrary, -d/s. That thefe
Bodies are Pirimitive Produ true (fays
my worthy Friend Dr. Tancrsd Robinfon)
that fo?ne Shells might have been fcatter'd up
and down the Earth by Incajnpjfients of Ar-
mies^ by the Inhabitants of Cities and Towns^
whereof there are now no Reinaifis. Monfie'ur
Loubere, the late French Envoy to Siam, af-
firjns^ That the Monleys and Afes^ at the
Cape of Good Hope, are almoji continually
carrying Shells and other Marine Bodies from
the Sea-Side up to the Mountains j yet this will
mtfohe the Matter^ nor give a?iy fat is factory
Account^ why thefe perfect Shells ^are difpers d
!tp and down the Earthy in nil Climates and
Regions^
*^ the Deluge, 145^
Region^^ in the deep Bowels of vajl Moun-
tains^ where they lie as regularly in Beds^ as
they do at the Bottom of the Sea, This to
me, I confcfs, is at prefent unaccountable.
Secondly^ It would hence follow. That
many Species of Shell-Fiih are loft out of the
World, which Philofophers hitherto have
been unwilling to admit, efteeming the De-
ftru(ftion of any one Species a difmembring
of the Univerfe, and rendring it imperfcj-, being tender and eafily
crumbled into Duft, doth demonflrate, that
their Deftrudtion, begun in the Earth, was in-
terrupted by the Intervention of the Rain.
But to give thefe Arguments their Due, tho'
they be not demonftrative Proofs, yet they
inferr a great Degree of Probability, and
Ihrcwdly urge and ihakc the contrary Opinion.
The
l6o Confeqtiences of
The other Arguments the Dodor al-
ledgcs, admit a plaulible Solution, excepting
fuch as we have already touched, and given as
' good an Anfwer to, as either the Matter v^^ill
admit, or we were able to give.
--To the firft, That there are found Stones
rcfcmbling Shell-Fiili that flick to Rocks : I
anfwer, That many of them might, by Acci-
dent, be rubb'd off the Rocks they ftick to,
or thruft off by Birds inlinuating their Bills
between the Shell and Rock, to feed upon
their Meat j but by what means foever it be,
that they are fometimes broken off, the Mat-
ter of Fad is certain j for we find many Pa^
telU call upon the Shores by the working of
the Sea ; Why then might they not be brought
up by the Flood ?
T o the fecond. Why might not the Bones
of Whales, Sea-Horles, all fquamofe Fifhes,
the great Shells of the Buccina^ Mimces^ Con^
ch^ Vener'n^ and Solenes^ and almoft all the
cruftaccous kind, as Crabf and Lobftery^ &c*
as well have been brought up and left be-
hind by the Flood, and afterward petrified^
as any of the teflaceous kind? 1 anfwer^ Of
the great B//cdM, Mur ices and Concha Vene-^'
riSj there are very few or none found in our
Seas : It may be there are of them in the
Mountains and Quarries of the Indies^ were
any Man fo curious as'to fearch them out :
Though it's likely but few, becaufe being
great Things^ eafy to be i'ctn^ and that Part
of
the Deluge. i6l
of the World having been fully peopled foon
after the Flood, their Beauty might invite
the Inhabitants to fearch them out, and ga-
ther them up. But, Secondly^ Thofe other
Kinds may poffibly be lefs durable, and more
apt to be wrought upon, to moulder, decay,
and be dilTolvcd in time by the Weather,
Rains and Moifture of the Earth, or were
not fo fufceptive of petrifying Juices.
The Third Argument is already anfwered
in the precedent Difcourfe.
T o the Fourth Argument, as to what con-
cerns the Selemter^ Aftrohes and Belemnitef^
we have anfwered already. That the Spe-
cies of BrontU cannot be the petrified Shells
of Echini Spatagi^ the Arguments the Dodor
alledges out of Ariftotle and Rondeletim do
not evince. For though in fome Seas they
may be Trsxiyoi kcu ffTxmi, yet in others are
they plentiful enough. In our own Seas, at
Llandwyn in the Ijle of Anglefey^ we may
reafonably conje(5ture, they are more plen-
tiful than the common Echini any where
with us J becaufe we found more of their
Shells caft up there on the Shore, than of the
Echini in any Shore about England: Nay, fo
common are they there, tfaat even the Vul-
gar have taken Notice of them, and impofed
a Name upon them, calling them Mermaids
Headf. And tho' their Briftles or Prickles
were but fmall, yet were they not few or thin
fet, as Rondeletim faith.
M How
l6z Cojtfequences of
Ho w the Snake-Stones about Huntly^Nab
in Whitlrj in Torljhire came to be included
in Globular or Lenticular Stones, is not dif-
ficult to make out j for the Cliffs thereabout
being Allom-Stone or Mine, wherein thefe
Snake-Stones lie, the Sea in Spring-Tides
and tempeftuous Weather undermines and
throws down Part of the Shore or Cliffs,
which by the Fall break in Pieces, and the
Ophiomorfhoiis Ston^e being harder than the
reft of the Cliff, is broken off from it by the
Fall, or its Volutation in the Sea afterward,
with Tome Part of the Cliff or Allom-Stone
flicking to each Side of it where it is concave,
and by reafon of its Figure and Stritc^ cannot
eafily part from it.
Laftl% To diffemble nothing, I have my-
felf obferved fome Cockle-Stones to have
feemingly different Impreflions or StrU up-
on the fame Superficies i which Phenomenon it
is very hard to give an Account of. I have
alfo obferved a large Stone almoft as hard as
Marble, that was fo marked every where
throughout with the Impreilions of Cockles
and their Stri^e^ fo crolling one another in
every Part of it, that if it were nothing but
Shells amaifed together by a ftony Cement,
thofe Shells muftnave, before their Concre-
tion, been broken into infinite fmall Pieces or
Fragments, fcarce any remaining entire ;
which I do not fee how any Floods, or Work-
ing of the Sea, could poffibly ^&^,
So
the Deluge. \S^
Sol have finilhcd what I had to fay con-
cerning this fuppofed Effed: of the Deluge^
the Bringing in of Shells, and Scattering them
all over the dry Land. But yet I muft not
difmifs this Particular, till I have faid fome-
thing to an Objection that prefently occurrs
to any one who confiders this Matter. The
Waters of the Flood having been fupplied,
partly by Rains, partly by the Breaking up
of the Fountains of the great Deep, and not
by an Irruption or Inundation of the Sea,
how could any Sea-Shells at all be brought
in by it ?
To this I anfwer. That the great Deep
communicates with the Sea ; and the Waters
rifing up out of the fubterraneous Abyfs, the
Sea muft needs fucceed, elfe would there have
been an empty Space left in the Middle of the
Earth, fo that the Shell-Fiili might as well
come in this Way from the Bottom of the
Sea, as by an Inundation; In like manner, as
the Fifli in the Lake of Carniola^ called the
Zirchnitzer Sea^ do defcend annually under
Ground through many great Holes in the Bot-
tom, and return again by the fame Holes. To
all this I might add, that into the Lands near
the Skirts of the Sea, and lower .Hills, thefe
Shells might in part be brought by particular
Floods, of which many we read of, and more .
poflibly than are recorded in any Hiftory,
may have happened fince the general Deluge.
Hence the chief Champions of the Opinion
Ma of
1 64 Confeqiiences of
of Mocl'Shelh are not difficult to grant, that
in fome Countries, and particularly along the
Shore of the Mediterranean-Sea^ there may
all manner of Shells be found promifcuoufly
included in the Rocks or Earth, and at good
Diftances too from the Sea. Which are the
Words of Dr. Lifter^ repeated and approved
by Dr. Plot, But this will not ferve their
Turn ', for we have before proved, that in the
middle Part, and near the Center of our own
Country, at a great Diftance from the Sea^
'VIZ, in Oxfordjloire^ there are found not only
Shell-like Stones, but real Shells, or Mock-
Shells, (as fome efteem them) for figure. Co-
lour, Weight, Confiftency, or any other Ac-
cident, not to be diftinguillied from true
Shells ; and that not fuch as have been acci-
dentally Scattered there, but digg'd out of
the Ground in Plenty, and of Fimes that are
rarely found in our Seas : Patterns whereof
were fent me by my ingenious Friend Mr.
Lhzvyd^ who, I hope, will, e'er long, gratify
the Curious, by publiihing a general Cata-
logue of all the formed Stones found in Eng"
landy and his Remarks upon them.
A N D I have likewife proved by good Au-
thority, that beyond the Seas, in high Moun-
tains, and many Leagues diftant from the
Sea too, there have been Beds of real Shells.
I might have added Sharh Teeth, or Glojfo^
petr^^ as both Goropius Becanus^ and Geor^
gius Agricola^ teftify i if not in Beds^ yet plen-
tifully
the Dehige. i6^
tifully difpersM in the Earth. There are fe-
veral Medical Hiftories extant (as Dr. Tancred
Robi?2fon informs me) of perfect Shells found
in Animal Bodies, in whofe Glands they were
originally formed, which is a coniiderable
Objection, not cafily to be removed.
Dk, Woodward^ and others, fuppofe thefe
Shells, and other Bodies, to be difpofed and
ranged in the Earth according to their fpeci-
fick Gravity ; and for the folving or giving
an Account of this fhdnovienon^ hath advan-
ced a ftrange and bold Hypothefis,
'During the Time of the Deluge,
(faith he) whilft the Water was out upon,
and covered the terreftrial Globe, all the
Stone and Marble of the Antediluvian
Earth, all the Metals of it, all Mineral Con-
cretions, and, in a word, all FofiTils what-
foever, that had obtained any Solidity,
were totally diflblved, and their conftiruent
Corpufcles all disjoined, their Cohsefion
perfedly ceafing. That the faid Corpufcles
of thefe folid FoiTiIs, together with the Cor-
pufcles of thofe which were not before fo-
lid, fuch as Sand, Earth, and the like ,• as
alio Animal Bodies, and Parts of Animal
Bones, Teeth, Shells j Vegetables, and
Parts of Vegetables, Trees, Shrubs, Herbs;
and to be lliort, all Bodies whatfoever, that
were either upon the Earth, or that confti-
tuted the Mafs of it, if not quite down to
the Abyfs, yet, at leaft, to the great'eft
M 3 ! Depth
Confeqiiences of
Depth we ever dig : I fay, all thefe were
alTumed up promifcuoully into the Water,
and fuftained in it in fuch manner, that the
Water and Bodies in it together, made up
one common confufed Mafs.
'' That, at length, all the Mafs that was
thus borne up in the Water, was again pre-
cipitated, and fubfided towards the Bot-
tom : That this Subfidence happened ge-
nerally, and as near as poflibly could be
expeded in fo great a Confufion, according
to the Laws of Gravity : That Matter, Bo-
dy, or Bodies, which had the greateft Quan-
tity, or Degree of Gravity, fubfiding firft
in Order, and falling loweft : That which
had the next, or a ftill leffer Degree of
Gravity, fubfiding next after, and iettling
upon the precedent, and fo on in their fe-
veral Courfes : That which had the leaft
Gravity not finking down till lall of all,
fettling at the Surface of the Sediment, and
covering all the reft : That the Matter
fubfiding thus, formed the Strata of Stone,
of Marble, of Cole, and the reft; of which
Strata lying one upon another, the terre-
ftrial Globe, or at leaft as much of it as is
ever difplayed to View, doth mainly con-
fift : The Strata being arranged in this
Order, meerly by the Difparity of the Mat-
ter of which they confifted, as to Gravity,
and there being Bodies of quite dif-
ferent Kinds^ Natures and Conftitutions,
' that
the Deluge. 16^-7
^ that are nearly of the fame fpecifick Gra-
* vity, it thence happened, that Bodies of
' quite different Kinds fubfided at the fame
* inftant, and fell together into, and compo-
* fed the fame Stratum : That, for this Rea-
* fon, the Shells of Cockles, Efcallops, Peri-
' winkles, and the reft, which have a greater
^ Degree of Gravity, were enclofed and
* lodged in the Strata of Stone, Marble, and
^ the heavier Kinds of terreftrial Matter ; the
* lighter Shells not finking down till after-
' wards, and fo falling among the lighter
* Matter, as Chalk, and the like, &c, " This
being the Main of his Hypothejis; for the
reft I referr to the Book.
I SHALL not at prefent examine it, but re-
fpite that Task till the Publication of his lar-
ger Work, wherein we exped it will be cbrl-
firmed, and all Difficulties cleared up. I
ihall only add, that we have fufficient Autho-
rities to prove. That that Phanomenon^ for
the folving whereof, I fufped he invented
this Hypothefis^ ^iz. That thefe Bodies are
arranged and lodged in the Beds, according
to their fpecifick Gravity, is not generally
true ; but that they are often mingled heavy
with Light in the lame Bed or Stratum.
Reflecting upon the Length of this
Difcourfe concerning the Original of thefe
»^dies, I am fufpicious that the vulgar and
inconfiderate Reader will be ready to de-
M 4 mand.
1 68 Confequences of
mand, What needs all this ado ? To what
purpofe fo many Words about fo trivial a Sub-
je^i ? What Reference hath the Confideration
of Shells and Bones ofFiJhes petrified to Divi'
nity ? Wherefore I fliall, in a few Word^,
fhew the great Importance of this Difquifi-
tion, concerning formed Stones^ and the De-
termination of their Original.
For, F/V/?, If we adhere to their Opinion,
who hold them to have been original Pro-
dudions of Nature, in imitation only of the
Shells and Bones of Fillies -, we put a Wea-
pon into the Atheijls Hands, affording Jiim
a ftrong Argument, to prove, that even Ani-
mals themfelves are cafual Produ(^ions, and
not the Fffeds of Counfel or Defign. For,
? to what End are thefe Bodies curioufly figu-
red and adorned ? If for no other, but to
exhibit fuch a Form, for the Ornament of
the Univerfe, 'or to gratify the Curiofity of
Man i thefe are biit general Ends : Whereas
the Parts of every Species of Body are formed
and fitted to the particular Ufes and Conve-
niences of that Body. And if Nature would
delineate or imprint Figures upon Bodies,
only to be Spe^^lacles to Man, one would
think it fhould not have made choice of thofe
of the Shells and Bones of Fillies, but rather
of fuch as were abfolutely new and different
from any frequently feen, or belonging to
Animals ; which ferve rather to amufe than
delight him* Butj Secondly^ W^ find in tlie
the Deluge. l6p
Earth, not only Stones formed in Imitation
of Shells, but real Shells, Teeth and Bones
of Filhes, or Bodies fo like them, that they
are not to be diftinguifhed by Figure, Tex-
ture, Colour, Weight, or any other Acci-
dent. Now, what greater Argument can the
Atheift defire, to prove, that the Shells of
Filhes were never defigned by any provident
Efficient for their Defence, or their Bones for
the fuftaining of their Bodies, but that the
Fifli and Shell containing it, and the Bones
fuftaining it, did cafually concurr j than that
there, fhould be real Shells produced without
any Fifli in them, and that in dry Places,
where no Fifli evsr did or could breed, or
indeed live, and real Filh-Bones, where
there never was nor could be any Filh ?
D o T H it not then concern a Divine to be
acquainted with this Objc(5tion againft the
Bodies of Animals being the Hffe<5ts of
Counfel and Defign, and provided with an
Anfwer to it. For my part, 1 muft needs
confefs, that this Argument weighs fo with
me, whether from that innate Prolepfis my-
felf, and I think moft other Men, have of the
Prudence of Nature in all its Operations, or
from mine own obferving that in all other
things, it ads for Ends, that it is alone fuffi-
cient to preponderate all the Arguments for
the contrary Opinions, tho' 1 acknowledge
them to be of great Force, and hard to be
gijfwered i and to incline, or rather conftrain
me
I '70 Confequences of
me to allow, that thefe Bodies were either
real Bones and Shells of Fiflies, or owe their
Figure to them. I cannot (to ufe the Words
of F. Columnd) prevail with myfelf to be-
lieve, that Nature ever made Teeth without
a Jaw, or Shells without an Animal Inhabi-
tant, or {ingle Bones, no not in their own
proper Element, much lefs in a ftrange one.
"Who even of the Vulgar, beholding any
confiderable Part of an Animal which he
fees not the Ufe of, is not apt prefently to
ask what it ferves for, as by that innate FrO'
kpfis I mentioned before, prefuming it was
not made in vain, but for fome End and
Ufe. Suppofe any of us fliould find in the
Earth the complete Skeleton of a Man, he muft
be as credulous as the Atheift, if he could
believe that it grew there of itfeif, and never
had Relation to any Man's Body. Why then
Ihould we think that the entire Shletons of
Fifties, found fometimes in the Earth, had
no other Original ? nor ever were any Part
of living Fiflies.
Secondly^ If we choofe and embrace the
contrary Opinion, 'viz. That thefe Bodies
were the real Shells and Bones of Fifhes, or
owe their Figures to them, we ftiall find that
this alfo is urged with many and almoft in-
fuperable Difficulties, the Principal of which
I have already produced, and Ihall here omit,
repeating only two that refcrr to Divinity.
I. These
the 'Deluge. 171
I". These Bodies being found difperfcd
all over the Earth, they of the contrary Opi-
nion demand how they come there ? If it be
anfwered. That they were brought in by
the general Deluge, in Contradiction there-
to they argue thus : If thefe Stones were
found fcattcred fmgly and indiflPerently all
the Earth over, there might be indeed lome
reafon to imagine that they were brought in
by the Flood ; but being found in fome par-
ticular Places only, either lying thick in great
Beds of Sand and Gravel, or amaflfed toge-
ther in huge Lumps, by a ftony Cement,
fuch Beds muft in all Likelihood have been
the Effect of thofe Animals breeding there •
for a confiderable time j whereas the Flood
continued upon the Earth but ten Months and
thirteen Days, as I have before Ihewn j and
yet there are found of thefe Bodies upon ve-
ry high Mountains, not excepting the Af^
Pennine and Alps themfelves. Whence they
conclude, that they were neither brought in
by the Flood, nor bred during the Flood,
but fome other way produced. For if they
were the Shells of Fillies, or their Bones,
the Water muft needs have covered the
whole Earth, even the Mountains themfelves,
for a much longer Time than is confiftent
with the Scripture Hiftory of the Flood, and
therefore we muft feek fome other Original
of thefe Bodies.
If
172. Consequences of
If wc ftick to the Letter of the Scripture
Hiftory of the Creation, that the Creation
of Filhes fucceeded the Separation of Land
and Sea, and that the fix Days wherein the
World was created, were fix Natural Days,
and no more ; it is very difficult to return a
fatisfadory Anfwer to this Objedion : I fliali
therefore only add a Conje(5ture of my own,
and that is. That poflibly, at the firft Crea-
tion, the whole Earth was not all at once
uncovered, but only thofe Parts whereabout
Aiam and the other Animals were created,
and the reft gradually afterwards, perchance
not in many Years ; during which time th:fe
Shell-Filh might breed abundantly all the
^ ^ Sea over, the Bottom whereof being eleva-
\ ted and made dry Land, the Beds of Shell-
Filh muft neceffarily be raifed together with it.
This Conjetore hath no fufficient Ground
^ to fupport it, and therefore 1 do not infift
! upon it. But, truly, if it had, I fee not any
better Account could be given of all the ?hiC~
nomna of them, than from thence might.
2. It will hence follow, that many Spe-
cies of Animals have been loft out of the
World, which Philofophers and Divines are
unwilling to admit, efteeming the Deftru-
ftion of any one Specie! a Difmembring of
the Univerfe, and rendring the World im-
perfed -, whereas they think the Divine Pro-
vidence is efpecially concerned, and folici-
tous to fecure and preferve the Works of
the Deluge. 175
the Creation. And truly fo it is, as appears^
in that it was fo caretul to lodge all Land
Animals in the Ark at the Time of the ge-
neral Deluge j and in that, of all Animals re-
corded in Natural Hiftories, we cannot fay
that there hath been any one Species loft, no
not of the moft infirm, and moft expofed to
Injury and Ravine. Moreover, it is likely,
that as there neither is nor can be any new
Species of Animals produced, all proceeding
from Seeds at firft created j fo Providence,
without which one individual Sparrow falls
not to the Ground, doth in that manner
watch over all that are created, that an en-
tire Species fhall not be loft gr deftroyed by
any Accident. Now, I fay, if thefe Bodies
were fometimes the Shells and Bones of
Fiih, it will thence follow, that many Specief
have been loft out of the World : As for
Example, thofe Ophiomorfhom ones, whofe
Shells are now called Corniia A/mnonif^ of
which there are many Species, none where-
of, at this Day, appear in our or other Seas,
fo far as I have hitherto feen, heard or read.
To which I have nothing to reply, but that
there may be fome of them remaining fome
where or other in the Seas, though as yet
they have not come to my Knowledge. For
though they may have periihed, or by fome
Accident been deftroyed out of our Seas, yet
the Race of them may be prcferved and con-
tinued ftill in others. So though Wolves
and
174 Confequences of
and Bevers, which we are well afTured were
fometimes native of England ^ have been here
utterly deftroyed and extirpated out of this
Eland, yet there remain Plenty of them ftill
in other Countries.
By what hath been faid concerning the
Nature and Original of Stones, I 'hope it
may appear, that this is no idle and unnecef-
fary Difcourfe, but very momentous and im-
portant: And this Subje(5t, as mean as it
feems, worthy the moft ferious Confidera-
tion of Chriftian Philofophers and Divines >
concerning which, though I have fpent ma-
ny Thoughts, yet can I not fully fatisfy my-
felf, much kls then am I likely to fatisfy o-
thers.
But I promife myfelf and them more
full Satisfaction fliortly, from the Labours of
thofe who are more converfant and better
acquainted with thefe Bodies than I, who
have been more induftriousin fearching them
out, and happy in difcovering them^ who
have been more curious and diligent in con-
(idering and comparing them, more critical
and exad in obferving and noting their Na-
ture, Texture, Figure, Parts, Places, Dif-
ferences, and other Accidents, than myfelf,
and particularly that learned and ingenious
Perfon before remembred.
According to my Hope and Expedlation^'
fince the Publifhing of this Work, my learned
and ingenious Friend, Mr. Edward Lhwyd^
hath
the Deluge. 179
hath gratified the curious and inquifitive Na-
turalifts, with the Edition of his excellent
Lithophilacium Britannicmn^ or Claffical Di-
ftribution of Stones and other Britijh Foflils,
remarkable for their Angular Figure^ as ma-
ny as either himfelf hath hitherto found out^
or received from Friends. To which he hath
fubjoined feveral Epiftles relating to this
Subjed ,• the laft of which, concerning the
Original and Produ(5tion of thefe Bodies^ he
hatli done me the Honour to infcribe to me ;
which at my Requeft he hath tranflated into
BngliJIj^ and enlarged with many Additions,
which I fliall here give the Reader.
The Sixth LETTER:
Of the Origine of Marine Fojjils^ Shelby and
Mineral Leaves^ &c.
To Mr. Ray.
Honoured Sir^
^ XT' O U are pleafed to ask, whether, af-
' jL ^^^ ^^^^ Years Obfervations, I have
* been at length able to fatisfy myfelf, as to
' the Origine of what we call Marine Fojjils^
* and thofe other Bodies no lefs furprizing,
' which (to diftinguilh them from other
' Plants) I have taken the Liberty to call
^ Mineral Leavesy viz. Whether I conclude,
' with
I'j6 Confequences of
with the general Opinion, that they have
been repofited in the Places we find them^
at the univerfal Deluge, and fo prefervM to
our Time ,• or that they are original Pro-
du6:ions of Nature, there form'd from fome
Plaftick Power of Salts, or other Minerals,
which was the Conjedure of the late
Dr. Flot "*", and other experienced Natura-
lifts. To this I muft needs anfwer. That
the frequent Obfervations I have made on
fuch Bodies, have hitherto afforded little
better Satisfadion, than repeated Occafions
of Wonder and Amazement ; for as much
as I have often (I may almoft fay continu-
ally) experienc'd, that what one Day's
Obfervations fuggefted, was the next cal-
led in Queftion, if not totally contradi^-
ed and overthrown. Ncverthelefs, fo in-
defatigable is the Curioiity, and indeed fo
fuccefsful have been the Difcoveries of this
prefent Age, that we are daily encouraged
to hope, this fo important a Queftion will
not much longer want its final Determi-
nation, to the great Advancement of that
Kind of real Knowledge which relates to
Minerals : A Part of Natural Hiftory which,
you well know, hath been hitherto much
more negkded, than that of Plants and
Animals i only, as I prefume, becaufe
thefc Bodies are h(s obvious to our View, '*
and much moreabftrufe and unaccountable
as to their Origine. I therefore, at fpare
^ I Hours,
the Deiuge. t
Hours, continue to improve my Collediion,
in regard it may be hoped, that from an
accurate Infped:ion of it, fome others here-
after may frame feveral , ufeful Inductions,'
which I myfelf never had the leaft Thoughts
of. And in the mean time, becaufe the
Communicating to our Friends^ what car-
ries but fome Shadow of Probability, does
often contribute fomewhat towards the
fpeedier Difcovery of the Truth, I fliali
here fubmit to your Examination, a Con-
jed:ure relating to the Origine of thefe Bo-
dies, which I know not whether any other
have as yet thought of:- But in regard it is
neceffary, that before any new Opinion be
propofed, Reafons be otfer'd againft thofe
already received, give me leave here to lay
before you fome Objedions againft both
the above-mentioned Accounts of the Ori--'
gine of thefe Bodies. To begin, thereforCj'
with that which referrs all thefe Marine
Foflfils and Mineral Leaves, Stalks, and
Branches^ &c, to the Deluge, I have fe-
vepal Reafons to offer againft it, whereof
(becaufe I w"ould not prefume too much
on your Tinle and Patience) I Ihall at pre-
fent only propofe thefe few :
*^ Firji^ Therefore, as to the Marine Fof-
fils, had thefe Bodies been Spoils of the
Sea, brought on the dry Land by art Inun-
dation, they would (for the Generality of
them at Icaft) either have been left on the
N ■ ^ Sur-^
•178
Confequences of
Surface of the Earth, or have been lodg'd
at no very great Depth under it ; but I
have found them buried (or inclosM) with-
in folid Marble on the Tace of broken Sea
Cliffs, of the Heidit of 200 Fathoms and
more, from the Tops thereof to the Bot-
tom, and obferv'd them to be fo continu'd
under the Sea - Water ; nor was that
only upon the Face of thefe Rocks, but
even, more Or lefs, throughout the whole
Mafs of them. And this is manifeft from
divers Rocks hewn down by Workmen for
making of Lime, and other Pieces cafually
fallen from the Cliffs in the Ifle of Caldey^
and elfe where about Tenby in Pembrole^
jhire j as alio in feveral other Rocks and
Mountains that coniift of fuch Baftard Mar-
ble, or Lime-ftone, throughout Walea^ Ire-
land^ and Other Countries. Now, altho'
we fliould grant, that at the Time of the
Deluge thefe Rocks were no other than
Clay or Earth -, and that, therefore, Sea-
Shells, Corals, and other Marine Bodies,
might by the Violence of the Inundation
have been lodg'd therein ,• and that in Tra«5t
of Time, this fuppos'd Clay or Earth con-
folidated into Lime-ftone : I fay, though
we Hiould grant all this, yet I cannot per-
ceive by what Force fuch Bodies could be
funk into Clay or Earth to fo great a Depth.
If indeed thefe Bodies conftituted one con-
l tinued Mafs, fo as that one iliould bear
' hard
the Deluge. 17^?
hard on the other, fomcthing perhaps
might be rcply*d ; but the Matter is clear-
ly othcrwiie, for they are fcnrid. fo con-
hifedly difpcrs'd throughout the Mai's of
Lime-ftone, fometimes at the Diftance (for
Example) of three Foot from each others j
fometimes two, fometimes within half an
Inch, and not feldom two or three or more
of them contiguous.
' ,Secondly^ Such Marine FoJJib have been
obferv'd on the Sides or Walls within our
Lime-ftone Caves, and are even fometimes
found fticking to the Roofs of them ^ for I
have gather'd Cuthbert-Beadsj or Entrochi^
which arc Vertebrae of Sea-Stars, from the
Roof .of a Cave call'd Lhygad Lhychwr^
near KerrigKennen Caftle, in the County
oi Ca'^rmarthen ; and on the Sides (as well
as Bottom) of a noted Cave, calfd Porth-
Gogo at Tflrad-Velhte in Erecbiockfiire^ I
have obferv'd feveral Remains of Cockles^
half worn by the Swift Current of the Ri-
ver Melhte which runs through this Cave,
and poliOies its Lime-ftone. Now, al-
though I can readily grant, that the Deluge
might have caft Marine Bodies into thefe
and any other Caves, yet can I not allow
that it could ever fallen them to their po-
lite Roofs and Sides j and that they fhould
be funk fo deep from the Top, is the Dif-
ficulty of the former Obje(^ion. To this
I m^^ be added, that fuch Lime-ftone Caves
N 2 ■ ' are
i8o
Confeqiiences of
are for the moft part (as it were) wain-
footed with a ftony Cruft of Stalagmites,
which is of no very old Date, but owing
to the continued Dropping or Diftillation of
the Caves, in which if any Marine-like
Bodies are found, as I can affure you the
Entrochi "^ are, I leave it to yourfelf, and o-
ther unprejudiced Obfervers, to confider of
their Origine.
^ Thirdly, The third Reafon for my que-
ftionifig whether all thefe Things be the
Effe^s of the Deluge, is, for that the Bones,
Horns and Hoofs of Land-Animals, arc
very feldom, i^ at all, found inclos'd in fo-
lid Marble, or other Stone -, whereas fee-
ing all periilied in the Deluge, the Spoils
of the Land might be expe«^ed (in Propor-
tion) as well as thofe of the Sea.
Fourthly, ' Some Foflil-Shells are entirely
compos'd of a Spar or Cryftal, infomuch
that there is no l3iftin«5lion of a containing
and contain'd Matter, but only a Cryftal-
line Body, of the Figure of a Shell, as is
by Stem himfelf acknowledg'd j and as
may be feen in mine, and other Cabinets
of Form'd Stones. How fo great a Change
fliould happen to Sea-Shells, and yet their
Shape or outward Form not violated, feems
to me too difficult to explain. The like
may be faid of the FoiTil Fiih-Teeth, for
thefe are not always of the fame Matter,
" ^ ^ ' # ' as
the Deluge . l8i
as may be obferv'd froQi divers Specimens
in my Collccftion.
Fifthly^ ' Living Animals arc fometimcs
found in thefe Foflfil-Shells -, for in M/p
fo7is Travels to Italy ^ we read of a Lobfter
found alive in the midft of a Marble
near Tivoli "^ ; and the late Defcription of
Orlney^ &c. gives us the like Account of
Cockles f. Moreover, as I am' credibly
informed, fome Workmen very lately dig-
ging for the Foundation of a Building,
near the Town of Mold in FlmtJIoire^ met
with feveral Mufcles at about three Foot
Depth in the Gravel, which had living Filli
in them. Now as it would be abfurd to
imagine thefe Animals could live fmce the
Flood, fo neither can we fuppofe that fuch
Creatures being left there by the Deluge,
fliould propagate their Kind ever fmce ;
for in this cafe, there muft have been left
in that Place a Heap of their Shells.
' Sixthly^ Had thefe Marine Bodies been
repofited in the Earth at the univerfal De^
luge, fuch of them as adhere to each others,
nay all of the fmie Pits or Quarries, un^
^ lefs their Beds be of a different Matter,
* MiffonV Nero Voyage to Italy, Vol 2. />. 44. Engl. Edit.
'\- A Gemlirnan in the ra'rijb t»/ Dunrefnefs ;w Zetland, told
cne of the Miniflen of this Coumry^ that about five 7eArs f.nce, a
Plough in this Parijh did cafi up frejl) Cockles, though the Place
Tchere the Plough was going was three quarters of a Mils from the
Sea, rvbich Cockles the Gemleman faw made ready a'dd eaten*
BrandVi?uft of the Golden Pyrites, which reprefents Brh!p.
variouy Figures of Ani?nals, I ha-ve a large 9^- T^^-
Piece of, this Stone ^ which fo lively expreffes ^^* ^' ^'
all the Lineatnentr of a Barbel /;; golden
Colour^ that the Scales^ the Fim^ the Tail^
the Head^ dec, could not pojffibly^ by any Ar^
tifty be ever better painted. "The Bodies of
thefe FiJJj are not converted into Pyrites ; fo
that we have but juji the outward Linea^
inents of the?n, and not the leaft hnprejfian
left of any Bones ^ or other Parts. We find
ourfelves therefore obliged to confefs^ tha\ ,
Nature referves many things from our Know-''
ledge y the true Reajons whereof no Man will
ever fo far di [cover ^ as to be enabled to ren-
der us a due Account of them. Now as thefe
Reprefentations are neither Animals them-
feives, nor the Exuviae of Animals, fo nei-
ther can they be their Imprefifions, foraf-
much as thefe Lineaments aix prominent,
not imprefs'd ; And as for the Imprefifioqi
N 4 ^they
J 84 Consequences of
* they make on one Side in the incumbent
^ Stone, or other Matter, it feems not fatif-
^ fadory, becaufe I cannot well conceive
^ hovv all the Vertebra of a Fifh, whereof
^ many are frequently found in our Midland
f Quarries and Gravel-pits, lliould here be
* totally confum'd, and the Surface only of
* one Side be converted into this Pyritey^ or
i Marchafite,
' Ninthly J Another Obftacle of my AlTent
^ to their being all of Diluvian Origine, is
^ the vaft Number of unknown Marine Fof-
^ fils, fo commonly met with throughout
^ moft Counties of England; fuch as we
* have nothing like, neither in our Sea
* Shores, nor rak'd by Dredges out of the
* Bottom of the Sea, by the Oyfter Fifhermcn,
^ and others who have been employed by cu-
* rious Perfons on fet Purpofe. I have in my
* Colle(5tion above forty different Species of
* the Foffil Nautili^ or thofe Shell-Stones, a
* great many Sorts whereof are commonly
iv. Ink « caird Cor?2im Ammonis "^ -, and have obferv'd
^r.n.K,. c pieni;y of mpft of thefe Species (broken or
' whole) in the Fields, Quarries, and Clay-
* Pits of the Midland Counties of Engla?id :
* Nor do I queftion, but in that excellent
, * Collei5tion of Dr. Woodward' s^ and in thofe
* of fome others of our curious Naturalifts,
^ feveral Species may be found that are no;
^ in mine : And yet I cannot underftand
I that all our BritiJJj Seas afford one Sort of
' this
►< ,."
the Deluge. 1 85
this Shell. The like may be faid as to fe-
veral other Kinds ; particularly the Sea-
Stars^ of the broken Radii whereof we
find no lefs a Variety : "^ And the Echhii^ as ^ih.cuf^
to the Prickles or Radioli of which, as ^- ^' '^^■
weH as to thofe of Sea-Stars, all Sorts of
Lapides Judaici (as many Years fince I
hinted to you) muft be referred j notwith-
ftanding the exceflive Thicknefs of fome
of them, and that they have that very rough
or Grafer-like Superficiesf, fo as to be no- \'^'^f
^ thing like the Spines of any of the Echini^ mfl.Mau
I or Star-Fiili of our Seas. ox. ^
*^ Tenthly^ I add only one other Argument, ^^^\^2?
* which though many have already objeded, n. 1002,
* yet hath not^ that I know of, been hitherto ^oo^0c.
* anfwer'd toSatisfadtion : And that is, that
* fuch Marine Subftances are fometimes ge-
^ Derated in Humane Bodies : For to me it
^ appears a far lefs Wonder, that Shells and ■
' other Marine Bodies Ihould be produc'd in
* the Bowels of the Earth, than their Pro-
* du(5tion in the Bodies of Men or Animals
* at Land. And that they have been fo
' found, is fufficiently attefted, both by An-
' cient and Modern Authors, of a Credit
' and Charader beyond all Exception. You
* know many Inftances of this Kind are pro-
' duced by Dr. Lifler^ in the Second Part of
^ his Anatomy of Shells ; amongft which I
' remember very well to have feenthat fmall
I Turben ^ or Periwinkle , difcovered by
'Dr.
/J
Confequences of
^ Dr. Vkrce of Bath^ and fent to Dr. Mii^-
^ gra've^ then Secretary to the Oxford Philo-
* Ibphical Society ; and it was fuch, as I be-
* lieve none could have poflibly diftinguilliM
' from a Sea-Shell. Thcfe, Sir, are the Ob-
* jedions I had to offer againft their Opinion,
^ who attribute the Origine of all thefe Ma-
^ rine FolTils to the univerfal Deluge : For
* whatever their true Origine is, Mar'me Tof-
* fib they ought to be tern^'d, in order to
* their better DiftinCtion from all others..
^ 'Tis alfo for the like Conveniency of Di-
' ftindion, that I ufe the Term of Mineral
^ Plants for thofe FofTil Leaves and Branches
* we find fo commonly inclos'd in Stone and
*- blue Marble at our Cole-pits, and fom^
^ Iron Mines. And now to proceed to thefe,
^ wc iliall find much the like Difficulties with
^ what occurred when we confider'd the Ma-
f rineFoJJlb,
' Firfi^ For in the firft place, thefe fubter-
^ raneyus Leaves frequently (indeed moft
^ commonly) are found at the Depth of at
^ leaft twenty or thirty Foot. And how they
^ fhould be laid fo deep by an Inundation,
^ feems to me not fo eafily accountable ; it
^ being natural to fuppofe, that all Plants
^ were left, by the Deluge, on the Surface of
^ the Earth, in the manner we daily find fe-
^ veral America Seeds of Leguminous Trees
' caft up on the Shores of Ireland^ Scotland^
I and Wales -y and that confequently, in a
' ihort
the Deluge. 187
lliort Space, there would-be no irrore Re-
mains of them, than we find of thofe Sea
Plants we commonly dung our Land with-
all.
/ Secondly^ Allowing they might be, by
fome Accident we cannot think of, buri-
ed fo deep, I can difcovcr no Reafon for
their being thus lodgM lo plentifully in
Cole-Slat, and Iron-Stone ,' and never, that
I know of, in the Mafs of our Flint, Linie-
ftone, and common Rock, though. there be
infinitely tlie greater Quantity of thefe lat-
ter. And this Note feems to deferve our
Confideration, unlefs it can be made out^
that though the Matter of Flint and Limc-
ftone h^s very entirely preferv'd the Ante-
diluvian Shells, yet it could not Leaves, or
other Parts of Vegetables.
' Thirdly^ Had they been owing to the
Deluge, we fliould find the Leaves and
Branches of fuch Plants as are Natives of
our own Ifland, much more plentifully than
fuch unknown Plants as we cannot paral-
lel: Whereas on the contrary, as far as
Dr. R/c^^r ^ow'sObfervations, and my own,
have been able to diftinguilh, the Genera-
lity of thefe Mineral Leaves, arc clearly
diftind from thofe of our Britijh Plants.
' Fourthly ^\{x6. they been thus . repofited
' at the Deluge, fome Specimens of moft, if
I not of each Clafs of Plants, would be found
' amonglt
1 8 8 Confequences of
^ amongft them ^ and efpecially of Trees,
^ in regard fuch Leaves are not only the
' moft numerous, but alfo commonly the
^ dryeft and moft durable. But we have not
^ hitherto difcover'd, that any of thefe Mi-
* ncral Leaves anfwcr to thofe of Trees or
* Shrubs i nor are we alTur'd that any have
^ been yet found, but what may be reduced
I to three or tour ClalTes.
' Fifthly The fame curious and ingenious
^ Gentleman hath obferved, that thefe Mi-
' neral Leaves are, generally fpeaking, lefs
^ than thofe they feem moft to refemble;
' which is what, in divers Specimens, I have
t "fince taken Notice qf myfelf.
* Sixthly^ Although fometimes meer flexi-
* ble Leaves are found amongft thefe Mine-
' ral Plants, yet the Generality of them (as
* I have before obferved of fome of the Ma-
^ rine Foffils) are but meer Delineations, or
' fuperficial Refemblances: Nor yet could
* fuch Reprefentations be owing to the Im-
* preifions of Plants, fince confum'd ; be-
* caufe, as I have faid before of the Mock-
^ FiJIo^ they are a little raifed above the Sur-
f face of the Stone, and not imprefs'd.
^ Seventhly^ It feems nothing more ftrange
^ or unaccountable, that Delineations of
' Leaves ftiould be naturally produced in
* this Coal-Slat, &c. than that Reprcfenta-
* tions of Gnats fkould be fometimes found
the Deluge. 189
in the Foflfil Amber of Prujfm'^j and of Spl- * Hartm.
ders in the Coal-Slat in England f. But ^f p"J"?
if any affert, that thefe were once living ^'/sV'
Animals, they are to explain how they came + f «^-
fo deep under Ground ; and afterwards, f^l\ ^'
how they got into thefe entirely clofe Pri-
fons of Stone and Amber. I meet with
feveral more Difficulties, but perha'ps of
lefs Moment, which I fhall not therefore
trouble you withali, till fome other Occa-
(ion.
* A s to the other Opinion, which main-
tains, that all thefe Bodies are form'd in the
Earth ,• the greateft Difficulty it labours un-
der, is, that we find ourfelves incapable of
giving any fatisfadory Account oftheCau-
fes and Manner of fuch a Production. For
if any have Recourfe, with Dr. Plot^ to the
Plaftick Power of Salts, 1 fee not (to go no
farther) what they can anfwer to that Ob-
jedion propos'd by yourfelf long fince, in
your Phy/ico-Theological Vifcourfes, For
who can reafonably imagine, that any Mi-
neral Salts ihould fo conlpire, as that fome
of them fliould fo exadly frame the Points
of jhe GloJJopetrie *^ , which are Fiih-Teeth, *^ lith.
of one Matter, and fome their Roots (ad- -^''''*-
ding now and then a Piece of a Jaw) which ^J. 1270.
are of another : That fome ihould form
the polite Convex Side of a Sihqmftnim^
and others its Appendix fj: That io\nt\\ibid.
Ihould make the Sccket or Calix of the t^'^-^^-
1^)0
* Ibid
Tab. 21.
N. 167^,
& 1740.
&Scheuch.
Lith. h'd-
vet. tab,
I .Fig. n.
Confequences of
Belemnites^ and others its "^ Aheolm^ &c.
I therefore humbly offer to your Confide-
ration, fome Conjedures I have of late Years
entertain'd cpncerning the-Caufes, Origine,
and Ufe of thefe furprizing Ph^enojitena. I
have, inihort, imaginMthcy might be part-
ly owing to Fiih-Spawn received into the
Chinks and other Meatus' f of the Earth in
the Water of the Deluge, and fo be derived
(as the Water could make way) amonsft
the Shelves or Layers of Stone, Earth, (jc.
and have farther thought it worth our En-
quiry, whether the Exhalations which are
raifed out of the Sea, and fiilling down in
Rains, Fogs, &c. do water the Earth to
the Depth here required, may not from the
Seminium., or Spawn of Marine Animals, be
fo far impregnated with, as to the naked
Eye invifible, animalcula^ (and alfo with
feparate or diftindt Parts of them) as to
produce thefe Marine Bodies, which have
fo much excited our Admiration, and in-
deed baffled our Reafoning, throughout the
Globe of the Earth f. I imagind farther,
that the like Origine might be afcribed to
.'the
^ In thofe accurate Microfcopical Obfervations commu-
nicated to the Royal Society by Sir C. H. we find this Note :
Some of them alfo may probably be on^irjally iVater Infeils^ or
Fijh, fui generis, and arejmll enough to be ruis'd in Subjiance or
in Spawn with the Vapours, and again to fall with the i^in^ and
waj groT9 and bred again in Water when Upt: And this wjUfeem
ie/s
the Deluge. ipi
the Mineral Leaves and Branches, feeing we
find that they arc for the moft part the
Leaves of Ferns, and other Capillaries j and
of Moffes and fuch like Plants, as are called
Icfs perfect , whole Seeds may be eafily al- *
low'd to be waiVd down by the Rain into
the Depth here required, feeing they arc fo
minute, as not at all to be diftinguifli'd b^
the naked Eye. And as to fuch of them as
are not reducible to thefe ClalTes of Minute
Seeds, they are fuch as I know not at all
whither to referr.
' I A M not fo fond of this Hypothefif^ as
not to be fenfible myfelf, that it lies open
to a great many Objedionsi and, in all
probability, you will foon dilcover more
Difficulties than I fliall be able to remove :
However, thofe Arguments that firft led
me to it, Ihall be here laid before you.
' Firfi^ Becaufe I obferv'd, that of all
thefe extraneous Figures or Reprefenta-
tions dug out of the Earth, there is fcarce
one in a thoufand but is reducible to fucb
natural Bodies as expofe their Seeds either
to the open Air or the Water : Name-
ly, Plants, Infers, or Fiili, For (as I have
iefsflrange to you, -when 1 ajfureyou that I havefeen^ and roksn J
amfo happy as to wait on you ner.t, willjherv Fijhes^ form as pmall
4LsChcefe- Nines ofdiffaem Sorts, very roGnderfuHy made, which are
oj the cruftaceous i^tnd, fieU'd with rnxny ^oims^ with very Uytg
Horns, fringed Tmis, and have many Legs like Shrimps^ &c.
Vh'ii. J nn. ib: Nlanh aad JprH, ijoo. ^, 1-^6^. *
! before-
Ijpl Consequences of
before hinted) had the Spoils of the De^
luge been entirely (or, for the moft part)
preferv'd to our Time, we might reafon-
ably expedl Plenty of the Skeletons, and
of the Horns iwA Hoofs of Quadrupeds i
And, why ihould not either entire or bro-*
ken Skeletons of Birds, be found preferv'd
likewife in the fame manner and in the
fame places we find the Leaves of Plants ?
How happens it, at leaft,that \vt find none
at all of their Pen-feathers, which lliould
feem of a Conftitution more durable, if
once inclos'd in fine Stone, than that of
Plants ? I am not ignorant, that fome ve^
ry learned Writers, and thofe even emi-
nent Naturalifls, have inform'd us,^ that
not only Bones of Land- Animals, have
been frequently found inclos'd on all Sides
in folid Stone, but likewife the Reprefen-
tations or Lineaments of Birds and Beafts,
and of Men and their Parts : Nay, even
that Monhj Hermits^ and Saints^ have been
exactly pourtray'd in the midft of folid
Marble. To thefe I muft take leave to
reply -, Firfi^ That fome of thefe Infor-
mations are manifeftly erroneous ; for that
they tell us, that thefe Delineations ap-
peared upon polilHing the Marbles ^ where-
as all^Figures naturally delineated within
Stones, muft, upon polifliing thefe Stones,
be defac'd. Secondly^ When we difcover
any unknown Foflfils^ we are very fubjedt
' to
the Deluge. - 1^5
to make wrong Comparifons ; aflimila-
ting many of them to the Parts of Land-
Animals, which, indeed, ought to be re-
duc'd to Sea-Shells, or other Marine Bo-
dies j as may be obferv'd in thofe Stones,
caird Hippocepaloidef^ Otitef^ Bucardites^
and divers others. Thirdly^ Although it
be granted, that fometimes the Bones,
Horns, and Hoofs of viviparous Animals,
are dug out of the Earth ; yet, feeing
they are fo very few, it feems much like-
lier that they might have been bury'd by
fome other Accidents, than that they have
been there preferv'd ever fince the Deluge.
For in the Deluge, all Land-Creatures
whatever perifh'd ; nor fhould we fo much
exped to find their iingle Bones as whole
Skeletons, thus interred. Fourthly ^ When-
ever I find any Confirmation, by competent
and credible Authors, of fuch Delineations
of any fort of viviparous Animals, or
Birds, as the Iflebian Stones exhibit of
Filh, I fliall then readily grant, thefe Things
may be alfo as well produc'd without
previous Seeds ^ and offer no farther Ar-
guments for this Hypothefif.
Secondly J ^ I am, as to my own part, a-
bundantly fatisfy'd ; and others will, I
prefume, upon Sight, and accurate Obfer-
vation of fome Folfils I have collected, be
no lefs, that thefe Bodies do^ in Trad of
Time, quite lofe their Forms and become
^ O ' fuch
Ip4 Confequences of
fuch ihapekfs Lumps, as to be diftin-i
guilliM for Marine, by none but fuch as
are very converfant in Obfervations of this
Kind, nor even, at laft, by them neither.
I fay, I am fully fatisfy'd thereof j becaufe
I have colleded fparry or cryftalline Bo-
dies, whofe Surface do only partly re-
femble Entrochi j likewife Shells, Gloffo-
fetra and SUiqiiaftra^ confiding of a flinty
fort of Pebble,and receding from their pro-
per or common Figures. And, Lajily^
Ichthyofpondylli^ or Vi^-Vertebr^ ; fome-
times more, fometimes lefs, deform'd y
exhibiting on their Surface, fuch fmall ftel-
lated Figures as. we find on a fort of the
"^ Aftroites, Now feeing that, in Trad of
Time, fome of them lofe their Subftance
and Form, degenerating into other Bo*
dies, may we not fufped that others
(confidering the Intirenefs of many of
them, and their vafl: Plenty) might be, in
the interim, produc'd ?
Thirdly J ' If this Hypothejis may be ad-
mitted, fome Account might probably be
given of the FoiTil Nautili^ and other
ftrange Shells, by fuppofing, Firft^ That?
many of thofe Clouds, which fall here in
Rains, &c, have been exhal'd in very re-
mote Parts : And, Secondly ^ That fuch a
Generation, as is here fuppos'd, muft be
much more liable to monftrous Produ-
dions than the common. For, as Agri^
I cola
» r.piot'j
Oxon.
p. 87. &
Litb.Brit.
lab. 20.
Num.
1658.
the Deluge. Ip^
* cola fays, appofitely to this Purpofe, ^txn-
^ to crajjior eft terra qua?n aqua^ tanto i?nper''
* fe^iioref gignit formas^ & ^qiu animalibui
^ careant.
Fourthly^ ^ I have often, in one and the
* fame Quarry, gather'd 20 or 30 different
* Magnitudes of the fame Species of Shell-
' Stones j whence I began to fufped:, that
* they might have a certain vegetative
' Growth t j and that they had, therefore^ ^seeths
' their Generation and Corruption inthe ve- ^'orks of
* ry Place we find them : And that hence it ^ll^^^^x
^ is, that we find fome Nautili^ Lafider for the
' Judaici^ Gloffofetra, and Afiropodia, of ^'^'^ 'f
^ inch monftrous Largenefs, that no Seas, as 1703.
* far as our curious Naturalifts have difco-
^ ver'd, afford any thing comparable to
^^ them.
Fifthly^ ^ To comprize the reft in few
* Words: The burying of thefe Leaves of
' Plants fo deepi the vaft Quantity of
* thefe Marine Bodies ; the incredible Va-
' riety of exotick or unknown Shells, Sea^
' Stars, &c. in fo narrow a Compafs as this"
Vlflandj their fo frequently diftorted and
' uneven Surfaces j that they fliould be found
' at all Depths, from the Top of the higheft
' Rocks to the Bottom ,• that they fliould be
^ not rarely found adhering to the Roofs,
' and to the Walls, or Sides of Caves, as
* well as perpendicular Clefts of Rocks j
' and be alfo fometimes difcover'd in Ani-
O z " ' mal
I ^6 Confeqiiences of
^ mal Bodies at Land ; and that there fliould
' be Sea-Shells dug at Land containing living
' Animals. I fay, all thefe confidered toge-
' ther, feem inconfiftcnt with the Effeds of
' a Deluge ^ and if this Hypothefis may be
' admitted, not very difficult.
' But before it be, I ought not to doubt,
' but that yourfelf and others will find many
^ more Objcdions than I can forefee. In the
- f mean time,fuch as occurr to my Thoughts,
* I lliall here, however deftrudive they may
' prove to it, fairly lay down ,• for they who
' have no other Aim than the Search of
' Truth, are no ways concern' d for the Ho-
*^^ nour of their Opinions : And for my part,
' I have been always, being led thereunto
' by your Example, fo much the lefs Admi-
* rer of Hypothefes^ as I have been a Lover of
^ Natural Hiftory.
'The main Difficulties that I can at pre-
l fent think of, are thefe :
Firft^ ' It will be queftionM, whether the
^ fuppos'd Semmum can penetrate the Pores
' of Stones.
Secondly^ ^ It will fcarce feem credible,
* that fuch Bodies, having no Life, fliould
* grow, efpecially when confined in fo feem-
l ingly unnatural a Place as the Earth, &c.
Thirdly^ ' According to this Uypothefu^
^ thefe Bodies fliould be found in much the
'^ fame manner, lodg'd in all kind of Stone,
[ &c, and throughout all Countries,
r - -^ Fourth'
the Deluge. 1^7
Fourthly J ^ We fliould not find Plenty of
^ Shells, &c. adhering to each others, in the
^ fame manner as they are found at Sea.
Fifthly^ ' Some Folfil Shells Ihould then be
' found fo minute, as to be fcarce vilible, and
' others of the fame Kind in their complete
^ Magnitude.
Sixthly^ ^ It may be well queftion'd, whe-
^ ther the elTential Parts of this fuppos'd
^ Spawn of any FiOi, iliould, being fepara-
' ted, (as muft be here often fuppos'd) ever
' effed the End by Nature defigned them, e-
' fpecially when brought out of their proper
* Element.
Seventhly^ ^ It will be faid, that the re-
^ maining Tracks of Shells that once adhc-
' red on the Surface of fome of thefe Foffils,
' and the Pearls, which (as has been related)
* have been found (ticking to others, are a
' plain Proof that they are the Spoils of once
' living Animals ; alfo the Change of die
' Colour near the Roots of fome Foffd Filh
^ Teeth, as namely of fome Fle^tronit^^ (hew
' how far they were faften'd in the Jaws of
^ once living Filh ; and that the worn Extre-
' mities of fome others, do plainly diicover
I that they have been once employ'd.
Eighthly^ ^ Many of thefe fubterraneous
'Filh, as particularly feveral of the Glojjo-
^ petra^ are taken for the Teeth of Viviparous
[ f ifh ; which being granted, it is impofTible
P 3 they
1^8 Confequences of
^ they fliould be produced in the Manner
' here propofed.
Ninthly^ and Laftly^ ^ Such a Produ(Stion
' feems clearly belide the ordinary Courfe
* of Nature ; nor can we perceive any End
5 or Ufe of fo preternatural a Generation.
' To the Firft I anfwer. That it's mani-
* feft from Experience, upon which all folid
^ Philofophy muft be grounded, that the
' Spawn of Animals may infinuate itfelf in-
' to the Mafs of Stone.
^And this plainly appears from Live
' Toads, found fometimes in the midft of
* Stones at Land, and thofe Shell-Fiili called
* Pholades at Sea. If it be replied. That the
'Stones, wherein the Pholades are lodgM,
* are full of large Holes, &c, I anfwer. That
* tho' they generally are fo, yet, upon break-
' ing and examining a great many of thefe
* Stones, I have fometimes found of their
' Shells (though without Animals) fo lodg'd,
^ as that there were not any viiible Meatuses
^ from their Holes, neither diredly to the
^ Surface of the Stones, nor to thofe other
' Holes in them. *
^ T o the Second, That that's not fo great
f a Wonder, as that Shells Ihould be fome-
* Mijfum efl ad. me alio ex litore Saxum^ in quo nulla rmiSy
fiuUa cavert?^^ fed foramina tantum apparebam tarn exigua, ut vix
dciera admitterem : Eo ighur jdibus multis confraSOy cavitates
interna nultix eranty vario fitu ^ diver fx magnitttiinis in quibus
tombai ijtas re^eri, Rondel, de A^uatilib.
J times
the De/iige. ipp
times generated, and even grow, tho' they
contain no Animals within humane Bo-
dies ', and within the Mafs of thofe thick
Shells of our large Tenb-j Oyfters, which
I formerly mentioned to you, as firft fliewn
me by Mr. William Cole of Briftol^ and have
fince obferv'd myfelf. For we muft grant,
that the Earth, even in any Part of the In-
land Country, is much fitter for their Re-
ception and Augmentation than humane
Bodies ; efpecially, if we reflect, that when
the Spat or Setniniimi here fuppos'd, meets
with faline Moifture in the Earth, living
Animals are fometimes produced, as is
before attefted.
'The Third is likewife anfwer'd from
Experience : For we know, that Sea-Shells,
and fome Stones, yield to the Growth of
Plants : Alfo, that the hardeft Stones are
imprefs'd by the Li?npetf^ tho' they do but
adhere to their Surface, and that our Lime-
ftone yields to the Growth of fome Echini^
or Sea-Urchins, as well as the Fholades :
For, we find fome of their Cells much lefs
than others -, and that 'tis certain, that all
the Holes wherein they lurk, in what Stones
foever they are found, are owing to their
Growth.
' T o the Fourth I anfwer. That this Hy-
pothefis does not require, that thefe Marine
Bodies ftiould be produced in all Coun-
tries alike. For^ as in Vegetables, we find,
' . O 4 * that
200 Consequences of
that all Seeds will not be received by all Soils i
fo neither can we expe(5t5 that all Earths and
Minerals fhould be equally proper for fuch
Produdlions. And, truly, I thought it well
worth Obfervation, that, as in all thefe
Countries, fcarce any Stones at Land, ex-
cepting the Lime-ftone, afford Marine Fof-
fils J fo I never found the Pholades at Sea
in any other, tho' in that very common j
and in divers Counties of Wales,
*^ A s to the Fifth, I pretend not to deter-
mine, how long fuch Bodies may continue
before their Diffolution^ but doubt not^
but that, according to the Nature of the Mi-
nerals wherein they are bedded, they may
laft much longer in fome Places than o-
thers ; and, therefore, we are not to won-
der
Plenty of them than elfewhere.
*^ T o the Sixth, I anfwer. That at the Ba-
fy's Leigh Quarry, near Oxford^ large Spe-
cimens of the Tiirbinites Major^ figured
Table the yth. Numb, 341. may be often
met with ; and, likewife, in the fame Place,
concreted Lumps of others of the fame
Species, very minute. I have alfo, in my
Colk(ftion, divers other Examples of the
fame Kind : And Steno informs us. That
he has difcover'd amongft FoflTils, fome fo
^ fmall, as to be fcarce dilcernible without a
^ Microfcope, and even minute Eggs of
f Shells.
.^Thb
if in fuch Places we find a far greater
the Deluge. 201
*^ Th E Seventh may be, in a great meafure,
anfwer'd from the numerous Hiftories we
have of monftrous Produ(5lions : And ,
as to the Impropriety of the Place, the
fame may be anfwer'd here, in reference
to Parts of Animals, as was to the Second
Objection, in refpei^ of Whole ones.
^ Eighth, As to the Adhcfion of one Shell
to another, that may altogether as well
happen by this Way of Generation as at
Sea: And, for the Signs or Impreflions
made by fome, that formerly adher'd to
them, thofe might have been disjoined by
the Workmen in digging, or by the Sink-
ing of the Ground where they are found,
or fome other Accident. But, as to the
Change of the Colour of the Fle^honites
towards the Root, and fome of them being
fharpen'd at the Point, I muft conFefs I
have little to fay ; but that we do not yet
know, the Teeth of what Fiih thefe Pk^
^tronitiC are ; and, confequently, cannot tell^
but they may be naturally fo colotir'd, and
pointed : Or elfe, that thefe and many
more have been thus prefervM in the Place
we find them, ever fince the Deluge, which
was formerly my Opinion of all thefe Ma-
rine "^ FofTils j though, for the Reafon I have * phii.
' here given, I cannot now maintain it. P^J^*
' Ninth, To the Ninth may be anfwer'd, ■'X„*j^
^ That we have as yet but an imperfect of May,
i Knowledge of the Generation of particular ^^^^*
[ Species
202
» Plot's
Hift.
Oxm,
p. 85.
CS^ Litb.
Brit.
P-57,
112.
Confequences of
Species of Fifli. For whereas you have
obfervM, that fomc of the Cartilagineous
are viviparous, I have noted others to be
oviparous i having obferv'd Embryo's in
the Eggs of a fort of Dog-Fifli, (which
were open at the one End) caft aftiore in
Anglefey^ Carnarvonjhire^ and other Coun-
tries.
' Tenth, As. to the laft, tho' we acknow-
ledge that there is an End in all the Pro-
dudions of Nature ; yet it is no lefs cer-
tain, that we are often but very improper
Judges of fuch Final Caufes. Who, there-
fore, can be alfur'd, but that the Fertility of
the Earth may, in a great meafure, be ow-
ing to thefe Marine Fofifils ? Thus much,
at leaft, I have obferv'd, that in Wales they
are found, for the moft part, in the beft
Countries, and that in vaft Quantities:
And on the other hand, in thofe Hun-
dreds which are moft barren, as the moun-
tainous Parts of Cardigan^ Montgomery^
Meirionydhj and Caernarvon^ I could never
find one of them. There is, -at Cleydon^
Field^ near Banbury in Oxfordfhire^ a Place
caird Hore^Furlo?ig^ which is noted for
Plenty of the Affleri^^ or (as there call'd)
"^ Hore-fiones i and no lefs, as the Farmers
alfur'd me, for its Fertility. Moreover,
we cannot be fo pofitive, but that fome
Minerals may from hence derive their
Origine, to lay nothing of their Phyfical
' Ufe ,•
the Deluge. 20 3
* Ufe ; the Ldfii Judaicm and Lyncurius
^ having been long lince well known in our
^ Shops, as perhaps fome others are elfe-
* where, and more may be hereafter. And
^ thefe. Sir, are the Notions I had to offer to
' your Confideration, concerning the Ori-
' gine of Marine Foflils and Mineral Leaves.
^ You will foon judge how frivolous they
* may be, or how probable : And as you
' find them, pafs your free Cenfure ; for^
* 'tis the Truth of fo important a Queftion
' that's the only Aim of,
SIR,
Raiadar G.vy, Tour Humble Servant^
Mar. 10. i6c?8. £^ £^
For my part, (if my Opinion be confi-
derable) I think that my learned Friend hath
fuflficiently proved, that thefe FoiTil-Shells
were not brought in by the univerial Deluge.
He hath made it alfo highly probable, that
they might be originally formed in the Places
where they are now found by a fpermatick
Principle, in like Manner as he fuppofes.
Why do I fay probable ? It is neceffary that
at leaft thofc which are found in the Vifcera
and Glands of Animals, be thus formed ;
and if thefe, why not thofe found in the
Earth c* I ihall fiy no more, but that thofe
who are not fatisfied with his Proofs, I wiOi
they would but anfwer them. One thing, I
confefs, there is, which chiefly brought me
over
204 Confequences, &cc.
over to the contrary Opinion, uiz. That
thefe Bodies owe their Original to the Sea^ and
were fometimes the Shelh or Bones of Fijhes :
That is, the Beds of Oyfter-Shells found in
feveral Parts of this Kingdom , fome of
which I have before-mention'd and defcrib'd;
which Shells, all Circumftanees confidered,
one can hardly be induced to believe to have
been any other originally than the Covers of
living Oyflers, and the Places where they
lie, than the Bottom of the Sea. But becaufe
this feems to inferr the like Original of thofc
Beds of Cornua Ammonis^ or Nautili^ found
at Keinflmn in SomerfetJIoire^ and elfewhere,
of which Sort of Shell-Filh (as I have before
noted) there were never any found in our
own Seas, nor indeed in any other, fo far
as I have heard of, I fliall allow them to
have been the Effe^^ts of the like Principle
with their Fellows,
The following Tables, containing fome
Species of the moft ditferent Genera of thefe
Bodies, 'U/jS. Shares Teeth^ Wolf-Fiflif Teeth^
Cockles or Concha^ Feriwinlles or Tiirhem^
Cornua Ammonis or Serpent-Stones^ Sea-Ur^
chins and their Prickles^ Vertebres and other
Bones of Fijloes^ entire Fifloes petrify' d^ and of
thofe fome fingly, fome reprefented as they
lie in Beds and Quarries under Ground, for
the Information of thofe who are lefs ac-
quainted with fuch Bodies, were thought fit
to be added to this Edition.
Tab.
Tab. II. Pag. 204^
pfG. I, z. Several Fragments and Lumps of petrify'd Sheik,
''^ as they lie in Quarries and Beds under Ground ; on many
of theie Petrifaftions there fiill remain Ibme Laminae, or
Plates of the Original Shells, which prove them not to be
Stones primarily lo figured.
Fi^. 5. The Cornua Aniraonls lying in Rocks with other
petrify'd Bodies.
Tab. III. Pag. 204.
T7/G. ij i- Two petrify'd Fifhes lying in Stone, with their
"* Scales and Bones.
Fig. 5. A Sea-Urchin petrify'd with its Prickles broken off,
which are a Sort of Lapis fudaicMS, or J-ewStones ', their In-
fertions on the Studs or Protuberances of the Shell are here
ihewn. See their Hiftory and Manner of Lying in Stone and
Beds, in Agojimo Scilla, 4*0. Nafvli.
Tab. IV. Pag. 204.
■pIG' I, 2, 3, 4, 5, (?, 7s, 8, 9, 10, II, iz, 1 3, 14. Seve-
■* ral petrify'd Teeth of Dog-Fillies, Sharks, and other
Fifhes.
Fig. I $5 i^. The fame lying in a Tophaceous Bed, and al-
fo in a Jaw-Bone.
Fig, 17. The petrify'd Teeth of a Wolf-Fifh, in a Piece
of the Jaw j the round ones, or Grinders, are fold in Mal-
tha for petrify'd Eyes of Serpents ; and by our Jewellers and
Goldfmiths for Toad-ftones, commonly put in Rings.
Fig. 18, 19, zo. Other petrify'd Bones of FiSies, efpe-
cially Jouits, or Vertebra's of Back-Bones, one with two
llony Spines iffuing out, f. 20. See them more at large in the
Draughts of that cunous Sicilian Painter, Agofiim Scilla.
Chap.
Chap. V.
That there have been great Changes made
in the Superficial Part of the Earth Jince
the General Delugeyand by what Means,
Shall now difcourfe a lit-
tle concerning fuch Changes
as have been made in the Su-
perficial Part of the Earth fince
the univerfal Deluge, and of
their Caufes.
That there have been fuch, I think no fo-
ber and intelligent Perfon can deny^ there be-
ing fo good Authority and Reafon to prove
it. FlatOj in his Thfi^us^ tells us. That the
Egyptian Priefts related to Solon the Atheni-
an Law-giver, who lived about 600 Years
before our Saviour,that there was of old Time,
without the Streights of Gibfaltaryi vaft Ifland,,
bigger than Africa and Afia together, called
Atlantis^ which was afterward by a violent
Earthquake and mighty Flood, and Inunda-
tion of Water, in one Day and Night wholly
overwhelmed and drown'd in the Sea.
Whence it may be conjed:ured, that the Old
and New World were at firft continuous, or
by the Intervention of that Ifland, not very
far remote from each other.
T H A T the Ifland of Sicily was of old bro-
ken off from Italy by the Irruption or Infinu-
ation
Of the Deluge. 207
ation of the Sea, is generally believed, and
there is fome Memorial thereof retained in
the very Name of the City Rhegium^ ftand-
\n^ upon the Fretwn that feparates Italy and
Sicily^ which fignifies breaking off.
"^ Zancle quoqiie ]un6la fuiJTe* o-m.
Vicitur Italidy donee confinia pontus j^'^^'^'f*
Abftulit^ & media tellurem reppuUt undd. ' * ^^*
In like manner, the Ifland call'd Eiiboea^ now
Negroponte^ was of old joined to Greece^ and
broken off by the Working of the Sea.
Moreover, the Inhabitants of Ceylon re-
port, that their Ulan d was anciently joined to
the Main-Land of India^ and feparated from
it by the Force of the Sea.
It is alfo thought, and there is good
Ground for it, that the Ifland of Sumatra
was anciently continuous with Malacca^ and
called the Golden Cherfonefe ; for being be-
held from afar, it feems to be united to Ma-
lacca.
A N D to come nearer Home, Verflegan af-
firms, and not without good Reafon, that our
Ifland of Great Britain^was anciently Conti-
nent to Gaule^ and fo no Ifland but a Fenin^
fula^ and to have been broken off from the
Continent, but by what Means, it is in his
Judgment altogether uncertain : Whether by
fome great Earthquake, whereby the Sea
firft breaking through, might afterward by
little and little enlarge her Paffage i or whe-
ther
Zo8 Confequences of
ther it were cut by the Labour of Man in re-
gard of Commodity by that PalTage ; or whe-
ther the Inhabitants of one Side, or the other,
byOccauonof War, did cut it, thereby to be
fequellred and freed from their Enemies.
H I s Arguments to prove that it was for-
merly united to France^ are, i . The Cliffs
on either Side the Sea, lying juft oppofite the
one to the other; that is, thofe of Dover to
thofe lying between Callais and Boulogne^ (for
from Dover to Callais is not the neareft Land)
being both of one Subftance, that is, of
Chalk and Flint. 2. The Sides of both to-
wards the Sea plainly appearing to have
been broken off from fome more of the fame
Stuff or Matter, that it hath fometime by
Nature been faftned to. 3 . The Length of
the faid Cliffs along the Sea-Shore being on
one Side anfwerable in effed to the Length of
the very like on the other Side, that is^ about
fix Miles. And, 4. The Nearnefs of Land
between England and France in that Place j
the Diftance between both, as fome skilful
Sailors report, not exceeding i^EngliJh Miles.
To which may be added, 5. The Shallow-
nefs of the Channel all along the Streight, in
refpe^t of the Sea at both Ends of it, which
is much deeper. And, 6. The Being of
Wolves and Foxes, yea, and Bears too, an-
ciently in this Ifland ,• for it is not likely that
they of themfelves Ihould venture to fwim
over a Channel 24 Miles broad 5 or if they
were
the Deluge. lop
were fo hardy as to venture in, fliould be
able to hold out till they had paffed it quite
over : Neither is it probable that Men fliould
tranfport fuch noifome and mifchievous Crea-
tures by Shipping. To fpeak in general,
the Being of thefe wild Beafts on many
Iflands near the Continent, and not upon
thofe that are far remote from it, though of
fufficient Bignefs to receive and maintain
them^ as the Spaniards found when they firft
failed to America^ is to me little iefs than a
demonftrative Proof, that thofe lilands were
-anciently joined to the Continent by fome
Neck of Land which fcrved as a Bridge for
thefe Creatures to pafs over, and was after-
ward worn through and walke€ away by
the conftant Working of the Sea.
Some of the Ancients, as Strata^ quoted
by Strabo in the Firft Book of his Geography ^
fay, That the Fretu?n Gaditanmn^ orStreight
of Gibraltar^ was forcibly broken open
by the Sea. The fame they affirm of the
T^hracian Bofphorus and Hellefpont^ That the
Rivers filling up the Euxine Sea, forced a
Paffage that way, where there was none
before. And in Confirmation hereof, D/(?-
dwm Siculus^ in his Fifth Book, gives us
an ancient Story current among the Samo^
thracianSj 'viz. ^ That before any other
* Floods recorded in Hiftories, there was a
* very great Deluge that overflowed a good
t Part of the Coaft of Afia^ and the lower
P ' Grounds
ZIO Confequencesof,
'Grounds of their Ifland, when the Euxine
* Sea firft brake open the nracian Bofpho^
^ rus and Hellefpont^ and drowned all the
*l adjacent Countries.
This Traditional Story I look upon as
very confiderable for its Antiquity and Pro-
bability, it feeming to contain fomething of
Truth : For it's not unlikely that the Euyine
Sea, being over-charged with Waters by ex-
traordinary Floods, or driven with violent
Storms of Wind, might make itsW«y through
the Bofphoruy and Hellefpont. But it will
be obje^ed, that the Euxine Sea doth emp-
ty itfelf continually by the Bofphoruy zni
Hellefpont into the Mediterranean^ and that
if it had no* this Way of Difcharge (the Ri-
vers bringing in more than is fpent by Va-
pour) it would foon overflow all its Shores,
and drown the circumjacent Countries ,• and
fo it muft have done foon after the Flood ,•
and therefore it is not probable that Sajno-
thrace fliould have been inhabited before that
Irruption, if any fuch there were.
To which I anfwer, i. That Monfieur
Marfilly thinks he hath demonftrated an Un-
der-Current, in the Thracian Bofphoruy^ by
means of which the Euxine may receive as
much Water from the Mediterranean as it
pours forth into it. But becaufe I have al-
ready declared myfelf not to be fatisfied
of the Being and Poifibility of thefe Under-
currents, I anfwer, 2. The Annual Receipts
from
the Deluge. 211
from the Rivers running into the Euxine^
not very much exceeding what is fpent in
Vapour, who knows but that from the Time
of the general Deluge, till the Irruption
whereof we are difcourfing , the Euxine
might yearly enlarge its Bafon, and encroach
upon the Neighbouring Countries ?
Natural Hiftorians give us an Account of
new Iflands raifed up in the Sea : Plin, Hift,
Nat, lib, 2. cap, 87. enumerates Delos and
Rhodes^ Iflands of Note; and of lefs Account
and later Emerfion, Anaphe beyond Melos^
^ndNea between Le7nms and the Hdlefpont:
Alone between Lebedos and Teos^ and among
the CycladeSj Thera and Therafia, Olyt?tp, 135.
An, 4. Among the fame, after 130 Years,
Hiera^ and two Furlongs diftant, in his own
Time, when Junius Syllanuf^ and L. Balbus
were Confuls, Thia. Notwithftanding thefe
Authorities of Seneca^ PH^y^ and Strabo^ be-
fore-mentioned. Dr. Woodward^ in his Na-
tural Hiftory of the Earthy confidently affirms.
That there is no authentick Inftance of
any confiderable Trad of Land that was
thrown up from the Bottom of the Sea by
an Earthquake, or other fubterraneous Ex-
plofion, fo as to become an Iflahd, and be
render'd habitable. That Rhodm^ Thera^
Therafia^ and feveral other Iflands, which
were fuppefed by the Ancients, and upon
their Authority by later Authors, to have
been thus raifed, had really no fuch Ori-
P 2 ^ginal.
Z12 Confequences of
* ginal, but have ftood out above Water as
' long as their Fellow-Iflands , and {land
^ now juft as the univerfal Deluge left them.
I CANNOT but v/onder at the Confidence
of this Author, in affirming this of all Iflands,
not excepting any, whenas Seneca^ a grave
and fober Writer, and of undoubted Fide-
lity, tells us, Natural, pudsjl, lib. 6. cap. 2 1 .
Theram & Therafiam^ & banc noftra dtatis
infula?n [fe^iantibm ftobis in JEgteo ?nari ena-
tarn : And this IJland of our own Age^ which
way raifed up in the iEgasan Sea^ ourfehes
beholding it. But the moft confiderable and
remarkable Mutations that have been made
in the Earth have been on the Sea-Coafts,
either by carrying on the Land into the Sea,
and atterrating the Bottom of the Sea ; or by
drowning the Lands near the Sea, by Ir-
ruptions and Inundations thereof, or under-
mining or waftiing away the Shores.
O F the fir ft Sort of Change by Atterration,
or making the Sea dry Land, we have an
eminent Inftance in the Dutch Netherlands^
which, I eafiiy cohfent with Verftegan^ fo
far as they .are eaven and plain without any
Hills, havp undoubtedly heretofore, in Time
long paft, been Sea ,• as appears, i . From the
Lownefs of their Situation, fome of the more
Maritime Parts of them, as Zealand and
Holland^ and Part of Flanders^ being fo low,
that by Breach or Cutting of the Sand Banks
or Downs, which the Sea by little and little
hath
the Deluge. 21 5
hath caft up, and the Labour of Man here
and there fupplicd, might eafily be drown-
ed and converted into Sea again; and of
the great Harms that thefe Parts have hereto-
fore, by the Irruption of the Sea, fuftained.
But now not only tliofe low Places that ad-
join upon the Sea, as Holland and Zealand^
but the greater Part of Flanderf and Bra-
bant ^ though they lie not fo low as th^ey,
but of fuch Height as no Inundation of the
Sea can any whit annoy them, though the
Sand-Banks and Downs on the Sea-Side were
never fo much broken or cut through, yet
are they as eaven and level as even Holland
and Zealand themfelves, which is a fuffi-
cientDemonftration, that they were once co-
vered with Water : For that Water will thus
level Ground it often runs over, is clear
from Meadows, and from the Bottom of the
Sea difcovered at low Water j and we have
Experience of no other Caufe that doth or
can eiTed it. And therefore Z^iy/xGw/ccmr-
///«^ erronepufly argues Hubert Thomas^ Se-
cretary to Count Frederid^ Palatine of the
Rhine^ of a Millake, for faying,* in his De-
fcription of the Country of Liege^ that the
Sea hath come up even to "Tongres Walls,
now well nigh a hundred Englijh Miles
from the Sea : Among other good Reafons^
alledging for tiie Proof thereof, that the
great Iron Rings are there yet remaining, un-
to which the Ships that there fometimes arri-
P 3 ved
214 Confeqiiences of
ved were faftned. I fay erroneoufly, feeing
all the Countries between that and the Sea
are level^ and of an equal Superficies^ with-
out any Hills or Rifings. 2. This appears,
not only from the great Plainnefs andEaven-
nefs of the Ground, but in that the Soil ge-
nerally, both in Flanders and Brabant^ is fan-
dy; whence it feems naturally to' follow,
that thofe Countries were anciently the
Flats, Sands, or Shores of the Sea. 3 . In that
digging about two Fathom more or lefs deep
in the Earth, innumerable Shells of Sea-Filh
are found, and that commonly in all Places,
both of Field and Town ; and in many Pla-
ces the great Bones of Fiihes.
Farther (faith Verfiegan) it is to be no-
ted, that albeit digging deep in the Earth in
Brabant and F/^;/(i^r/,! great Abundance of
Shells and Bones of Fiilies are to be founds
yet digging in the Earth in Holland and Zea-
land^ none at all are perceived, howbeit on
the Sands on the Sea-Shore there are very
many. The Reafon whereof may be, becaule
thofe Parts have been in Time long paft part
of the De{)th of the Sea j and the Parts a-
forefaid of Brabant and Flanders^ the Flats or
Shore; and on the Flats, and not in the
Depths, fuch kind of Shell-Filh are naturally
nouriihed. This is a very plaufible Account.
But yet it hath been by Experience found,
that if you dig deep enough, even in thU
land itfclfj after many Floors of feveral Sorts
of
the I) e luge. 2 1 5*
of Earth, you will at laft come to Beds of
Shells. For Varenius tells us, that Sinking a
Well in Amfterda??i^ after many Beds ol: Lay-
ers of Earth, Sand, Turf, &c, at a hun-
dred Foot Depth they came to a Bed of Sea-
Sand mix'd with Cockle-Shells of four Foot
Thicknefs, which doubtlefs was of old Time
the Bottom of the Sea, and all the other
Beds above it were brought down partly by
Floods fubfiding and fettling there, partly by
the Working of the Sea fprCviding Beds of
Sand upon the Layers of the Earth, and fo
interchangeably. But from this Experiment
it doth appear, that however deep the Sea
were thereabouts, yet it was nor too deep to
breed or harbour Shell-Fiih. Moreover,
from this Inftance it appears, that altho' now
the Bottom of the Sea about Holland be not
much below the Surface of the Land, yet
anciently it <^vas fuppofed fifty Foot ; whence
it will follow, that the Sea did then cover
all the Land above Holland^ which was not
more than fifty Foot higher than it. This
to me is a demonftrative Proof of the Atter-
ration of the Sea thereabout.
A N o T H E R great Inftance of Change made
in the Superficies of the Earth by Atterration
is in our own Country, the great Level of
the Fens running through HrAland in Lin-
colnfljire^ the Ijle of Ely in CambridgeJIoire^
and Marjhland in Norfolk, Which that it
was fometime part of the Sea, and atterra-
P4 ted
Zi6 Confequences of
ted by Land brought down by Floods from
the upper Grounds, feems to me evident, in
that it is near the Sea, and in that there is
thereabout a Concurrence of many great Ri-
vers,\vhich in Flood-times, by the Abundance
of Mud and Silt they ^ring down, there fub-
Tiding, have by Degrees-Traifed it up. And
thirdly, in that the whole Country is exa(ftly
level, like the Bottom of the Sea j it being
(as I havjs already faid) the Nature of the Wa-
ter flowing over the Earth in time to level
and bring to a Plain all Places that are foft
and yielding, and not rocky, as is feen in
.Meadows, and in the Bottom of the Sea
difcovered at low Water.
. A T H I R D Inftance is the Craux in Provence
in France^ anciently called Ca?npus Lapideufy
of which Pliny faith it was Herculis prdio-
rum memoYta ; and Strabo^ out of Mfchylus^
gives us a Poetical Fable, ' That the Stones
' were rained down by Jupiter in Favour of
* Hercules when he wanted Darts, that he
^ might caft them at the Ligurian Army, and
^ thereby break and fcatter it.'* PoJJidoniu!
thinks it was once a Lake, which by Fluctu-
ation dried up, and fo the Stones came to
be equally difperfed over the Bottom of it.
That it was a very ancient thing, is clear,
having its Original in the fabulous Times be-
fore any Memoirs of true Hiftory -, it con-
tinues to this Day fuch a kind of Place as it
W^s in Str^k's Time, It appears fo evident-
the Deluge. 217
ly to any one who hath viewed and confi-
dercd it, to have been once Part of the Sea,
from its being exactly level, and ftrowed all
over with Stones, as I have obferved the Bot-
tom of the Sea in many Places to be, that
there is not the lead Reafon to doubt of it.
The River Arnus^ in Thfca?iy^ now fal-
leth into the Sea, fix Miles below Pifa :
Whereby it appeareth, (faith Dr. Hakewil)
that the Land hath gained much upon the
Sea in that Coaft j for that Strabo^ in his
Time, reporteth, it was but twenty Fur-
longs (that is, but two Miles and an half)
diftant from the Sea.
I MIGHT, to thefe, add many other In-
ftan ces of Atterrations out of Strabo^ in his
firft Book i as about the Outlets of Ifter^ the
Places called Stethe^ and the Deferts oLScy-
thia : About thofe of Phafif^ the /Sea-coaft
of Colchis^ which is fandy, and low, and (oft :
About Thermodon and /v/V, all Themifcyra^
the Plain of the Amazons^ and the moft part
of Sidene,
T o omit the whole Land of Egypt ^ which
probably was covered originally with the
Sea, and raifed up by the Mud and Silt,
brought down by the Nile in its annual
Floods, fubfiding there, as I fhall have occa-
sion to Ihew afterwards.
Moreover, Varenim rationally conje-
ctures, that all China^ or a great Part of it,
was originally thus raifed- up and at'terrated,
having
2l8 Conjequences of
having been anckntly covered with the Sea :
For that, that great and impetuous River, cal-
led the Yellow or Saffron River, coming out
of T^artary^ and very often, though not at
anniverfary Seafons, overflowing the Coun-
try of China^ is faid to contain in it fo much
Earth and Sand, as make up a third Part of
its Waters. TheEavennefs, and htvt\ Super-
ficies of this whole Country of China render
this Conjedure the more probable.
In fine, the like Atterrations appear to
have been made about the Mouths of Indus
and Ganges in the Eafl-Indies^ and the River
de la Plata m America^ and tht ■ Rhodanus
in France^ and, doubtlefs, moft other great
Rivers throughout the whole World.
T o all which, if we add the fpacious Plains
that are on each fide moft great Rivers, from
their Mouths, many Miles up their Channels,
as may be obferved in the Thames and T^rent
in England^ which, probably, were at firft Si-
' nus^s of the Sea, landed up by Earth brought
down from the Mountains and upper Grounds
in Times of Floods ; it will appear, that in
this refped there hath been a very great
Change made in the terraqueous Globe, the
dry Land much enlarged, and the Sea ftrait-
ned and cut ftiort.
Notwithstanding all thefe Authorities
•and Arguments, Dr. Woodward, in his Natu-
ral Hiftory of the Earthy confidently affirms,
I That there were never any Iflands, or other
' con-
the Delude, 2ip
confiderablc Parcels of Land amalfed or
heaped up, nor any Enlargement or Addi-
tion of Earth made to the Continent, by
the Mud that is carried down into the Sea
by Rivers. Thar although the Ancients
were almoft unanimoufly of Opinion, that
thofe Parts, where Eg^pt now is, were
formerly Sea, and that a very confiderable
Portion of the Country was recent, and
formed out of the Mud difcharged into the
neighbouring Sea by tl^e Nile^ that yet this
Tradt of Land had no fuch Rife, but is as
old, and of as long Handing, as any upon
the w^hole Continent of Africa^ and hath
been much in the fame natural Condition
that it is at this day, ever lince the Time of
the Deluge : Its Shores being not advan-
ced one jot farther into the Sea for this
Three or Four thoufand Years, nor its Sur-
face raifed by additional Mud, depofed up-
on it by the yearly Inundations of the
Nile, That neither the Falus Micotir^ nor
the Euxine^ nor any other Seas, fill up, or
by degrees grow Ihallower. That Salmy-
deffus^ T^hemifcyra^ Sidene^ and the adja-
cent Countries upon the Coafts of the Eu-
xine Sea, were not formed out of the Mud
brought down by the Jfter^ T^hermodon^ Irif^
and the other Rivers, which difcharge them-
felves into that Sea. That T'hejfaly was
not raifed by the Mud, borne down by the
I River Feneus j the Illands Echinades or Cur-
' zolari^
220 Confequences of
' zolaYi^ out of that brought by the Rivfr
^ Achehaf ; Celicia by the River Pyra?mts' ; A^-
' y?^, Lydiajonia^ and other Countries of y^w^-
* ?ling ^nd Vibration of the foft Earth 5 lone,
would have produced fuch a Noife abroad in
the Air j and the Vapour of it alio made a
fhift to ftruggle through the Pores of the
Earth into the open Air, in fuch Quantity as
to affedl the Senfe, a fulphurous Scent hav-
ing been obferved in the Air, both before
and after the Concuflfion.
It \s^ moreover, very remarkable. That
there were fome particular Spots which were
not at all flirted in thofe Countries where
the Places, not far diftant round about, were
Ihaken; as Sturbridge-Fair bcfore-remem-
bred, and that where my Dwelling is,- nei-
ther myfelf, nor any of my Family, though
they were Above-ftairs, nor any of our near
Neighbours, being fenfible of the leaft Mo-
tion or Impreffion of it, and yet thofe living
within lefs than half a Mile, had their Houfes
cohfiderably fliaken by it.
It is alio worth the noting, That both
this, and all other Earthquakes I have heard
or read of in England^ have been very Ihort,
and finifhed at one Exploiion ^ which is an
Argumejnt that the Cavities and Cuniculi^
wherein the inflamed Matter is contained
and moves, are yery ftrait, and of fmall Di-
menfions. Exploiion I call it, becaufe by the
Quicknefs of the Motion, it feems rather to
refemble that of Powder in a Gun, than that
of a Squib running in a Train of Powder.
Though others I have read of, wliofe Motion
T 3 was
Z78 Confequences of
was very (low ; as that obferved by the Ho-
nourable Mr. J5(5y/^,and defcribed in the Fhi-
lofophicalTranfacfionSy Numb. 11. Had we
certain Knowledge where the greateft Force
of this Earthquake was, we might thence *
learn where its firfl Accenfion was, and
which way it fpread itfelf. But I have not
time to enlarge farther ccpxerning it, or to
give an Account of all its Fh^nomena^ left I
injure the Printer by flopping the Prefs ;
Neither, indeed, would it be Prudence to at-
tempt it, till we have a more particular and
perfcd Hiftory of it.
» - Since this was written and fent away to
the Printer, Intelligence is come from be-
yond the Seas, that Flanders^ arid all HoU
land^ Part of France and Germany^ were
fliaken by this Earthquake, and, confequent-
iy, the interjacent- Provinces j which is a
clear Demonftration of our Opinion, l^at
the inflamed Damp, which caufed it, was
lodged deep in the Earth, the CunicuU or
Caverns, which contained it, pafiSng under the
Very Bottom of the Sea. . It is alfo a great
Confirmation of what we have delivered con-
cerning the Mountains of JEtna^ Stromboll^
and Vejuroius^ communicating by fubmarine
PaiTages. Add hereto, that Gaffendm^ in the
Life of Feireslm^ reports, That at the Moun-»
tain Semo in jEthwpiaj there happened a
Burning at the fame time with that of
Vefuvius in Campania^ 'viz. ia the Year
the Deluge,
1^33. So that not only Vefuvim commw'
nicates with Mtna by fubterraneous Vaults,
but alfo (as he rationally inferrs) j^tna with
the Mountains of Syrici^ the Tunnels run-
ning under the Depths of the Mediterranean
Sea, and thofe with the Arabian i and, h^-
ly, the Arabian with Mount Seino in j^tlm-t-
pia. -,• -: i>
That an inflamed Damp or fubterraneous
Fire is the Caufe of all Earthquakes in gene-
ral, and not only fuch as precede the Erup-
tions of Vukand's^ may be proved by an e-
fHiinent Inftance of .an Earthquake happen-
ing May 1 2. .1682. which fliook the greatdl
Part of France and Switzerland^ and reach*d
as far as Collen in Germany : An Account
whereof we have in i\it Journal des Scavam^
fet forth June i. i68i. inferted in the Week-
ly Memorials printed for Mr. Faithor^e^
Numb. 23. In which they write. That it
was perceived in Lionnois^ (which was wont
to pafs for a Place exempt from fuch Acci-
dents) in Dauphiny and Beaujolois^ though
very little, and without any ill Confequence.
That at Mets in Lorrain^ the Watch-place of
a Bulwark was thrown down into the
Ditch, with the Soldier that flood Centiael
there. ^
That at Tonnerre^ihc Houfes and Churches
were fo terribly fhaken, as if feveral Coaches
with fix Horfes had driven along full fpeed
through the Streets j and that it threw
T 4 down
z8o Confequences of
down feveral Rocks on the fide of Bourbi-
rant. They tell alfo, that it ftopt a Foun-
tain at Karoiere^ hard by, (which at fifty Pa-
ces from its Head, turns a Mill) for half an
Hour.
That it was perceived in Provence^ by the
Shaking of Windows and Beds, and Opening
of Doors i and that it had two feveral Moti-
ons or Pulfes, as ours alfo was, by fome, ob-
served to have : And that the Domefl:ick A-
nimals, as Sheep, Cows, Horfes, and Poul-
try,^ did difcover their Fear by unufual Mo-
tions and Cries. And the Sheep at Dijon in
Burgundy y could not be fi:op'd from getting
into their Stalls at Four of the Clock in the
Afternoon, which were not then wont to
betake themfelves thither till Sun-fet.
That the Cities of Orleans^ Troyef^ Sens^
Chalons^ Joinvilky Reims^ SoiJJons^ Laon^
Mafcon^ Dok^ Strasbourg^ &c\ felt the Ef-
fe(^s of it.
But at Kemiremont upon the Mojelle^
where it exerted its greateft Force, throw-
ing down feveral Houfes, infomuch that
the Inhabitants were forced to betake them-
felves into the Fields for fix Weeks time j
there was a Noife heard like Thunder, and
Flames frequently broke Qut of the Earth of
a noifome Scent, but not fulphureous, and
which burnt nothing,- yet was there no Rift
or Chap in tne Ground, fave only in one
Place i the Depth whereof w;is in vain
fearch'dj
the Deluge: 281
fearch'd, and which afterwards clofcd up.
And before this Earthquake alfo, Flames ap-
peared for four Days upon a Mountain near
Geneva,
It is very ftrange and remarkable, that the
Flames that ilfued out, were of the Nature of
an Jgnis fatuus^ and burnt nothing i and
that the Earthquake raged every Night, and
never in the Day-time.
Concerning Earthquakes, I fhall only add
two Obfervations.
1. That it is not likely that they fpend all
their Strength upon Cities, but do indilferent-
ly ihake, break in funder, and throw down
Mountains and Rocks j and feeing few Ci-
ties there are but have been fhaken, and
many ruined and fubverted by them, and
leveled with the Ground ; there is good
Reafpn to think, that few Rocks or Moun-
tains have efcaped their Fury, but have fuf-
fered the like Concufifions and Alterations.
2. That the Changes that have hitherto
happened in the Earth by Earthquakes, have
not been fo confiderable as to threaten a Dif-
folution of the prefent Syftem of the Ter-
raqueous Globe, fhould there be a like Suc-
ceflion of them to Eternity. Unlcfs we will
except that unparallel'd univerfal One, which
happened inth^ D^ys of Valentini an the Firft,
(which we have already mentioned) by which
the whole known World, both Land and
Sca^ and it's like the then unknown too, were
violently
28x Confequences of
violently lliaken ,• which might feem to be
a Prelude to the future Conflagration, or
Deftrudion of the whole, by fuch a Confu-
fion and Dafliing in Pieces of all the Parts of
it, one againft another, as the Stoicks fpeak
of.
Of the Effe(5ts of burning Mountains or
Vulcano's^ I have already faid fomething, and
Ihall, afterwards, have occafion to fay more.
In brief, i. They caft forth out of their
Mouths, and fcatter all over the Country,
fometimes to a very great Diftance, .abun-
dance of Sand and Alhes. . Dio7i Caffius re-
ports, That in the noted Deflagration of Ve-
ftivim^ in the Time of TvYwx the Emperor,
there was fo much Cinders and Aflies vomi-
ted out of its flaming Tunnel, and with that
Fury and Violence, that they werq tranf-
ported over Sea, into Africa^ Syria^ andE^j^ti
and, on the other fide, were carried as far as
Rome^ where they darknedthe very Air, and
. intercepted the Sun-beams. At which time,
by the Fury of this Burning and Tempeft,
. the whole Mountain and Earth thereabouts
was fo lliaken, that two adjoining Cities,
Herculanium and Pompeii^ were deftroyed
with the People fitting in the Theater, And
the famous Natural Hiftorian Pliny the Elder,
then Admiral of the Roman Navy, out of a
Curiofity of fearching out the Caufes and
Nature of the Deflagration, approaching too
near the Mountain, and flaying too long
there.
the Deluge. -i^S^
there, was fuffocated with the fulphnreous
Smoke and Stench thereof.
Of another Eruption of the {imtVeftwiuf^
we read, in the Time of heo the Emperor;
wherein the Aflies thereof, tranfportcd m the
Air, obfcured all Europe^ being carried as far
as Co7ifinntinofle ,• and that the Cojtfiantim^
politans being wonderfully affrighted there-
with, (infomuch as the Emperor forfook the
City) in memory of the fame did yearly, ce-
lebrate the Twelfth of Non)ember,
2, THEYalfo pour out huge Floods of
melted Minerals, Stones, and other Materials,
running down like Rivers for many Miles
together , as did the Mountain jEtna in that
laft and moft famous Erudion, difgorging
fuch mighty Streams of fiery running Matter,
as flowed down to Catana^ above twenty
Miles diftant, and advanced a confiderablc
way into the very Sea itfelf.
2. The next thing I fhall mention, is
.the extraordinary Floods caufed by ion^
continuing Showers, or violent and tempe^
ftuous Storms and Shots of Rain. >
The moft ancient and memorable of this
Kind is that of Deucalion^ of which we have
-already difcourfed fufficiently. S. Hierome^
in the Life of Hilarion^ (as I find him quo*
ted by Dr. Hakewill) fpeaks of a Flood and
Inundation after the Death of Julian^ in
which Naues ad pr^rupta montium delatdi
fependerunt^ the Ships being landed upon
the
Confequences of
the Tops of the Mountains^ there fluckl
Which, whether it proceeded from Rain, or
from an Irruption of the Sea, or from both
Caufes together, he doth not fay : But if it
were literally true, and not hyperbolically
exaggerated, then may fome Credit be given
to what Sahin^ in his Commentaries upon
O'vid's Metamorphofi!:^ reports. Ex Annalium
mommejitis conftat Anno 1460. in Alfibus in-
*ventavi effe Na'vim cmn anchor is in cuniculo
per quern metalla effodiuntur : It appears bj
by the Monuments of Hiftory^ that in the Tear
1460. in a Mine of the Alps, was found a
Ship With its Anchors; in Confirmation of
what that Poet writes :
Et 'vetus inventa eji in montibus anchora
fujnmis.
In the Year of our Redemption 590. in
the Month of O^ober^ Gregory being then
Bilhop of Rome^ there happened a marvel-
lous Overflowing in Italy ^ and efpecially in
the Venetian Territory, and in Liguria, ac-
companied with a moft fearful Storm of
Thunder and Lightning ; after which fol-
lowed the great Plague at Ro?fte^ by reafon
of many dead Serpents caft up, and left up-
on the Land, after the Waters decreafed and
returned.
S T R o z I u s S I G o G, in his Magia omni^
faria^ telleth of an Inundation in Italy ^ in the
Time of Pope Vamafus^ in which alifo many
Cities
the Deluge. z8<)
Cities of Sicily were fwallovved : Another in
tjie Time oiAlexajider the Sixth. Alfo, in
the Year 15 1 5. Maxiinilian being Emperor,
he alfo remembers a perilous Overflowing
in Polonia about Cracovia^ by which many
People perilled. \ /j
Likewise Vignier^ a French Hiftorian^'
fpeaketh of a great Flood in the South Part
e( Languedoc^ which fell in the Year of our
Lord 1557. with fo dreadful aTempeft^that
all the People attended therein the very End
of the World and Judgment-Day, faying,
'That by the violent Delcent of the Waters
about Nifines, there were removed divers old
Heaps and Mountures of Ground, and many
;other Places, torn up and rent; by which
Accident, there was found both Coin of Sil-
ver and Gold, anddiversPieces of Plate, and
Veifels of other Metal, fuppofed to be hid-
den at fuch time as tht Goths invaded that
Province. Thefe Stories related in the three
laft Paragraphs, I have borrowed of Sir Wal-
ter Raleigh his Hiftcry of the World.
To which I Ihall add one of late Date
happening in Sicily ^ a 'Narrative whereof
communicated in a Letter from Falermo^
dated June the 25 th, 1682. I met with in
the London Gazette^ Numb. 1742. in the
following Words : JVe hwve an Account from
the Town of Tortorica, That on the Sixth
Jnflant^ about Se-ven a Clod in the Evening^
after fo great a Darlnefs that no Object could
he
lS6 Confequences of
he dijl'mguijhed at the Diftance of four Pa^
tes^ there arofe fuch a great Stonn of Rain^
JJghtn'mg^ and Thunder^ which lafted Six and
thirty HourSj that about One a Clod the
next Mornings great Torrents' of Water],
caufed by thefe Rains ^ fell down from the
neighbouring Mount aim with fo great Rapi-
dity-^ that they carried with them Trees of
an €xtraordi?iary Bignefs^ which threw down
the Walls and Houjes of the Town they hap-
femd to beat againft. The Waters were fo
fvi&lent that they overthrew the Church of
S, Nicholas ; and the Arch-Deacon of the
Town^ who retired thither ^ perijhed there
with vtany other Perfons : There remaining
-only one Abby^ and about fifty Houfes, and
■thofe fo Jhattered^ that they fell one aper
another. There were about Six hundred of
the Inhabitants drown'd^ the reft being a-
broad in the Field gathering their Silk^ fled
'to the Mountains^ where they fuffsred 'very
much for Want of Provifions. 'The Goods ^
- Trees^ Stone^ Sand^ and other Rubbijh^ which
'the Waterr carried away^ were in fo great
'Abundance^ that they ?nade a Banh above the
Water ^ two Miles in Lengthy near the Mouth
of the River ^ where ^ before^ the Sea was very
deep. This Town is fituate in that Part
of Sicily called the Valley of Demona, on
the fide of the River Tortorica, about Five
and twenty Miles fro?n the Tufcan Sea*
The Towns of Randazzo and Francavilk-^
and
the Deluge. 287
and fever at others, have likezvlfe been de-
Jkoyed by this great Flood. It is added,
that Mount Mtm cafis out fuch abundance of
Water, that all the neighbouring Country is
drowned. Which if it be true, .(as I fee no
Reafon to doubt it) this is a farther Proof
againft Borellius, that the Caverns of jEt-
na are more than fuperficial, and reach
down to the very Roots and Foundations of
that Mountain, communicating with the fub-
terraneous Abyfs, and the Sea itfelf, from
whence, in all likelihood, thefe Waters were
derived, as is evident in thofe poured out by;
Vefuvius,
• Many other Floods we read of in Hifto-
.ries, whether caufed by Rains or Inundati-
ons of the Sea, is uncertain ,• and, therefore,
I fhall not fpend time in fetting them down*
The Eflfcd: of all which, relatingto the Earth
in general, is, the Wafting and Wafhing a-
way of Mountains and high Grounds, the
Railing of the Valleys and Bottoms, and, con-
fequently, Leveling of the Earthy and Land-
ing up of the Sea.
3. The laft thing I fiiall mention, which
hath effected coniiderable Changes in the
Earth, is boifterous and outrageous Winds
and Hurricanes, of which I need not give
Inftanccs, they every Year «ihnoft happening.
Thefe, I conceive, have a great Intercft in the
Inundations of the Sea we have before men-
tioned. Thefe raife up thofe great Hills or
Downs
z88 CoJtfeqtienc^s of
Downs of Sand we fee all along the Coafts
of the Low-Countreyf^ and the Weftern-Shores
o( England J and the like Places. Thefe fome-
times blow up fo much Sand, and drive it fo
far as to cover the adjacent Countrys, and
to mar whole Fields, yea, to bury Towns
and Villages. They are alfo a concurrent
Caufe of thofe huge Banks and Shelves of
Sand, that are fo dangerous to Mariners, and
bar up Havens, and ruin Port-Towns ^ qf
which many Inftances might be given.
I F I N D in Dr. HakewiWs Apology, a Story
or two, lliewing the great Force and Strcngtb
of Winds ,• the one taken out of Bellarntine's
Book, De afcenfu mentis in Demn per fed,
creat. grad, 2. Vidi ego (faith the Cardinal)
(juod nifi 'vidiffem non crederem^ a "vehementif-
fimo vento ejfojjain ingentevi terrte molem^ earn"
que ddatam fuper pagmn quendam ut fovea
altiffima confviceretiir^ unde terra enita fuerat^
&fagm totus coopertus^& quafi fepidtus ?nan-
ferit^ ad quern terra ilia de-venerat : 1. e. /
inyfelf have feen, which if I had not fcen^
I fhould not have believed^ a very great
J^antity of Earthy digged out and tahn up
by the Force of a ftrong Wind^ and carried
up a Village thereby^ fo that there remain-
ed to be feen a great empty Hollowncfs in
the Place from whence it was lifted^ and the
Village upon which it lighted was in a man-
ner all covered over and buried in it.
The
the Deluge. zSp
5 T H E Other out of Stow^ who reports^
That in the Year 1095. during the Reign
of King WilUfim Rufus^ there happened in.
London an outrageous Wind,which iDoredovvn
in that City alone Six hundred Houfes, and
blew off the Kooi of EGW-Churchj with which
the Beams were borne into the Air a great
Height, fix whereof being 27 Foot long, with
their Fall were driven 23 Foot deep into the
Ground, the Streets of the City lying then
unpaved.
Now then to fum up what we have faid i
The Changes and Alterations that have been
made in the fuperficial Part of the terra-
.queous Globe, have been effeded chiefly by
]Vate}\ Fire^ and Wind* Thofe by Water
have been either by the Motions of the Sea^
Of by Rains ; and both either ordinary or ex- .
traordinary : The ordinary Tides and Spring-
Tides of the Sea do walh away the Shores,
and change Sand-Banks, and the like. The
extraordinary and tempeftuous Motions of
the Sea, raifed by raging and impetuous
Winds, fubterraneous Fires, or fome other
hidden Caufes, overwhelm Iflands, open Fre-
tu??ts^ throw up huge Beds and Banks of
Sand, nay, vaft Baiches of Stone, extending
lome Miles, and drown whole Countrys.
The ordinary Rai?ts contribute fomething to
the daily Diminution of the Mountains, fil-
ling up of the Valleys, and atterrating ths
Skirts of the Seas. The extraordinary Raim
y cauling
i^O Confequences of
camfing great Floods and Deluges, have more
vifible and remarkable Influences upon fuch
Mutations, doing that in a few Days which
the ordinary Weather could not effe^, it may
be, in a hundred Years.
In all thefe Changes the Winds have a
great Intereft ; the Motion of the Clouds
being wholly owing to them, and, in a great
mealure alfo, the Overflowings and Inunda-
tions of the Sea.
Whatever Changes have been wrought
by Earthquakes, Thunders, and Eruptions of
Vulcand's^ are the Effects of Fire.
All thefe Caufes co-operate toward the
lowering of the Mountains, leveling of the
Earth, ftraitnir^ and landing up of the StdL^
and, in fine, compelling the Waters to return
upon the dry Land, and cover the whole
Surface of it, as at the firft. How to ob-
viate this in a natural way, I know not, un-
lefs by a Tranfmutation of the two Elements
of Water and Earth one into another, which
I can by no means grant. 'Tis true indeed,
the rocky Parts of the Mountains may be
fo hard and impenetrable, as to refill and
hold out againft all the Affaults of the W ater,
and utmoft Rage of the Sea j but then all the
Earth and Sand being walked from them,
nothi ig, but as it were their Skeletom^ will re-
main extant above the Waters, and the Earth
be in effe(^ drowned.
But
the Deluge. 2^1
But tho' I cannot imagine or think up-
on any natural Means to prevent and put a
Stop to this Effei^t, yet I do not deny that
there may be fome^ and I am the rather in-
clinable fo to think, becatife the World doth
not in any Degree proceed fo fift towards
this Period, as the Force and Agency of all
thefeCaufcs together feem to require. For,
as I faid before, the Oracle prediding the
Carrying on the Shore oiC'dicia as far as Q-
/>m/, by the Earth and Mud that the turbid
River P^ramm fhould bring down, and let
fall in the interjacent Strait, is fo far from
being filled up, that there hath not ^nyconfi-
derable Progrefs been made towards it, fo
far as I have heard or read, in thefe 2000
Years. And we find by Experience, that the
longer the World lafts, the fewer Concuffi-
ons and Mutations are made in the upper or
fuperficial Region of the Earthy the Parts
thereof feeming to tend to a greater Quiet
and Settlement. 1
In this Conjedure I find myfelf miflaken*
For fince the Writing hereof there have hap-
pened as terrible and deftruftive Earthquakes
as any we read of in Hiftory, particularly
thofe of Sicilj in the Year 169^-3 . ^^^^ ^^^ ^"
5^^«. 9. about four Hours and a half after
Sun-feti the fecond on the nth of the fame
Month, about the 2 ift Hour of the Day, ac-
cording to the Italian Reckoning, that is,
three Howrs before Sun-fet. In both which
U % there
2^)2 Consequences of
there .periHied 93000 Souls i Were deftroyed
and much damnified 2 Bilhopricks , 700
Churches, of which 2 2 Collegiate ones, 250
Monafteries, 49 Cities and Villages, where-
of the moft remarkable was the City of Ca-
tania^ one of the faireft and largeft in the
Ifland, which was wholly overthrown and
buried in its Ruins, fcarce any Footftep of it
remaining, wherein perilhed above 15000
Souls : Of which the learned and ingenious
Signor faulo Bonone gives a particular Ac-
count, in his Book entituled, Mufduin Phy^
fictim & Experimentale -y and befides affords
us many curious Remarks and Obfervations^
concerning the Signs, Concomitants and Ef-
feds of thefe Earthquakes, which being too
long to tranfcribe, it not being my Detign to
write a complete Treatife of Earthquakes,
but only to difcourfe a little of them occa-
iionally, as they, or rather the Caufe of
them, might poftibly have been the Means or
Inftruments the Almighty made ufe of at firft
to raife up the dry Land, and caft off the
Waters ; I referr the Reader to the Book it-
felf.
2. Those of Naples^ or Terra di La^
'VorOj anciently called Campania Felix^ hap-
pening on tlie fifth of June 1688. of which
Mr. Miffon gives us an Account at the End of
his New Voyage to Italy, Vol, i. fent in a
Letter from an EngUJJj Merchant then living
in
the Deluge. zp^
in Naples to his Friend, in thefe Words ; Sh\
About eight Dap a;^o zve all believed the World
was at a7i End. tVe felt amoft terrible Earth-
quale in this 'Town of Naples : It'lafted but
three Minutes^ but in that little time fiich
Things hafpened^ as without all Doubt were
done by the Ha?id of the Almighty. About a
quarter of a?t Hour after four in the After-
noon^ a terrible Earthquake pook the whole
City all of a fudden^ and pit the People into
fuch a Confufion as cannot be exprejfed. Mount
Vefuviiis being quiet ^ no Body miftrufled any
fuch Thing : And though they perceived the
Houfes to floop^ and to recover again^ to part
from cne another^ to move every where^ and
in fome Places to fall^ their Aflonifmnent wof
fo greaty and their Eyes fo dazzled^ that (oine
cried out Fire^ others fancied to themfelves
fome popular Sedition^ and very few guef-
fed what it really was. But another more
violent Earthquake fucceeding the firfi ^ a
fubtcrraneous Noife^ furpajfing that of Thun-
der^ was heard and accompanied by a Dome-
flick Noife of all the HouJJjold Goods ^ which
were overturned^ and a good Part of them ei-
ther broken or bruifed, The Bells rang in all
the Steeples^ the Cifierns vomited up their Wa-
ters^ feveral Houfes parted from each other^
fome rejoined^ others fell^ and fome flood as
if they were ftooping and ready to fall. Then
every one was fenjible that it was an Earth-^
U 3 quake ^
2p4 Consequences of
quake ^ &c. T^ this fucceeded a third Trem^
lling^ which the Writer only mentions. Not
many People were loft in this Earthquake at
Naples ; hut the Damage [uftained by it was
reckoned by knowing Perfons to amount to Ten
Millions of Crowns. At the Town of Bene-
vento there were 1567 Perfons crufhed to
Pieces^ and buried under Ruins ; fo that that
Town is nothing now but a Heap of Stones.
We have here a Lift 0/800 Perfons more kil-
led in twelve or thirteen Villages about the
faid City of Benevent. The Town of Ceret-
to, belonging to the Duke of Mattalone, was
entirely overturned^ and 4000 Perfons perijh-
ed therein, five Hundred were alfo loft at Mira-
bella, 1000 at S. Lupo, 300 8 Of the Dijfolution
fual and cuftomary fo to do. In the latter
Times of that State, we read of no Confulting
of Prophets upon fuch Occafions. At laft
alfo by their own Confeflion, the Spirit of
Prophecy was quite taken away, and nothing
left them but a Vocal Oracle, which they
called Bath col^ u e. the Daughter of a Voice,
or the Daughter of Thunder, a Voice out of
* Hora a Voice. This Dr. "^ Light foot thinks to have
iJebr. in \)qqii a meer Fancy or Impofture. Q^^e de
e^, 3! V. Bath Kol referunt Judai^ ignofcant illi tnihi
i7« fi ego partitn pro Fabulis habeam ^udaicis^ par-
tim pro prafligiis Diabolk'u* What the Jews
report concerning Bath Kol, I beg their Par-
don^ if I efteem them no ether than either
Jewijh Fable f^ or Diabolical Illufions. It is a
Tradition among them, that after the Death
of the laft Prophets, Haggai^ Zachary^ and
Malachiy the Holy Spirit departed from If-
rael. But why, I befeech you, was Prophecy
withdrawn, if Celeftial Oracles were to be
continued ? Why was Urifn and nummim
taken away, or rather not rcftored, by their
own Confeflion, after the Babylonilh Capti-
vity ? It were ftrange indeed, that G o d ta-
king away His ordinary Oracles from a
People, lliould beftow upon them one more
or eqiially noble ; and that, after they were
extremely degenerated and fallen into all
manner of Impiety, Superftition and Here-
fy, &c. And a little after, if I may free-
fy fpeak what I think, thofe innumerable
Stories,
of the World. Ipp
Stories, which every where occurr [in the
Jewifli Writings] concerning Bath Kol^ are
to be reduced to two Heads, "viz, i. The
nioft of them are meer Fables, invented in
Honour of this or that Rabbin, or to gain
Credit to fome Hiftory. 2. The reft meer
Magical and Diabolical Illufions, &c.
In the Primitive Churches of Chriftians
planted by the Apoftles, there was alfo an
Order of Prophets, i Cor, xii. 28. God
hath fet fome in the Church , jirft Apoftles^
fecondarily Prophets^ &c. This Spirit of Pro-
phecy was an extraordinary and temporary
Gift, as were the Gifts of Healing and Speak-
ing with Tongues, continuing not long after
the Death of the Apoftles, and Confignation
of the Canon of Scripture. So that now wc
have no Means left us of Coming to the
Knowledge of future Events, but the Pro-
phecies contained in the Writings of the Ho-
ly Penmen of Scripture, which we muft
fearch diligently, confider attentively, and
compare together, if we defire to underftand
any thing of what fhall befall the Chriftian
Church or State in Time to come.
This Text which I have made Choice of
for my Subjed, is Part of a Prophecy con-
cerning the greatcft of all Events, the Diffo-
lution of the World.
f'
2 PiTCK
mmmmm^
Z Peter iii. II.
Seeing then all thefe Things
jhall he di[fohed/ujhat man-
ner of Per fons\ ought ive to
he in all holy Converfation
and Godlinefs ?
Chap. I.
The "Drnjion of the Words and Do&rine
contained in them^ with the Heads oj
the following Dijcourje,
«^^^HESE Words contain in them
J^ T^ ^^^^ ^^^^^ * ^* ^" Antecedent,
^^P^^ or Doctrine, All thefe thinis flmll
^SM^M he diffohed. 2. A Confequent,
or Inference thereupon, JVhat
manner of Perfom ought we to be?
Tnt Doctrine, here only briefly hinted,
or fummariiy propofed, is laid down more
fully in the precedent Verfe , But the Day of
the Lord zvill come as a Thief in the Nighty
in which the Heavens pall pafs away with a
great
Of the Di(folutton. 301
great Noife, and the Elements Jhall fnelt with
ferve?it Ueat^ the' Earth alfo^ and theJVorh
that are therein JJjall be burnt up.
These Words are, by the Generality of
Interpreters, Ancient and Modern, under-
ftood of the final Deftrudion or Diffolution
of Heaven and Earth ; in which Senfe I IhaU
choofe rather to accept them at prefent, than
with the Reverend and Learned Dr. Hcz;//-,
7?wndj and fonie few others, to ftem the Tide
ofExpofitors, and apply them to the Deftru-
dtion of Jerusalem and the Jewifh Polity. I
fay then,
IThat this IVorld,. and all things therein Doar.
contained^ JJjall one Day be dijfolved and
deftroyed by Fire.
B Y Wbrld^ in this Propofition, We^ and by
Heaven and Earth in this Place, the moft
rational Interpreters of Scripture, do under-
ftand only the whole Co?npages of this Sub-
lunary World, and all the Creatures that are
in it ; all that was deftroyed by the Flood in
the Days of Noah^ and is now fecured from
perifhing fo again ^ that I may borrow Dr.
Hammond's Words, in his Annotations on
this Place. ' And again, the Word Heavem
* ( faith he ) being an Equivocal Word, is ufed
* either for the fupcriour Heavens, whether
' Empyreal or Ethereal, -or for the fublunary
' Heavens, the Air, (as the Word World is ei-
' ther the whole Compass of the fuperiour
'and
302 Of the Dijfolution
* and inferiour World, as the Author of the
* Book De MundOy afcribed falfly to Ariflotle^
* defines Koflrfjiof, (Tvgvjfxx e^ dvpavs vloa yvi<;
* y?^w or Compages of Heaven and Earthy and
* the Beings therein contained : Or elfe only of
* the fublunary Lower World) we may here
* refolve, that the 'Ovpavol and goix^Ta^ Hea-
.' ven and Hoft, or Elements thereof, are li-
' terally the fublunary Aereal Heavens, and all
* that is therein, Clouds and Meteors, &c.
* Fowls and flying Creatures, and fo, fit to
* join with the Earth and Works that are
* therein.
In Profecution of this Propofition, and in
Order to the Proof and Confirmation, and
likewife the Clearing and lUuftration of it, I
fliall, (i .) Give you what I find concerning
the Diflolution of the World : i . In the Ho-
ly Scripture. 2. In ancient Chriftian Wri-
ters. 3. In the Heathen Philofophers and
Sages. (2.) I fhall endeavour to give fome
Anfwer to thefe feven Queftions, which are
obvious and ufually made concerning it.
1. Whether there be any thing in Na*
ture, which might prove and demonftrate, or
argue and inferr a future DifTolution of the
World ?
2. Whether fhall this DifTolution be
brought about and effe(Sted by Natural, or
by extraordinary Means and Inftruments ,*
and
of the World. 503
and what thofe Means and Inftruments fiiall
be?
3. Whether fhall the DilTolution be
gradual or fudden ?
4. Whether fliall there be any Signs
and Fore-Runners of it ?
5. At what Period of Time fhall the
World be diffolved ?
6. H o w far Ihall this Conflagration ex-
tend ? Whether to the Ethereal Heavens, and
all the Hoft of them. Sun, Moon, and Stars,
or to the Aereal only.
7. Whether fhall the Heavens and
Earth be wholly diffipated and deftroyed, or
only refined and purified ?
Chap. II.
The Tefiimonies of Scripture concerning the
Dijfolution of the World,
HEN, let us confider what wc
find delivered in the Holy Scri-
ptures, concerning the Diflb-
lution of the World. And firft
of all. This Place, which I have made
Choice of for my Text, is in my Opinion
the moft clear and full, as to this Particu-
lar, in the whole Scripture j and will give
Light for the. Solution of moft of the pro-
poied
304 Of the hljfotution
pofed Qiieftions. Verf. i o. The Dayofth^
Lord jjjall come as a T^hief^ Sec. This' ah-
fwers the third Queftion^ Whether the Dif-
folution lliall be gradual or fuddt:n ? W^here-
in the Hcai)en.f (hall pafs azvay with a great
Noife^ and the Ehnenty Jloall visit zmh fer-
vent Heat^ the Earth alfo^ and all the JVorh
that are therein^ (hall be burnt tip. And a^
gain, Ver. 12. tFherein the Heavem being
on Fire /hall be dijfohed^ and the Ehnentf
JJoall melt with fervent Heat, This anfwers
the fecond Queftion, What the Means and
Inftruments of this Diffolution ihall be ?
Ver. 13. Neverthelefi we^ ai:cording to his
Pro?nife^ look for a new Heaven and a new
Earthy wherein dwelleth Right eoufnefs. This
gives fome Light toward the anfwering of the
laft Queftion, Whether fliall the Heavens
and the Earth be wholly burnt up and de-
ftroyed , or only renewed and purified ?
ThefeWords, as clearly as they feem to re-
ferr to the DilTolution of the World, yet
Dr. Hamjnond doubts not to be understood
of the remarkable Deftrudtion of Jerujale?n^
and the Jewiili State, he thus paraphrafing
them.
Verfe i o. But the Day of the Lord will
come as a Thief in the Nighty in which
the Heavens (Izall pafs away with a great
Noife^ and the Eleinents fjjall melt with
■ fervent Heat^ and the Earth alfo^ and
thi
■y,df the World. 505*
the Worh that are therein JJjall be burnt
up.
But this Judgmcni of Christ, fo remark-
able on the Jewf^ lliall now fliortly come,
and that very difcernably ; and the Temple
fliall fuddenly be deftroyed, the greater Part
of it burnt, and the City and People utterly
confumed.
Verfe ii. Seeing then all thefe Things JJoall
be dijjclvedj what Manner of Ferfons
ought ye to be in all holy Converfation
and Godlinefs ^
Seeing then thiis Deftrudlion fliall thus
involve all, and now approacheth fo near^
what ^n Engagement doth this lay upon us
to live the moft pure ftri(^ Lives that evet
Men lived ?
Verfe 12. ILooling for and haflning tmti)
the Comi?ig of the Day of G o d, wherein
the Heavens^ being. on Fire^ Jhall be dif^
fohed^ and the Elements JJjall melt with
fervent Heat*
Looking for theConiingof Christ ?ox
our Deliverance,' and by our Chriftian Lives
quickning and haftning God to delay it no
longer; that Coming of His, I fay, which
as it fignifics great Mercy to us, fo it figni-
fies very fliarp Dcftru.dipn to the whole
jf^(/'7^ State* '■^'".'■^. ':'"'■
X Vd-f^
306 Of the Dijfolution
Verfe 13 . Meverthetefs we^ according to His
Protnifej look for new Heavens and a
new Earthy wherein dwelleth Right eouf-^
nefs,
!n STEAD of whidi \irc look for anew
Chriftiah State, wherein all Proviiion is made
by Christ tot Righteoufaefs to inhabit,
according to the Promife of C h r i s t con-
cerning the Purity that He fliould plant in
the Evangelical State.
How he makes out and confirms thisPa^
raphrafc, fee in hiis Annotations upon this
Place. So confident is he of the Truth of
this his Interpretation, that he cenfures the
ufual one as a great Miftake, in his Annotd:-
tion on ver, i o. where he thus writes i ' What
' is here thus expreffed by S. Feter^ is ordina-
* rily conceived to belong to the End of the
* World, and by others applied to the End of
^ this World, and the Beginning of the Millen"
* niurn^ or Thoufand* Years. And fo, as S. Feter
*here faith, wr. 16. many other Places in
* S. Paul's Epiftles, and in the Gofpel, efpeci-
* aWy Matth. xxiv. are miftakcn and wrefted..
* That it doth not belong to either of thofc,
* but to this fatal Day o( the Jews ^ fufficiently
' appears by the Purport of this whole Epiftle,
* which is^ to arm them with Conftancy and
* Perfeverance till that Day come ; and par-
* ticularly in this Chapter, to confute them
t who objeft againft the Truth of C h r i s t's
of the World. 307
^ Prcdidions, and refolve it lliould not come
' at all ; Againft whom he here oppofes the
' Certainty^ the Spcedinefs, and the Terrible-
* nefsof its Coming. That which hath given
* Occafion to thofe other common Miftakes, h
' efpecially the Hideoufncfs of thofe Jiidg-
^ ments which fell upon the People of the
' Jews^ beyond all that ever before are rela-
* ted to have fallen upon them, or indeed a-
* ny other People, which made it necelfary
' for the ProphetSj which were to defcribe it,
* (and who ufe Tropes and Figures, and not
* plain Expreflions, to fet down their Predi-
* Ctions) to expr^fs it by thefe high Phrafes, of
' the pafmg away and diffohing o^ Heaven and
' Earthy and Ekfnents:^ &c, which founding
' very tragically, are miftaken for the great
' and final DifTolution of the World.'* So far
the Doftor. Two Things there are in this
Chapter, which feem to contradid this In-
terpretation : Firft , That the Deftruif^ion
here fpoken of, is compared with Noah's
Flood ,• and the Heaven and Earth to be dif-
folved by this, made parallel, and of equal
Extent to the World deftroyed by that. Of
this the Dodor was well aware, and there-
fore grants, that the feventh Verfe, But the
Heaven f and the Earth which are now^ by the
fame Word are kept in Store ^ referved unto Fire
againft the Day of Judgment^ and Perdition of
ungodly Men^ is to be underftood of the gene-
ral and final Deftrudion of the World by
X 2 / Fire,
T
308 Of the Di[fohitwn
Fil'Cji but the following Verfes to be an An-
fw-cr to the firft Part of the Atheifts Obje-
aiohjViz. J f here is the Fromife of Hts Coming?
To me it feems, that all referr to the fame
•Matter. The fecond Thing which feems to
contradi(5t the Doctors Interpretation, is, the
Apoftle's citing for the Inftruaioh and Con-
firmation of the Believers, and in Anfwer to
the Atheifts Obje6lion^(/T4^r^ ifthePromife of
H/j Coming?) that Place of the Pfahnifi^
Pfal. xc. 4. That one Day is with the Lord as
a thoufand Tears, and a thoufand Tears as one
Day, For the Apoftle feems to fuppofe, that
the Time of Christ's Coming might pofTibly
be a thoufand Years oif s and that they were
not to think much, or diftruft the Promife,
if it were fo : For though it were predided
as a thing fhortly to. come, yet they were
to confider, that a thoufand Years in God's
Sight is but a very iliort Time i fo that it
'might be foretold as Ihortly to come, tho'
it were a thoufand Years otf. Whereas it
might feem improper to mention a thou-
fand Years to fupport them in Expectation
of an Event that was hot twenty Years to
come.
Another Place, where Mention is made of
Christ's coming to Judgment, and the Diffo-
lution of the World, is Matth, xxiv. to which
may be addedas Parallel, MirHiii. 2.i\dl,uh
xxi. In wliich Places you have conlidcrable,
1. The Suddcnnefs of Christ's Coming, T^r.
^7-
of the World. ^op
If, Ai the Lightning comes out of the Eaft^
and Jloineth even unto the Weft^ fo fiall the
Coming of the Son of Man be. 2. The Signs
of His Coming, v, 29. Immediately after
the Tiibulation of thofe Days (J: all the Sim bs
darkned^ and the Moon Jhall not give her
Light ^ and the Stars Jhall fall from Heaven^
and the Powers of Heaven flmll be Jhaken,
5. The Manner of His Coming, 1?. 30. And
then jJo all appear the Sign of the Son of Man in
Heaven i and then JJmII all the Tribes of the
Earth ?noiirn^ when they Jhall fee the Son of
Man coming in the. Clouds of Heaven with
Power and great Glory, And He Jhall fend
His Angels with a great S.und of a Trumpet ^
and they floall gather together His Eled from
the four Winds ^ from one End of Heaven to
the other, 4. The Uncertainty of the Time
of His Coming, and this DilTolution as to us.
But of that Day and Hour knoweth no Man^ no
not {he Angels in Heaven : And Mark adds,
neither the Son^ but the Father only,
^; All this Vvo'phQ.cy T>v, Hammond under-
ftan^s of the Deftrudion of the City and
Temple of ^erufalejn, and whole Nation of
the Jews ; as may be feen in his Paraphrafe
and Anmtations upon this Place. And in-
deed, our Saviour Himfeif feems to limit
it to this, flying, "verfe 24. Verily I fay un^
to you^ this Generation Jhall not pais away^ till
all thefe things be fulfilled. For if thefe Pro-
phecies look farther than the Dcftrudtion of
^ 3 Joii^^
5 10 Of the Dijfolution
Jerufalem^ even to Christ's coming to Judg-
ment, how could it be true, that that Genera-
tion Ihould not pafs away till all thofe Things
were fulfilled? Whereas we fee that that Ge-
neration is long (ince paffed away, and yet
the End is not come. And indeed, Expofi-
tors that underftand them of the End of the
"yVorld, and Chri3T*s fecond coming to Judg-
ment, are hard put to it to anfwer this Ob-
jection. S. Chryfoftom will have this Word
'ysvEOL to be underftood not of the Genera-
tion of Men then living, but of the Genera-
tion of the Faithful, which Ihould not fail till
the End of the World. Ol^s yoLp (faith he)
d'^o TpoTTH ^p'/iay.sia? mclI Tro'KiTSiciCy c^i/oTciv Ke-*
yv\j Amvi h y^vsci ^vit^vtccv o-f, Sec." lie d^
nominates a Generation not only -from Having
together in the fa?ne ti?ne^ but frofn halving
the fame Form and Mariner of religious JVhr^
fljip and Polity ; as in that Flace^ T^his is the
Generation of them that feek thee^ that feek
thy Face^ 0 Jacob. Beza underftands ysvex
of the prefent Age, and will have it to be
of the fame Valour with "in in Hebrew^ and
TTXvTci TcLvTciy to rcfcrr not to all Particulars
mentioned in this Chapter, but only to thofe
which are fpoken of the Deftru<^ion of the
City and Nation of the Jews : But (faith
he) if any one urgeth the univerfal Particle,
Vertere licebit^ Fiant omnia^ 'viz, qiu ultimam
illam diem paceffma dixit. Nam ab illo
tempore
■^;
of the World. 31 1
tern fore eccfcrunt fieri ^ & adhuc per fever ant
iila figna^ fuo demum tempore F'tlio hofnims
ve?ituro.
But on the other Side, i. Some Paflagcs
there are in this Chapter, which are hardly
•applicable to the Deftriidlion of Jerufalem^
and the Diirolution of the JewiJJj Common-
wealth ; as the Appearing of the Sign of the
Son of Man in Heaven^ and the Tribes feeing
the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Hea-
ven^withPower and great Glory. And His fend-
ing His Angels with a great Sound of a Ti-H?n^
pet. 2. The Coming of C h r i s t is in like
manner defcribed in Places which undoubt-
edly fpeakof His coming to Judgment at the
End of the World. As in i Cor, XV..5 2. Men-r
tion is made of the Trumpets founding at the
Time of CwRist's Coming : And r Theff. iv*
1 6. it is faid, The Lord Himfelf fhall defcend
from Heaven with the Voice of the Archangel^
and with the Trump of God ^ and. v. 17. We
that are alive Jloall be caught up together with
them [that are rifen] in the Clouds to meet
the Lord in the Air. All which Places are
perfcdly parallel, and feem manifeftly to air
lude to the fore-mentioned Words, Matth.
xxiv. 30, 31. I am apt to think that thefe
Prophecies may have a double Refpe(3: ; one to
the City, Temple, and Nation of the Jews ;
another to the whole World at the great
Day of Doom : And that the former is in-
deed typical of the latter : And fo they have
X 4 a dou-
3 12 Of the Dijfohition
a double Completion ; the firft in the Deftruri
^ion of Jemfcdem and the Jewi/Jo Polity : In
Reference to which it is truly i'did^ This Ge-
neration fhall not fafs away till all thefe
things be fulfilled. -The fecond in the final
Diilblution of the World, which is yet to •
come. :
B u T to proceed ; Another Place which is
ufually underftood of the DifTolution of the
World by Fire, is 2 Theff, i. 7, S, When the
Lord Jesus fiall be revealed frojn Heaven
with His mighty Angels in flaming Fire^ &c.
Other parallel Places may be feen^ R^u vi.
12, 13, 14. Rev.x, 6. Rev, xxiv r; And I
faw a new Heaven and a new Earthy for the
firft Heaven and the firji Earth were faffed
away^ and there was 720 more Sea^ Hebr. xii.
26^1-], Thefe Places fpeak more direaiy
of the DifTolution of the World, and the Co-
ming of Christ to Judgment. Others there
are, that fpeak' only concerning the Time of
it, i Pet. iv. 7. But the End of all Things if at
hand. James v. 9. Behold the Judge Jiandeth
before the Door, i John iu 18. Little Chil-
dren^ it is the laji time-, or as fome tranflate
It, the laft Hour, fVj;t;^lT>j w/:^.^ Hebr. x. 37.
Tela -little while^ and He that jMl come- will
cmi&^ and will not tarry ^■'p.i'k.fcy qgov'c(tcv.
Luke xviii. ij. I tell you hewill avenge the?n
fpeedily. AH thefe Places the for ementioned
Dr. Hammond frill applies to that famous Pe-
riod of the Deftruclion of the City, Temple
and
of the World. ' 313
and Polity of the Jews ; only in his Note
upon oXe^poQ ocK^vio^y that everlafting Dcftru- .
dion mentioned 2 Thejf. i. 9. he hath fomc
Qualification , faying thus : Mean while^
not excluding the eternal Torments of HelU
fire^ which expect all impenitent Sinners that
thus fall, but loohng particularly on the vi-
fihle t>eftru6Hon and Vengeance which feizeth
on whole Nations or Multitudes at once in this
Life, And in Conclufion hath left us but
one Place in the New Teftament, to prove
the general Conflagration of the World, t/^.
2 Pet, vii. 7. • •
Now, bccaufe fome have been offended at
thefe Interpretations of his, others have fpo-
ken very flightingly of them : I Hiall briefly
funi up what hath been alledged in Defence
of them by this great Man.
I . That the Prophets ufe to fet down their
Predictions in Tropes and Figures, and not in
plain Expreflions, (their Style being Poetical.)
And therefore, in defcribing thofe hideous
Judgments which fell upon that People of
the Jews^ beyond all that ever before fell
upon them, or indeed any other People, they
found it necelfary to employ thofe High and
Tragical Phrafes of the palling away and
diffolving Heaven, and Earth, and Elements.
And that this was the Manner of the Pro-
phets, may be proved ; becaufe we find the
Dcftrudion of other Places dcfcribed in as
high Strains, as lofty and tragical Expref-
ftons
3 14 Of the Dijfolution
fioiis as this of Jemfale?n. For Example/
• that o{ Idumica^ Ifa. xxxiv. 9. The Streams
thereof (hall be turjied into Pitchy and the Duft
thereof into Brimjtone^ and the Land thereof
jball become burning Pitch. It Jhall not be
quenched Night nor Day^ the Snwh thereof
fijall go up for ever. And la the 4th Verfc
he feems but to prefate to this Deftru-
dlion, in thefe Words ; And all the Hoji of
Heaven floall be diffolved^ and the Heavens
JJ.iall be rolled together as a Scroll ; and all their
Hojis Jhall fall down as the Leaf falleth off
from the Vine^ and as a falling Fig from the
Fig-Tree ; for inj Sword Jhall be bathed in
Heaven : Behold it Jloall come down upon I-
dumaea. 'And in the Burden of Babylon^
cap. xiii. 8,9. we have thefe Words, Behold'
the Day of the Lord cometh^ cruel both with
Wrath and fierce Anger to lay the Land defo-
laie : For the Stars of Heaven^ and the Con-
ffellations thereof Jloall not give their Light ;
"The Sun JImU be darkened in his going forth ^
and the Moon JJmU not caufe her Light to
ftfine,
-, 2. All the Predidions in that famous Place,
^atth, xxiv. to which all other Places in the
New Teftament relating to this Matter are
|)arallel, are by our Saviour Himfclf reftrain-
-ed to the Deftrudion of Jerufalem^ and the
full Completion of them limited to the Dura-
tion of that' Age ; Verfe 34. Verily I fay
* unto you^ This Generation Jhall not pafs till
all
of the World. 31^^
(til thefe Things be fnljilled. What Rcafon
* then can wc hav^ to extend them flirthcr?
3. In moft of the. Places where this Co-
ming of Christ is 'mentioned, it is fpokcn of
as near, and at hand ; as in the Places laft
cited. Now, (faith the learned Doctor) in
his Note upon Luh xviii. 7. / tell )ou he will
{t-vengethe?n fpeedily, ' All which, if (when
* it is faid to approach and to be at the door)
'it belonged to the Day of Judgment (now
* after fo many hundred Years not yet come)
* what a (j.ci-/.pck'ixicc were this ? What a Delay-
* ing of His Coming ? And confeqxiently^
* What anObjedion againft the Truth of the
* Chriftian Religion ? As Mahomet^ having-
*promifed after his Death he would prcfciitly^
* return to Life, and having not performed his
* Promifc in a thoufand Years, is by us jiiftly
.'•condemned as an Impoflor.
4. That this Place o^S, Peter ^ out of
which I have taken my Text, doth not be-
long to the Endof the World, fufificiently ap-
pears (faith he) by the Purport of this
whole Epiftic, which is to arm them with
Conftancy and Perfevcrance till that Day
come, and particularly in this Chapter to
confute them who objc<5t againft the Truth
ol Christ's Predictions, and rcfolvc itihculd
not come at all i againft whom he here op-
pofes the Certainty, the Speedinefs, and the
Terriblenefs of its Coming. And for that
other famous Place^ ^ Thejf. i. S, 9- that it *
belongs
3 16 Of the Dijfoliition
belongs to the fame Period. See how he
makes it out in his Annotations.
I SHALL now fuperadd fome Places out of
the Old Teftament, which feem to fpeak of
the Diffolution of the World, 'Job xiv. 12. Man
lieth down and rifeth not till the Heavens be
no more, Pfal. cii. 5, 6. quoted Hebr. i.
10, II. Of old haft thou laid the Foundations,
of the Earthy and the Heavens are the Works
of Thy Hands. TheyJIoall perijjj^ but Thou re^
mainejii and they all Jhall wax old as doth
a Garment^ and as a Vefture Jhalt Thou change
tjjcfn^ and they jhall be changed^ Ifai. xxxiv.'4.
And all the Hoft of Heaven fhall be diffohed^-
and the Heavens JJjall be rolled together as a
Scroll^ and all their Hoft f}:all faH down as wv, the
Ends of the Worlds in i Cor, x. ii. upoti
whojn the- Ends of the World are come^ fig-
nify the Age of the MefTias, though indeed
the former feems more peculiarly to denote
the Shutting up of the Jewifi Age or OEco-
noniy.
HAP.
III.
The Teflimonies of the Ancient Fathers
and Doctors of the Churchy concern*
ing the Dijfolution of the World,
iM §|^^|^ PROCEED now to what the
g,^r -.- .^-g Ancient Fathers of the Church
ri «^a ^^^ Chriftian Writers have
^*«*|2g delivered concerning the Dif-
folution of the World.
That there fliould be a Diffolution of this
World, and that it Ihall be by Fire^ is fo cer-
tain and clear among them, that it would
be fuperfluous to cite Particulars to prove it :
Nay, fo general and unanimous is the Confent
of ail Chriftians in this Pointy that, as Qr/-
gen
of the World. 32 1
gen obferves in his third itsp) '-^PZ^^i ^nd
the learned Doctor Hahwill after him,
whereas there can hardly be named any Ar-
ticle of our Faith, which fome Hereticks
have not prefumed to impugn or call in
Queftion, yet not any to be met with who
queftion this; but herein all agree, being
compelled (faith Origen) by the Authority of
the Scriptures. As for the Time of this Dif-
folution, the ancient Chriftians held it to be
at hand, as might eafily be proved by many,
Teftimonies, were it not granted on all
Hands. And here it may be worth the ob-^
ferving, that the longer the World flood, the
farther oif generally have Chriftians fet the
Day of Judgment, and End of it. Many of
the Ancients did conceive, that the Diflfolu-
tion lliould be at the End of fix thoufand
Years. As for Example, 'Juftin Martyr^ m
^idft, & Reff, ad Orthodoxos^ if he be the
Author of that Piece, where this Queftion
(JVhen the End of the World fljould he ? ) be-
ing put, the Anfwer is, "Evsgi ^lol ttoK^^c^'j
yp:tcf)r/63v fxocpTvpiCiv^ &c. JVe may rationally
conjecture and conclude from many Scripture
Exprejfjiom^ that they are in the right ^ who fay
that the World will laft fix thoufand Tearr.
For in one Place it faith ^ In thefe laft Days ;
and in another^ Upon whom the Ends of the
World are come -, and in a third^ When the
Fulnefs of Time was come. Now it is e^vi^
Y denty
321 Of the Dijfolution
dent that thefe things werefpohn in the fixth
Millenary.
Ir E N ^ us ad'V, haref, lit. 5. cap. ttlto who
gathers fo much from the Similitude of the
fix Days Creation, after whieh fix Days was
the Sabbath, that is, the Day of Reft ; Hoc
autein (faith he) eft & frateritorum nana-
tio^ & futuroru?n prophetia. Dies eni?n unus
jnille annos fignificabat^ ficut Siriptura tefta^
*2Pet:i\ltur; * Mille anni ante Doininum ficut Vies
unus : ergo ficut confmnmatus fuit mundus in
fui creatione intra fex dierum (patium^ & po^
ftea quies ; fie in fui fine confuminabitur intra
fpatium fex millium annorum^ deinde 'vera &
perpetua quies fubfequetur. This is both a
Narration or Hiftory of what is paft^ and a
Prophecy of Things to cojne. For one Day
fignified a thoufand Tears^ as the Scriptures
teftify^ A thoufand Years in the Sight of God
are but as one Day. Therefore^ as the World
at the firft Creation was confummated in the
Space of fix Days^ and afterwards followed the
Sabbath or Reft; fo^ in the end^ its Duration
flmll he confummated within the Space of Six
thoufand Tears ; and then JJodl follow the true
and perpetual Reft.
To thefe I might add La^lantius^ in his
Seventh Book of Inftitut. cap. 14. who ufeth
the fame Argument with Iren^us^ Ergo quo^
niam fex diebus cun^ia Dei opera perfet'ta
funt : per fecula fex^ id eft^ fex annorum mil-
lia manere in hoc ftatu inunditm neceffe eft.
Dies
of the World. 523
D/Vr enim viagnus Vet jnille dnnorujn circtild
terininattir^ ficut indicat Propheta, qui dicit^
Ante oculof tuos, Domine^ mille anni tanquaitt
dies iinm^ &c. "Therefore^ becdufe all the Works
of God were perfected {or finijjjed) in fix Days^
it is necejfary (or necejfanly follows) that the
World JImU continue in this State fix Agcs^
that is J Six thoufand Tears, For^ the great Day
of G OD is terminated in a Circle of Six thou--
/and Tears; as the Prophet intimates^ who
faith J A thoujand Tears in Thy Sight ^ 0 Lordj
are but as one Day. S. Auguftin^ l.io.de Ci-
'vitate Dei, S, Hieronyntus Conunent. in Mich
cap, 4. Moft clear and full to this purpofe
is Euftath, in his Comment, in Hexaeniernn^
AoyiZ^oixE^cL yxp ^lOLfxemi tvjv XwTwv, See, We
reclon (faith he) thdt the Creation fiall con--
tinue till the End of the fiixth Chiliad^ becaufe
God alfo confimmnated the Univerfe in fix
Days ; and^ I fuppofe^ that the Deity doth ac-
count Days of a thoufand Tears long ; for that
it isfaidj A thoufand Years are in the Sight
of the Lord as one Day. Hdwbeit, the moft
of them did not propofe this Opinion as an
undoubted Truth, but only as a modeft Con-
jedure* Arid S. Auftin is very angry with
them, who would peremptorily conclude
from fo flight an Argumentation.
This Conceit is already confuted, and the
World hath long outlafted this Term, accor-
ding to their Comfjutation who followed the
SeptuUgint or Greek Account, and reekoricd
3^
Of the Dijfolution
that Phaleg lived about the Three thovr^
fandth Year of the World, and had his Name
from his living in the Divifion of Time, there
being to come after him Three thoufand
Years, that is, juft fo many as were pail be-
fore him.
As concerning the future Condition of the
World after the Conflagration, I find it the
general and received Opinion of the ancient
Chriftians, that this World ftiall not be an-
nihilated or deftroyed, but only renewed and
purified. So Eufebiiis^ Ov xecvTfAcof Trpoc
CP^opciv b KO(TixoQ x^P'^^^^y d,7\Xci Trpog OLva."
KOf^ivKTixov, The World jhall not be wholly de-
Jiroyedy but renewed. Divers other Pafiages
I might produce out of him to the fame
purpofe :^ Cyril of Jerufalem^ Catech. 15.
otToC i'vcL v.dCh'kiovciQ iy£ip^» He folds- up the
Heu'venfy not that he might deftray them^
but that he might rear them up again more
beautiful Again, Cyril upon this Place,
GlkvCLTOV ^f TWV qOlX^l^V £VC()VC^C 6v.Q[J.(k'C^Sl TVJV
eIq ik dfxei'm ixsra.lio'hviv^ &c. He acutely or in^
genioujly calU the Death of the Elements their
Change i?ito better. So that this Renovation
in refped of the Creation, lliall be fuch a
kind of thing as the Refurredion in reference
to Man's Body. OEamieni us ^upon this Place,
He faith, new Heavens^ and a new Earthy 8k
aTspoLv ^e Tyj C'avj, yet not different in Matter,
And again, b'jt fi; ^$tftw(r/JLov olKk' sk nd^otpaiv.
They
of the World. 325*
Tide) fljall not be deftroyed or annihilated^
but only renewed and purified. And upon
Rev. xx,i. 2 . TsTO « Tvjv dvvTrap^iciv ^vjAwv Ti^c
y.Ti(T£(ji^y tftAA^i Tov dva.Kxivi(T(x6v, This he faith,
«o^ denoting the Non-exiftence of the Creation^
but the Renewing, In this manner he ex-
pounds Pfabn cii. 5, 6. and proceeding, faith.
We ?nay here take Notice^ that the Apoftle doth
not ufe the Word ccTfjAOfi/, as if the Hea-
ven and Earth were annihilated and brought
to nothing ; but (me Tf/3vj, they fajfed away^ or
removed^ or changed State, S. Hierojne upon
the Pfalms, Ffabn cii. faith. Ex quo ofien-
ditur perditioneni ccclorum non interitwn fa-
nare^ ' fed ?HUtatione?n in ??teUus, Fro?n which
Words [as a Vefture Ihalt thou change
them] may be fhewn and made out^ that the
Diffolution of the Heavens doth not fignify
their utter Deftru&ion or Annihilation^ but on-
ly their Change into a better State, I might
add abundance more Teftimonies^ but thefe,
I tbinjc, may fuffice.
Y 31 Chap
HAP.
IV.
The Opinions of the Ancient Heathen Phi^
lofephers^ and other Writers concerning
the Dijfolution,
3 . ^5^^ T follows now that I give you
p^x T '^^' an Account what the ancient
^^P^.^ Philofophers and Sages among
^5^5^ the Heathens thought and deli-
vered concerning this Point. Two of the
four principal Se6ls of Philofophers held a
fliture DilTolution of the World, 'viz. The
Epicuream and Stokh,
A s for the Epicureans^ they held, that as
the World was at firft compofed by the for-^
tuitous Concourfe of Atoms, fo it fliould at
laft fall in Pieces again by their fortuitous
Separation, as Lucretius hath it, lib, 5.
Principio maria ac terras coelumqtie tuere]
Tlorujujjaturam triplicem^ tria corpora^ Memmiy
jTres [pedes tain dijjimiles^ tria talia texta
Una dies dabit cxitio^ 7nultdfque per annos
Suftentaxci met ?noles & machina vmndi.
But now to prove all this j firft caft an Eye^
And look on all below^ on all on high^
The folid Earthy the Seas^ and arched Sky :
One fatal hour at laft miift ruin all^
T his glorious Fr^me^ that flood fo long^ niuftfall.
This
Of the Dijfolution. 327
This Opinion of theirs is confonant enough
to their wild Principles, fave only in that
Point of its Suddennefs, Una dies dabtt exi~
tiOy &c. One day pall deftroy or male an end
of it.
The Stoich were alfo of Opinion, that
the World muft be dilfolved, as we may
learn from the Seventh Book of Laertius^ in
the Life of ZI?«^, 'Apfo-Kei §' avm^^&c. They
hold, that the World is corruptible for thefe
Reafons i i. Becaufe it was generated, and
had a Beginning. 2. Becaufe That is cor-
ruptible in the whole, whofe Parts are cor-
ruptible : But the Parts of the World are
corruptible, being daily tranfmuted one in-
to another. 3. That which is capable of
Mutation, from better to worfe, is corrup-
tible. But fuch is the World ; fometimes
being afflided with long Heats and Droughts,
fometimes with continued Showers and In-
undations. To thefe we may add, 4. ac-
cording to fonie of their Opinions, Becaufe
the Sun and Stars being fed with Vapours ex-
haled from the Earthy all the Moifture will at .
length be drawn out, and the World fly on
fire. They were afraid, "^ Ne hinnore omni* Minute
confmnpto totm mundm ignefceret* The poet^^^'^*
Tjucan^ who feems to be of the Stoick Secft, in
the Beginning of his Firft Book, defcribing
the Diflblution of the World, makes it no be
a falling in Pieces of the whole frame of
Y ^ Heaven
3 Z8 Of the Dijfolution
Heaven and Earth, and a Jumbling and Con*
founding of all their Parts together.
-— — ^ Sic cum cofnpage folutd
Secula tot mundi fuprema coegerit hora ;
Antiquutnrepetent iteruin Chaos omnia imiftis
Sydera fyderibuf concurrent; igneaPontu?it
Aftra petent^ tellus extendere littora nolet,
Bxcutietquefretum ; fratri contraria Phoebe
Jbit^ & obliquum higas agitare per orbem
Indignata diem pofcet fibi ; totdque difcors
Machina divulfi turbabit fccdera mundi,
,. So when the laft Hour Jhall
So many Ages end^ and this disjointed^ All
To Chaos bad return i then all the Stars Jhall be
Blended together j then thofe burning Lights
on high
Jn Sea jJoall drench; Earth then her Shores
fijall not extend^
But to the Waives gi^e Way i the Moon her
Courfe Jhall bend
Crofs ^ to her Brothers^ and dijdaining Jlill to
drive
Her Chariot Wheel athwart the heavenly Orb^
JJoall Jirive
To rule the Day ; this Frame to Difcord bent'^
The World's Peace Jhall dijiurb^ and all in
fimder rent, ,
This DilTolution of the World, they held,
fliould be by Water and by Fire alternately
at certain Periods^ but efpecially by Fire,
wfeich
of the World, ^2p
which they call f ;tTupcc the
irrejiftible Force of Fire that is in things ^ which^
in long Periods of Tifne^ confumes and dif-
fohes alljhings into itfelf Eureb.Prirp.l.15.
'Ap£(TKSl i) TOTC Tp6(TpyjT(i'T0l? TWV CCTTO TV^C gLipe"
(7£0C;^ El,0LE^'6G^Cil TCLVTCi KCLTCL TTEpli^HQ TlVCig fXEyi-
<;oLQ^ eU TTvp ai^Epu^Ec civa'KvoijJv'^v jukviu^v. The
7noft ancient of that Se6t held^ That at certain
"vaft Periods of Time all things zvere rarified
into Air^ being refohed into an Ethereal Fire,
This 'E/.Tupcocr/? of the Stoich we find men-
tioned by many, both Chriftian and Heathen
Writers, as befides the fore-quoted Minutius
FeliXy Jtijiin Martyr^ Clemens Alexandiinus
in 5 . Strom. Plutarch^ Seneca^ and others. The
Time of this Conflagration Seneca determines
not, but faith only, it fhall be when God
pleafes. 3 £ic^ft. Nat, cap, 20. 8. Qm Deo
'vifmn^ Vetera finire^ ordiri ??ieliora ; When it
floall feem good to God to put an End to old
things^ and to begin better. Some there be
who tell us of the Annus Platonicus or Mag-
nus^ by which they underfland fuch a Period
of Time, as in which all the heavenly Bo-
dies Ihall be reftored to the fame Site and Di-
ftance they were once in, in refpedt of one
another ; As fuppofing that all the Seven Pla-
■ ' " . nets
330 Of the Dijfolutlon
nets were at the Moment of Creation in the
firft Degree of Aries ^ till they come all to be
m the fame Degree again ,• all that Space of
Time IS called the Great Year, Annus Ma^r
nus. In this Year they tell us, that the Height
of Summer is the Conflagration, and the
Pepth of Winter the Inundation ^ and fome
Aftrologers have been fo vain as to aflign the
Time both of the Inundation and Confla-
gration. Seneca^ 3 Qu^ft. Nat, cap. 2 o. Bero^
ft^J.m Belmn interfretatus efl^ dicit^ curfu
tfiafydemm fieri ^ & aded quidem affirmat^ ut
conflagrationi atque dilwvio temfus afignet.
Arfura enim terrena conte?tdit^ quando omnia fy-
dera in Cancro convener int: inundationem fu-
turam^ quando eadem fyderum tmba in Capri^
corno conveneriu Berofus, who interpreted
Belus faith. That thofe things come to pafs
according to the Courfe of the Stars : and he Jo
confidently affirms it, that he ajjigns the Time
both for the Conflagration and Inundation. For
that all earthly Bodies will be burnt up, when
all the Stars Jloall meet /'//Cancer ; and\he In^
undation will fall out, when the fame fiall be
m Conjundion in Capricorn, Concerning the
Manner of thi§ Conflagration, they held it
fhould be fudden. Se?tec. Natura fubito ad
minam, & toto impetu ruit ; licet ad origine?n.
farce utatur viribus, difpenfetque fe increment
Us fallactbuf, Momento fit cinis, diu fyha,Scc.
Nature doth fuddenly, and with all its Force
rujlo on to Ruin ; though, to the Rife and Fori
mation
's
of the World. 331
mation of Thing!, it ufeth its Strength fpa-
ringly, difpenfing its Influence, and caufing
them to grow by infenfible Degrees; a Wood is
long in growing up, but reduced to Afljes ahnofl
in a Moment, And fome of them were fo
abfurd as to think, that the Stars iliould
juftle and be dallied one againft another.
Senec. lib, de confolatione ad Marciam : Ciim
tempus ad'venerit, quo fe mundus revocaturus
extinguat, ^viribus ifiafe fuis credent ; &fyde^
ra fyderibus incurrent ; & oinni flagrante ma~
teria, uno igne, micquid nunc ex difpojito lu-
cet, ardebit. When the Timejhall come, that
the World, again to reftore and renew itfelf,
JJjall perijh, thefe things fiall batter and mall
themjeHes by their own Strength, the Stars
Jljall run or fall foul upon one another, and all
the Matter flaming, whatfoever now, according
to its fettled Order and Difpofition,fiines, Jhall
then burn in one Fire, Here, by the way, wc
may, with t)r. More, \Sou?s Immortality, lib, 3 ,
cap, 18.] take notice, how coarfly, not to
fay ridiculoufly, the Stoich philofophize,
* when they are turned out of their Road-
' way of Moral Sentences, and pretend to
* give an Account of the Nature of Things,
' For, what Errors can be more grofs than
* they entertain of God, of the Soul, and of
* the Stars? they making the two former
^ corporeal Subftances, and feeding the lat-
' ter with the Vapours of the Earth i affirm-
l ing that the Sun fups the Water of the
• ' " I grea?
352- , Of the mjfolution
' great Ocean to quench his Thirft, but that
^ the Moon drinks off the lelTer Rivers and
^ Brooks i which \s as true as that the ACt
^' drank up the Moon. Such Conceits are
^ more fit for Anacreon in a drunken Fitt to
^ ftumble upon, who, to invite his Compa-
w nions to tipple, compofed that Catch,
The Sea drinh up the Vapour si
• And the Sun the Sea.
* than to be either found out or owned by a
' • ferious Philofopher. And yet Seneca migh-
^ tily triumphs in this Notion, of foddering
^ the Stars with the thick Fogs of the Earth,
* and declares his Opinion with no mean
t Strains of Eloquence, (^c
As for the Extent of this Conflagration^
they held, that- not only the Heavens fhould
be burnt, but that the Gods themfelves
fhould not efcape Scot-free. So Seneca, Re^
foluto ?nundo^ & Diis in unum confufu. When
the World fhall be dijjhhed, and the Godt
confounded and blended together into one. And
again, ^r^^^ ojnnes par iter Deos perdet nox
aliqua & Chaos. And^ in like manner^ a certain
Night and Chaos Jhall deftroy all the Gods.
Is not this wife Philofophy ? If their Morali-
ty were no better than their Phyficks, their
Wtje Man they boaft of, might be fo deno-
minated, mr oivTi(ppoi,/• . ^ Befides liyDoom
When ha. Earth, raviJh'dHeav\ the curi.
ous rrame '
^^BamT'"'^^' ^'^y>>o«Wji&r/«y& in purging
* tih. 7. And Lucan*i
Hot Csfar, populoffi nunc non ulferit isnii
Uret cum term, uret cum gmgite tonti '
^Xru!""""'^"^"^^''"^ "''^"^ "^'''"^ "^fi'"
If now thefe Bodies want their Fire and Urn
4-uV',f ^^'^^ol'^^iobethefllfurely burn;
Ihefhrld expels one general Fire: And thou
now' ^ ^ ^^^ ^""^ ^""^^ "^^ wandring
Now though fome are of Opinion^ that by
rata here are to be underftood the Sibylline
Oracles, and to thatPurpofe do alledee fome
Verfes out of thofe extant under that Title
as Laaantms, in his Book De ira Dei, cap. 23 /
Kk/ttoti Thv dpyiiv Qih ixhi Tpuvmra
AAA eisiJ.[if!iUTX, m', iicAvovTxrs yivvM
mtairw cyrMm vtt' enTfv,
a great and extraordinary Change at the
Time of the Flood, either in the Tempera-
ture of the Air, or Quality of the Flood, or
in the Temper and Conftitution of the Bo-
dy of Man, which induced this Decrement
of Age. That the Temper and Conftitution
of the Bodies of the Antediluvianf was more
firm and durable than that of their Pofterity
after the Flood : And that this Change of
Term of Life was not wholly to be attri-
buted to Miracle, may both be demonftra-
ted from the gradual Decreafe of the Age of
the Pofldiluvians, For had it been miracu-
lous, why Ihould not the Age of the very
firft Generation after the Flood have been
reduced to that Term ? And what Account
can we give of their holding out for fome
Generations againft the Inconveniencies of
the Air, or Deteriority of Diet, but the
Strength and Firmnefs of their Conftitutions ?
which yet was originally owing to the Tem-
perature of the Air, or Quality of their Di-
et, or both ; feeing a Change in thefe (for
there was no other vifible Caufe) did
by Degrees prevail againft, and impair it.
What Influence the lying fo long of the Wa-
ter upon the Earth might have upon the
Air and Earth, in changing them for the
worfe, and rendring them more unfit for the
Maintenance and Continuance of Humane
Life, I will not now difputc. But whatever
might be tht Caufe of the Longxvity of the .
Z 4 AnU' '
3 44 ^f ^^^ Dijfohition
Antediltmam-^ and the Contraaing of the
Age of the Poftdiltmam^ it is manifeft, that
the Age of thefe did at the laft fettle, as I
(Iiid, at or about the Term of Threefcore
and ten, and hath there continued for Three
thoufand Years without any Diminution.
I PROCEED now to the Accidents which
might poflfibly, in Procefs of Time, inferr a
Diflblution of the World.
I. T H E PoiTibility of the Water, in Procefs
of Time, again overflowing and covering of
the Earth.
For, firft of all, the Rains continually
wafhing down and carrying away Earth from
the Mountains, it is neceifary, that as well
the Height as the Bulk of them that are not
wholly rocky, ihould anfwerably decreafe ;
and that they do fo, is evident in Experience.
For, as I have elfewhere noted, I have been
ihformed by a Gentleman of good Credit,
that whereas the Steeple of Craich^ in the
Peai of DerbyJJoire^ in the Memory of fome
old Men then living [1672.] could not have
been feen from a certain Hill lying between
Hoptonmd.JVirkfworthj now not only the
Steeple, but a great Part of the Body of the
Church may from thence be feen^ which
comes to pafs by the Sinking of a Hill be-
tween the Church and the Place of View :
A parallel Example .whereto the learned
Dr. Plot gives us, in a Hill between Sibbertoft
• and Halleby in Northamptonfiire^ Uift- Nat.
Stafford^
of the TVorld. 54^5;
Stafford, p, 113. And thus will they conti-
nue to do (o long as there falls any Rains,
and as they retain any Declivity, that is, till
they be leveled with the Plains.
I N Confirmation of this Particular, I have
received from my ingenious Friend Mr, Ed^
ward Lhuyd^ fome notable Obfervations of
his own making concerning the Mountains
of JVakf ; which do demonftrate that no^
only the loofer and the lighter Parts of the
Mountains, as Earth, Sand, Gravel, and
fmall Stones, may be wallied down by the
Rains: But the moft folid and bulky Rocks
themfelves, by the violent Dcfccnt of the
Waters down tlieir Chinks and Precipices,
be in time undermined and fubvertcd. Take
them in his own Words :
'Upon the reading of your Difcourfeof
the Rains continually waJliing away, and
carrying down Earth from the Mountains,
I was put in mind of fomething pertinent
thereto, which I haveoblerved in the Moun-
tains of CaernarvonJJjire^ viz.
I . First, ' That generally the higher the
Hills are, the more fleep are their Preci-
pices and Declivities, ( I except the Sea
Rocks) thusMoely Wydhrha^ y Grtb gStch^
and twenty others that might be named,
reputed the higheft Hills in Wales^ have the
fteepeft Rocks of any Mountains I have
feen ^ and that not only in their higheft
Cliffs but alfo ia moft of their other Crags,
' till
'54^ Of the Dijfolution
till you defcend to the lower Valleys : This
I can afcribe to nothing clfe but the Rains
and Snow which fall on thofe high Moun-
tains, I think, in ten times the Quantity
they do on the lower Hills and Valleys.
2. ^ I HAVE obferved a confiderable Quan-
tity of the Chips or Parings (if I may fo
call them) of thefe Cliffs to lie in vaft
Heaps at the Roots of them j . and thefe
are of feveral Sorts and Materials ^ being
in fome Places covered with Grafs, and in
others as bare as the Sea Shore : And thofe
bare Places do confift fometimes of Gra-
vel, and an innumerable Number of Rock
Fragments, from a Pound Weight to twen-
ty, dye, and are fometimes compofed of
huge Stones, from an hundred Pound
Weight to feveral Tuns.
3. ' In the Valleys o^Lhanberys and Nant-^
fhrancon^ the People find it neceffary to
rid their Grounds often of the Stones
which the Mountain Floods bring down ,-
and yet notwithftanding this Care, they of-
ten lofe confiderable Parcels of Land.
4. * I AFFIRM, That by this means not
only fuch Mountains as conCfl of much
Earth and fmall Stones, or of fofter Rocks,
and fuch as are more eafily diffoluble, are
thus wafled, but alfo the hardefl Rocks in
Wales J and they feem to be as weighty,.
and of as firm and clofe a Texture as Mar-
ble itfelf. It happen d in the Valley of
I Nant^
of the World. 347
Nant-Phrancon^ Anno 1685. that Part of
a Rock of one of the impendent Cliffs,
caird yr Hyfvae^ became fo undermined,
(doubtlefs by the continual Rains and fub-
terraneous Veins of Water occafioned by
them) that lofing its Hold it fell down in
feveral Pieces, and in its PafTage down a
fteep and craggy Cliff, diflodged thoufands
of other Stones, whereof many were in-
tercepted e'er they came down to the Val-
ley, but as much came down as ruin'd a
fmall Piece of Ground j and feveral Stones
were fcatter'd at leaft 200 Yards afunder.
In this Accident one great Stone, the big-
geft remaining Piece of the broken Rock,'
made fuch a Trench in its Defcent, as the
fmall Mountain Rills commonly run in 5
and when it came down to the plain
Ground, it continued its PafTage through
a fmall Meadow, and a confiderable Brook,
and lodged itfelf on the other fide it.
From hence I gather, that all the other vaft
Stones that lie in our mountanous Val-
leys, have by fuch Accidents as this fallen
down. Unlets perhaps we may do better
to referr the greateft Part of them to the
univerfal Deluge. For confidering there
are feme thoufands of them in thefe two
Valleys [of Lhanherys and Nant-Phran-
con~\ whereof (for what I can learn) there
are but two or three that have fallen in the
Memory of any Man now living ; in the
' ordina-
348 Of the Dijfohition
^ ordinary Courfe of Nature we fhall be'
^ compelled to allow the reft many thou-
' fands of Years more than the Age of the
' World." So far Mr. Lhuyd,
T o this laft Particular, and for a fartner
Account of it, may be added, That fometimes
there happen ftrange and violent Storms and
Hurricanes, wherein the Rain is driven with
that Force upon the Tops and Sides of the
Mountains by furious and tempeftuousWinds,
as to do more Execution upon them by break-
ing in Pieces, tearing and throwing down
Rocks and Stones, in a few Days, than in the
ordinary Courle of Naturc,by the ufual Wea-
ther is efiPcded in many hundred Years.
2. By reafon of the Abundance of Earth
thus walhed off the Mountains by Shots of
Rain, and carried down with the Floods to
the Sea ; about the Out-lets of the Rivers,
where the violent Motion of the Water cea-
fes, fettling to the Bottom, and raifing it up
by Degrees above the Surface of the Water,
the Land continually gains upon, and drives
back the Sea : The Egyptian Pharof^ or Light-
Houfe, of old Time flood m an Ifland a good
Diftance from Land, which is now joined to
the Continent, the interjacent Fretwn having
been filled up by the Silt brought down by
the River Nilus in the Time of the Flood
fubfiding there. Indeed, the ancient Hifto-
' rians do truly make the whole Land of £-
gypt to have been ^wpov ttotoliih^ the Gift of
the
of the World. 54^
the Rher^ and by this means gained from
the Sea. Seneca^ in the Sixth 13ook of his
Nat. Qiieft. chap. 26. gives this Account,
yEgyptns ex limo tota concrevit. Tantum enhti
(fi Homero fide!:) aberat a contine?iti Pharor^
quantum navh diurno curfu vietiri flenis lata
velis poteft. Sed continenti admota eft. Tiir^
bidus enim defluem Nilm^ multumque fe-
cum limum trahem^ & eum fubinde apponcm
prioribus terrify JEgyptu?n annuo increjnento
femper ultra tulit. Inde pinguh Q; I'unofi foli
eft^ nee ulla intewnlla in fe habet ; fed cre-
"vit in folidum arefcente limo^ quo preffa erat
& cedens ftrudura^ &c. tliat is, all Egypt is
hut a Concretion of Mud. For (if Homer
jnay be believed) the Pharos was as far di-
ftajit fro?n the Continent^ as a Ship with full
Sail could run in a Day's time : but now it is
joined to it. For Niius flowing with troubled
Waters brings down a great deal of Mud and
Silt^ and adding it to the old Land ^ carries
on Egypt farther and farther ftill by an annu-
al Increafe. Hence it /V of a fat and muddy
Soil^ and hath no Fores or Cavities in it. And
this Reafon he gives why it is not troubled with
Earthquakes. Which alfo may be the Rea-
fon why it hath no frelli Springs and Foun-
tains : For though indeed Dr. Kobinfon doth
very probably impute its Want of Rain and
Springs to the Want of Mountains ; yet be-
caufe (as we fhall afterwards prove) Springs
may he derived from Mountains at a good
Diftance.
3 5*0 Of the Dijfolution
Diftance, I know not whether all Mountains
are fo far remote from Egypt^ as that there
may be no fubterraneous Channels of that
Length, as to derive the Water even thither
from them ; and, therefore, probably one
Reafon of their Wanting of Springs may be
the Denfity and Thicknefs of the Soil, where-
by it becomes impenetrable to the Water ;
and it may be, mould they ufe the fame
Artifices there, which the Inhabitants of the
Lower Auftria^ and of the Territory of
Modena and Bologna in Italy do, that is, dig
and bore quite through this Coat of Mud
till they come to a Sand, or loofer Earth j
they might, in like manner^ procure thcm-
felves Fountains of fpringing Water. Thus,
by Reafon of the great RiverSj ?) Geixi(TKvpcij.To Twv 'AiJ-oi^ov'jCV Trehcv^ kcu tj^c
S/^uvi^c TO ttAeov. Outgo i;) koCi stti twv f^AAwv,
CtTT^VTf ^ 7'^p IXllxSyTdl TOV Nf/AOV, £^V)Xf /p^l/'Tf^' TCV
TT^ CXUTWV X0C5'V, 0/ jUlfV (J.GLKXOV^ ot ^' ^TTOV *
^TTOV |V.£V 0/ fXV)^ TTCAA'^V TS HO.} ^cihoLiioyeiov x^"
pav sTriovTes tcli x^'l^-^Ph^ ^f;^cV^£Vo/ ttgKK^; '
cov igi KCil b Hvpdfxo?^ b t/\ KiXmici ttoXv {jJpo^
TT^ahi; • f 4*' 8 V^Cl} 'hOyiOV BKTTETTTijivJ Ti TOlbTOVy
'E(T(TSTCil iaCTOlklvDlQ 0T6 HvfOillCC EV pVc'^ i'vVlC
'Hi ova 'TtQ^xi^v isp^v fV Kv7r(^y h'/frc/ii*
And after a while, he adds, Outw y.b h
iv^ex^Tdi 7r(^(TX^(T^vivcii to TsMycs 7ra.v dTO twv
tt;y^(XAwv ap^^Xjuifvov, i^v (twex^^^ ^'%y "^^^ f'jt twv
TTOTC-iJMv iyrippvasig. That is. For this Landing
Up and Alteration of the Skirts of the Sea^ isjcr
the mojl part^ about the Mouths of Ri'vers^ as
about the Out-lets of Ifter, the Places 'called
2T;iO>), and the Deferts of Scythia, ; about thofe
of Phafis^ the Sea-coaji of Colchis, which is
fandy^
of the World. 55*5
fcindy^and loW;^andfofti about Thermodon
and Iris, all Thcmifcyra, the Plain of the
Amazons, and the moft Part c>/Sidene. And
the like ?nay be [aid of other Rivers. For
all of thejn i?nitate the Nile, adding to the_
Continent or Main Land the Part lying before
their Mouths^ fojne 7?torejfo??ie lef j thofe lefy^
that bring not down jnuch Mud ^ and thofe
more^ that run a great way over Joft and loofe
Ground^ and receive many Torrents : Of which
Kind is the River Py ramus, which hath ad^
ded a great Part of its Land to Cilicia. Con-
cerning which there is an Oracle come abroad^
ijnporting^ That there will a Tiine come in
future Ages^ when the River Pyramus JJjall
carry on the Shore and Land up the Sea as far
as Cyprus. .....*. So it might in Time
happen^ that the whole Sea JJjould gradually
be landed up^ beginning from the Shores^ if
the Effufions of the River s^ that is, the Earth
and Mud they bring down^ did fpread fo wide
as to be continuous. Thus far Strabo, But
the Oracle he mentions, prediding the Car-
rying on and Continuation of Cilicia as far
as Cyprus^ and the joining that Kland to the
Continent, proves falle i there having not
been as yet, that we hear or read of, any
coniiderable Advance made towards it, in
almoft 2000 Years.
N o w, the Rain thus continually wafhing
away, and carrying down Earth from the
Mountains and higher Grounds, and raifing
A a up
3 5*4 Of the Diffolution
up the Valleys near the Sea, as long as there
is any Defcent for the Rivers, fo long will
they continue to run, carry forward the low
Ground, and ftreighten the Sea ; which al-
fo by its Working, by reafon of the Decli-
vity, eafily carries down the Earth towards
the lower and middle Part of its Channel
\_AheusJ] and by Degrees may fill it up,
Monfieur Loubere^ in his late Voyage to Si^
am^ takes Notice of the Increafe of the Banks
and Sands in and near the Mouths of the
great Rivers of the Oriental Kingdoms,
occafion'd by the Sediments brought down
from the Countries by the feveral Streams ;
fo that, fays he^ the Navigation into and up
thofe Rivers grows more and more difficult,
and may in Procefs of Time be quite inter-
rupted. The fame Obfervation, I believe,
may be made in moft of our great Euro^
fean Rivers, wherein new Beds are raisM,
and old ones enlarged. Moreover, the Clouds
ftili pouring down Rain upon the Earth, it
will defcend as far as there is any Declivity /
and where that fails, it will ftagnate, and,
joining with the Sea, cover firft the Skirts of
the Earth, and fo, by Degrees, higher and
higher, till the whole be covered.
To this we may add, that fome Affiftancc
toward the leveling of the Mountains, may
be contributed by the Courfes and Catar-
rads of fubterrancous Rivers wafliing away
the Earth continually, and weakning their
foun-
of the World. '^^^
pDundatlons, fo by Degrees caufing them to
founder, fublide, and fall in. That the Moun-
tains do daily diminiih, and many of them
fink ; that the Valleys are raifed ; that the
Skirts of the Sea are atterrated, no Man can
deny. That thefe things miift needs^ in Pro-
cefs of Time, have a very confidcrable and
great Effect, is as evident,* which what elfe
can it be, than that we have mentioned ?
Moreover, towards this levelling of the
Mountains, and filling up of the Sea, the Fire
alfo contributes its Mite. For the burning
Mountains or Vukanos^ as for Example, J^t-
Ha and P^efuvius^ vomit at Times out of their
Bowels, fuch prodigious Quantities of Sant in Nature any manifeft Tendency to it, ojp
remarkable Signs and Fore-runners of it : For
fuch muft needs ftartle and awaken the
World into an Expectation and Dread of it.
That there i's at prefen^ no fuch Tendency
to Corruption, but that the World conti-r
nues flill in as good State and Condition as
it was two thoufand Years ago, without the
leaft Impairment of Decay, hath been, as we
before noted, without any Pofifibility of
Contradidion, clearly made out and demon-
ftrated, by Dr. Hakemll in his Apology :
• And therefore, arguing from the paft to the
future, it will in all Likelihood fo continue
^wo tiioufand Years more, if it be fo long tQ
the Day of Doom ^ and confequently that
Day (as the Scripture predids) wiltfudden-
ly and unexpectedly come upon the World.
But if all thefe Propiiecies (^s Dr. Hammnd
affirn^)
of the World. 35>3
affirms) be to be reftrained only to the De-
ftmaion o^ Jerufale?n, and the Je.wij}j PolU
ty, without any farther Refpe(5t to the End of
the World, then indeed from thence we can
make no Inferences or Dedu^ions in refe-
rence to that final Period.
HAP.
VIII.
The Fourth Queftion Refohed^ Whether
Jhall there be any Signs or Fore-runners
of the Dijfolutwn of the World ?
4.^^^ HE Fourth Queftion is, Whe-
^^^ ther fhall there be any Signs
^P^^ or Fore-runners of the Diflb-^
&!3S^^ lution of the World ?
In order to the Anfwering of this Que^
{lion, we fhall diftinguifh Signs into Natural
and Arbitrarious.
I. Natural Signs ^ fo the Aurora^ or
Dawning of the Day, is a Sign of the Sun-
Rifing. ^ Now, if the Diffolution be effeaed
in the Courfe of Nature, and by Natural
Means, there will be fome previous natural
Signs of it. An old Houfe will threaten
Ruin before it falls. The natural Death of
Men, and all Animals, hath its Harbingers,
and old Mep before their Djffolution feel the
Impref-
5P4 ^f f^^ T>ijfolution
Imprefifions of Age,- and proclaim to the
World their approaching Fate, by Wrinkles,
Gray Hairs, and Dimnefs of Sight. But we
have formerly fliewn, That there is no Con-
fenefcency or Declenfion in Nature j but that
the World continues ftill as firm and ftaunch
as it was three thoufand Years ago ,• and
why hereafter it fliould founder and decay
more than it hath done for fo many Ages
heretofore, what Reafon can be given ? It
is not therefore likely there filouid be any
natural Signs of the DilTolution of the World^"
and confequently that it fhail be effeded by
natural Means.
2. There are Arbitrafj Sigm^ as a Gar-
land hung out is a Sign of Wine to be fold.
Now, if the DilTolution of the • World be
dfeded by Supernatural and Extraordma-
ry Means, (as is moft likely) the Signs of it
muft be arbitrarious. For though they may
be natural Effe(5ts and Productions, yet would
they not fignify the Deftrudion of the World,
if they were not ordered by Providence to
happen at that time, and preditSted ^s Fore-
runners of it ; with which otherwife they
have no natural Connexion. Such Signs are
Matth, xxiv. the Sun being darkcn'd, and
the Moon not giving her Light, and the Stars
falling from Heaven, and the Shaking of the
Powers of Heaven. Thefe, and many other
Signs of His Coming, we find mentioned in
Scripture j but what the Meaning of thefe
Ex-
of the World. 39^
Expreflions may be, is not fo clear. For
though feme ot them may be taken in a li-
teral Scnfe, yet it is manifeft that -others can-
not. The Sun may indeed be fo covered-
with a Macula^ as to be quite obfcured;
and thereupon the Moon neceffariiy lofe her
Light, which Ihe borrows only from the
Sun-Beams : But how the Stars fhould in a
literal Senfe fall down from Heaven, is in-
conceivable ; it being almoft demonftratively
certain, that moft of them are bigger than
the whole Earth. We may therefore, keep-
ing as near as we can to the Letter, thus in-
terpret them. There fiiall be great Signs hx
Heaven, difmal Eclipfes and Obfcurations of
the Sun and Moon i new Stars and Comets
fliall appear, and others difappear, and ma-
ny fiery Meteors be fufpended in the Air.
The very Foundations of the Earth Ihall be
fhaken, and the Sea fliall roar and make a
Noife. But I muft not here dilTenible a great
Difficulty: Hqw can fuch illuftrious Signs
and Fore-runners be reconciled to the Sud-
dennefs and Unexpe«5tednefs of Christ's
Coming, and the End of the World? huke
xxi. 25. After the Evangelift had told us,
That there fljall be Signs in the Sun^ and in
the Moon^ and in the Stars^ — - the Sea and
the Waves roaring j he adds, as a Confe-
quent thereof, Ver. 26. Mens Hearts failing
them for Fear^ and for looking after thoje
Things that are coming on the EartL And,
indeed,
39^ 0//^^ Dijfolution
indeed, how could any Man poflibly be bu-
ried in fo profound a Lethargy of Senflefs*
nefs and Security, as by fuch ftupendous
Prodigies not to be rowzed. and awakened
to an Expedation of fome difmal and tre-
mendous Event ? How could he fmg a Re-
quiem to his Soul, and fay Peace and Safe-
ty, when the World fo manifeftly threa-
tens Ruin about his Ears ? For the recon-
ciling of thefe E"xpre(fions to this fudden
Coming of our Saviour to Judgment, it
were moft convenient to accept them in
the Figurative and Metaphorical Senfe. For
if we underftand them of the Ruin and De-
vaftations of Cities and Countries , and
Changes of Governments, the Subverfions
of Kingdoms and Commonwealths, the Falls
and Depolings of Princes, Nobles, and gre*at
Men J thefe happening more or lefs in every
Age, tho' the ferious and inquifitive Chri-
ftian, who fe^rches and underftands the Scri-
ptures, niay drfcern tbem to bf the Signs of
the World's Cataftrophe ; yet the carelefs and
inconfiderate, the vicious and voluptuous are
not like to be a&all ftartled or moved at them,
but may notwithftanding, looking upoixthem'
as ordinary and infignificant Accidents, dvr^'
mire in utramque mrem^ deep fecurely till the
laft Trump awaken them. Or it may be an-
fwered. That thefe Prophecies do belong
to the Deftrudipn of J emfajem only j^ and
fo
of the JVorld.
391
fo we are not concerned to anfwi^r that Ob*
je(5tion.
HAP.
IX.
The Fifth Queftion anftpered; At what
Period of Time Jhall the World he dif"
fohed ?
H E Fifth Queftiort is. At
what Period of Time ihall
the World be diifolved ? I
anfwer. This is abfolutely
uncertain and undetermina-
ble. For, fince this Diffolution Ihall be ef-
fe^ed by the extraordinary Interpofition of
Providence, it cannot be to any Man known,
unlefs extraordinarily revealed. And our Sa-
viour telb us. That of that Day and Hour
knoweth no Man^ no not the Angels of Hea^
T;e«, &c. Matth, xxiv. 3 6. • And again, A^f
i, 17. It if not for us to Inow the Times and
the SeafonSy which the Father hath placed in
his own Powe^', And this Dr. Hahwill brings
as an Argument, that the World decays nor,
neither tends to Corruption j becaufe, if it
did, the Time of its a(5tual Dilfolution might
be colki^ed and foretold ; which, faith he^
the Scripture d.cnips. Wc may invert this
Ar§u-
5p§ Of the Dijfolution
Argumentation,and inferr,Becaufe the World
doth not decay, therefore the Time of itis
DifTolution cannot be known.
But yet, not withftanding this, many have
ventured to foretell the Time of the End of
the World, of whom fome are already con-
futed, the Term prefixt being paft, and the
World ftill {landing. La^tantm^'m his Time,
faid, Inftit. lib, 7. cap. 25. 0?nnh expe5ia-
tio non amplius qudm ducentorum videtur an^
novum y T^he longefl Expectation extends not
farther than Two hundred Tearr, . The Con-
tinuance of the World more than a Thou-
fand Years fince, convinces him of a grofs
Miftake. Paulm Grebnerm^ a high Preten-
der to a Spirit of Prophecy, fets it in the Year
1613, induced thereto by a fond Conceit of
the Numeral Letters in the hatin Word
'judicium. Other Enthufiaftical Perfons of
our own Country have placed if in the
Years 1645, and 1656. The Event lhev\^s
how ungrounded ly and erroneoufly. Others
there are, whofe Term is not yet expired,
and fo they remain ftill to be confuted. As
Du Mou' thofe who conceit, that the End of the World
i'f' Ihall be when the Pole-Star Ihall come to
touch the Pole of the Equator ^ which ( fay
they ) ever fmce the Time of HipparchUf^
hath approached nearer and nearer to it.
That it doth fo, I am not fatisfied ,• but if it
doth, ic is meerly Accidental, and hath no
Connexion with the End of the World. But
the
of the World. 39p
the moft famous Opinion, and which hath
found moft Patrons and Followers, even a-
niongft the Learned and Pious, is that of the
World's Duration for Six thoufand Years.
For the ftrengthening of which Conceit, they
tell us. That as the World was created in
fix Days, and then followed the Sabbath, fo
ihall it remain Six thoufand Years, and then
fliail fuccecd the Eternal Sabbath, Heb, iv. 9,
!'Apa oLTTQ'kd'Ki'Tu.i 2a/3/3^T/o-fAcc, &c. Inhere re-
inains^ therefore^ a Reft or Sabbath to the Feo*
fie of Go D. Here we fee, that the Apoftle
inftitutes a Comparifon between the heaven-
ly Reft and the Sabbath. Therefore, as God
refted upon the Seventh Day, fo ihall all the
World of the Godly reft after the Six Thou-
fandth Year. For he that hath entred into
his Reft^ ceafeth from all his Worh^ as Go i>
did from His* Of this Opinion were many
of the Ancient Fathers, as 1 Ihewed before^
grounding themfelvesupon this Analogy be*
tween the Six Days of the Creation and the
Sabbath j and the Six Thoufand Years of the
World's Duration, and the Eternal Reft :
For, faith Iren^us in the Place before quo-
ted. Hoc aiitem^ (that is, the Hiftory of the
Six Days Creation, and fucceeding Sabbath)
eft & frdteritorum narratio^ & fulUYorumpro^ \
phetia. Dies enim tmiis milk anno s fignijic at ^
ficut Scriptura teftatur : 2 Pet. /lii. S. PfaL
xc. 4. The Scriptures reckoning Days of
One thoufand Years long, as in Verfe 8. of
I
400 Of the Diffolution
this Chapter, and in T^al xc. 4. This is
likewife a received Tradition of the Jewijh
Rrt^^mr,regiftred in the Tahntd, in the Trea-
tife Sanhedrim, delivered (as they pretend)
by the Prophet Elias the TijloUte to the SOn
of the Woman of Sarepa^ whom he railed
from the Dead, and by him handed down to
Pofterity. I rather thmk with Reuterm, that
the Authot of it was fome Rabbi of that
Name* The Tradition is. Sex millia anno^
mn Brit inmdus : & una inillenano 'vaftatw^
I 'e, SabbathU?ft Dei : Duo millia inane : Dm
' jfiillia Lex: Duo viillia dies MeJJla. Two
thoufand Tears Vacuity : Two thouland Tears
of the Law ; Two thoufand Tears the Days of
theMeffiah. ■ But they ihoot fat wide : For
according to the lead Account, there pafled
a far greater Number of Years before the
> Law was given, 2513, faith R^?/tem; and^
on die contrary, lefs Time from the Law to
^ the Exhibition of the Meftah. All thefe
• . Proofs laid together, do fearer fuffice to make
' - up a Probability. Neither do thofe Rabbmical
Colleaions from the fix Letters m n>©«-i3
the firft Word of Genefis, or from the fix
Alephs in the firft Vcrfe of that Book, each ,
fignifying a Thouflmd Years j or from the
Six firft Patriarchs in the Order of the Ge-
nealogy to E?ioch, who was caught up to
Heaven, ami found no more, add much
Weight'to this Opiniot). S. Auftin very mo-
deftly concludes, after a Difcuflfion of thi^
' Point
of the World. 40 1
l?oint concerning the World's Duration ;
l£.go tempora dinumerare non audeo : Nee all-
quern Prophetam de hac re numemm annarum
txiftimo fYiCJini-vilfe, Nof ergo^ quod fcire not
Dominus noluit^ libenier nefciairius, I dare not
calculate and deter jnine T'ijner : Neither do I
thinly that concerning this Matter^ any Fro-
phet hath predicted and defined the Number of
Tears* What therefore the Lord would not
have us to hnoz0^ let us willingly be ignorant
of-
But though none but prefumptuous Per-
fons have undertaken peremptorily to deter-
mine that Time, yet was it the common and
received Opinion and Perfuafioh of the An-
cient Ghriftians, that that Day was not far
off : And had they been to limit it, they
would hardly have been induced to fet the
Term fo forward atid remote from their
own Age, as by Experience we find it proves
to be, but in their oWn Times, or fliortly af-
ter : And many Places of Scripture feem to
favour that Opinion ; fo that fome have pre-
fumed to fay, That the Apoftles themfelves
were at firft miftaken in this Particular, till
after farther Illumination they were better
informed. But though this be too bold a
Conceit^ yet that the Churches, at leaft fome
of them, did at firft miftake the Apoftles
Meaning, in their Sermons and Epiftles con-
cerning this Point, and fo underftand them,
as to think that the End of the World and
D d Final
402 Of the htjfolution.
Final Judgment was at hand, appears from
2 T^hejJ. ii. 2. I befeech you^ Brethren^ that ye
be not foon Jhaken in Mtndy or be troubled^ nei-^
ther by Spiritj nor by Word^ nor by Letter^ as
from tis^ as that the Day 0/ C h r i s x is at
hand. We fee the Apoftle labours to re(^i-.
fy, and for the future to prevent this Mi-
ftake i So, likevvife, the Apoftle Peter^ in
the 8th and 9th Verfes of this Chapter.
And yet this Opinion had taken fuch deep
Root in them, that it was not eafy to be
extirpated j but continued for fome Ages in
the Church. Indeed, there are fo manyPla-*
ces in the New Teftament which fpeak of
the Coming of C h r i s t as very near, that
if we fliould have lived in their Time, and
underftood them all as they did, of His Co-
ming to judge the World, we could hardly
have avoided being of the fame Opinion.
But if we apply them ( as Dr. Hajnmond
doth) to His Coming to take Vengeance on
His Enemies^ then they do not hinder, but
that the Day of Judgment, I mean the Gene-
ral Judgment, may be far enough off. So I
leave this Queftion unrefolved, concluding,,
that when that Day will come God onljj
knows.
Chap*
Chap, X.
How fat this Conflagration Jhall extend.
6. ^J^^ Sixth Queftion is^ How far
iliall this Conflagration ex-
^:$A
P^P^^.^ tend ? Whether to the Ethereal
o?*Scxfe^ Heavens, and all the Hoft of
them. Sun, Moon, and Stars^ or to the Aereal
bnly ?
I ANSWER, If we follow* ancient Traditioil^'
hot only the Earth, but alfo the Heavens
and heavenly Bodies will be involved in one
Common Fate, as appears by thofe Verfes
quoted out of L?^cm/«j, O'vid^ hncdn^ &c.
Of Chriftians fome exempt the Ethereal
Region from this Deftru^ionj for the twd
following Rcafons^ which I jQiall fet down irl
Reuterm's Words : i . ^ Becaufe in this Chap*
* ter the Conflagration is compared to thd
^ Deluge in the Time of Noah. But the De-
* luge extended not to the upper Regions of
* the Air, much lefs to the Heavens, the Wa-
* ters arifing only fifteen Cubits above the
* Tops of the Mountains, if fo much. There-
* fore neither fhall the Conflagration tran-
* fcend that Term.'* So Beza^ upon 2 Fet^
liu 6, Taritu?nafcendet ilk ignis quantum aqua
altior fupra otnnes montes. That Fire fiall
afcend as high as the Waters flood dboiie the
D d a Mourn
404 Of the Diffolution
Mountains. This PafTage I do not find in
the laft Edition of his Notes. The ordinary
Giofs alfo upon thefe Words, 2 Theff. i. 2.
In jiaming Fire rendring Vengeance^ faith,
Chriftum venturum prdcedet ignis in inundo^
qui tantum afcendet quantum aqua in dilunjio,
There Jhall a Fire go before Christ when
He comes ^ which fiall reach as high as did the
Water in the Deluge. And S. Augufiin De
Ci^it. Dei lib, 20. cap, 18. Petrus etiam covi^
mejnorans fattuin ante diluvium^ videtur ad^
vtonuiffe quodammodo^ quatenus in fine hujus
feculi iftum mundum feriturum effe credamus,
Peter alfo ?nentioning the ancient Deluge^
feems in a ?nanner to have advifed us how far^
at the Confuimnation of Time ^ we are to believe
this World JJjall perijh.
But this Argument is of no Force, be-
caufe it is not the Apoftle's Defign in that
Place to defcribe the Limits of the Confla-
gration, but only againft Scoffers, to ftiew,
that the World lliould one Day psriili by Fire,
as it had of old been deftroyed by Water.
2. The fecond Reafon is, ' Becaufe the
* heavenly Bodies are not fubjed to Palfion,
* Alteration, or Corruption. They can con-
' trad: no Filth, and fo need no Expurgation
! by Fire.
To this we anfwer, not in the Words of
Reuter^ but our own ; That it is an idle and
ill-grounded Conceit of the Peripateticks^
That the Heavenly Bodies are of their own
■ ^ Nature
of the World. 405*
Nat-ure incorruptible and unalterable : For on
the contrary it is demonftrable, that many
of them are of the fame Nature with the
Earth we live upon, and the moft pure, as
the Sun, and probably too the fix'd Stars,
fuffer Alterations -, jnacuU^ or opaque Con-
cretions being commonly generated and dif-
folved in them. And Comets frequently,
and fometimes New Stars^ appear in the E-
thereal Regions. So that thefe Arguments
are infufficient to exempt the Heavens from
Diffolution 5 and on the other (ide, many
Places there are in Scripture which feem to
fubjed: them thereto: As Pfal. cii. 25, 26^
recited Hebr. i. 10. which hath already often
been quoted. The Heavem are the Worh
of Thy Hands ; They jhall ferifi, Matth.
xxiv. 3 5. Heaven and Earth ftjall pafs away,
Ifa. Ixv. 17. and li. 6. The Heavens fiall va-^
nijh away like S?noke, Yet am I not of Opi-
nion, that the laft Fire lliali reach tlic Hea-
vens 5 they are too far diftant from us to
fuffer by it : Nor indeed doth the Scripture
affirm it^ but where it mentions the Diffolu-
tion of the Heavens, it expreffeth it by fuch
Phrafes as feem rather to intirnate, that it
fliall come to pafs by a Confenefcency and
Decay, than be effe<&ed by any fudden and
violent Means. P/^/. cii. 25, 26. They all
fhall wax old as doth a Garment^ dec. Though
I confefs nothing of Certainty can be gather-
ed from fuch Expreifions : For we find the
D d 3 (ame
4o6 Of the Difolution
fame ufed concerning the Earth, Ifa. li. 6^
The Heavens Jhc^ll 'vanijh away lih S?noh^
and the Earth jhall wax old as doth a Gar-,
ment. The Heavenly Bodies are none of
them uncorruptible and eternal; but may
in like manner as the Earth be confumed and
deftroyed, at what Times, and by what
Means, whether Fire, or fome other Element^,
the Almighty hath decreed and ordered.
C H A P, XI.
Whether Jhall the whole World he con-
fumed and annihilated^ or only refined
and purified ?
|Slg|HERE remains now only the Se-
SS T S ^^"^f^ Queftion to be refolved,
|««««|« Whether ihall the World be whol-
V. .. ;rj.,..».,v jy confumed, burnt up and de-
flroyed, or annihilated j or only refined, pu-
rified, or renewed ? To this I anfwer. That
the latter Part feems to me more probable^
'viz. That it fliall not be deftroyed and an-
nihilated, but only refined and purified. I
linow "wk^t potent Adverfaries I have in
this Cafe. I need name no more than Ge^
Yard in his Common Places, and Dr. Hale"
ill in bis Apology^ apd the Defence of it,
■ ' ' who
\
of the World. 407
wl)0 contend carneftly for the Abolition or
Annihilation. But yet upon the whole Mat-
ter, the Renovation or Reftitution feems to
me moft probable, as being moft confonant
to Scripture^ Reafon^ and Antiquity. The
Scripture fpeaks.of an aTOK^CTtx^^co-zc, or Refti-
tution^ Atis iii. 21. Whom the Heavens mufl
contain until the Time of the Reftitution of all
Things ; fpeaking of our Saviour : and ttol-
hiyysvvEffioL^ or Regeneration of the World, the
very Word the Stoich and Pythagoreans ufc
in this Cafe, M^rr. xix. 28, 29. Verily^ I fay
unto you^ That ye which ha-ve followed me^
in the Regeneration^ when the Son ofManfhall
fit on the Throne of His Glory ^ ye afojhallfit
upon twelve Thrones^ &c. Pfal. cii. 26, As
c Vefiure fialt thou change them^ and they
Jhall be changed. Which Words are again ta-
fccn up and repeated, HeL i. 12. Now it
is one thing to be changed, another to be
annihilated and deftroyed. i Cor. vii. 3 i. toi;-
poiysi TO axw-'^' "^^ ko(J"|U.« rsTa , The Fafldion
vf this World paffeth away. As if he had
faid. It fhall be transfigured, or its outward
Form changed, not its Matter or Subftance
deftroyed. Ifa.lxv. 17. Behold I create new
Heavens and a ?tew Earthy and the former
jhall not be remembred^ nor come into Mind.
Ifa. Ixvi. 22. As the new Heavens and new
Earthy which I fljall mah'^ floall remain be-
fore jne. To which Places the Apoftle Peter
feems to rcferr in thofe Words^ 2* Pet. iii. 13.
r- ' ' D d 4 ' Ncver-^
4o8 1 Of the Dijfohition
Ne^erthelefs we^ according to His Pro?mfe^ loo'k
for new Hewvens^ and a new Earthy wherein
dwelleth Right eoufneff. This new Heaven
and new Earth we have alfo mentioned, Rev.
xii. I. And I Jaw a new Heaven and a new
'Earth J for the fir ft Heaven and the fir ft Earth
werepafjed away, and there was no more Sea.
Thefe Places, I confefs, may admit of an
Anfwer or Solution by thole who are of a
contrary Opinion, and are anfwered byDo^
dor Hakewill: yet all together, efpecially
being back'd by ancient Tradition, amount
to a high Degree of Probability. 1 omit that
Place, Ro?ft,\m. 21, 22. The Creature itfelf
alfo JJpall be delivered from the Bondage of
Corruption^ into the glorious Liberty of the Sons
cf God: Tho' it be accounted the ftrongeft
Proof of our Opinion, becaufe of the Obicu-
rity and Ambiguity thereof.
2. For Antiquity, I have already given
many Teftimonies of the ancient Fathers
and Do(5tors of the Church, and could, if
Need were, produce many more, the whole
Stream of them running this way. And tho*
Dr.Hahwill faith. That if we look back to
higher Times before S. Hierotn^ we fhall not
eafily find any one who maintained the
World's Renovation j yet he hath but two
Teftimonies to allcdge for its Abolition ; the
one out of Hihi)^ upon the Pfalms, and the
other out of Cle??iens his Recognitions. To
this Reftitution of theWorld^ "after the Con?
flagration,
of the World. 409
fiagration, many alfo of the Heathen Phf-
lofophers bear Witnefs, whofe Teftimonies
Mr. Burnet hath exhibited in his Theory of
the Earthy lib. 4. cap. 5. Of the Stoicks,
^Chryfippiif de Pro'videntid^ fpeaking of the
Renovation of the World, faith, 'H/xaf, ixstol ^P^^
TO TEASVTVllTCil^ TTOtXlV TTSfHObijiV TlVij^V ^^^J^^-^M-^^^l^ /.7, ^.j-
We^ after Death^ certain Periods of Time be-
ing come about ^ JJjall be reftored to the Form
we now have. To Chryjippus Stobdus adds
Zeno and Cleanthes^ and comprehends toge-
ther with Men all natural Things, Zvjvuvi^kxi
/5
* vrxp. * Eufebius out of Numenim. Nature^ faith
iis!^* he, returns sk tviv dvx<;oL(Tiv sKslvvfj tv^v ttoiht
crav ivioLVTov rov fxeyigov^ hcl^' ov ^t' aiiTvjc julovvj^
eh dvTViV TOiXiv yi'vsTXi v\ XTroKcx^TocgGia-iQ' ettccvsK^Q"
vipldTo^ MC/LTCL Koyov TTOLXiv TVjv dvTyjV ^/f^(?cywyv)V
TOietTaiy TWV TOl^TOdV TTSplQ^OiV £^ dth's yfVCjULfVCOV
dKCLTOLTTCivgc^^^ to- the Refuvre^fion which males
\ the great Tear^ wherein there is again a Refti-
tution made frotn itfelf alone to itfelf. For re-
turning according to the Order wherein it be-
\ gdn firfl to frame and difpofe IThings^ {as Rea-
fon would) it again obferves the fame OEcono?ny
or Adminifiration ; the like Periods returning
eternally without ceafing. He that deiires more
Authorities of the Heathen Philofophers and
Poets, in Confirmation of the World's Refti-
tution after the Conflagration, may confult
the fame Hr.Bur?iet in the Place forequoted ;
where he alfo fhews, that this Do(5trine of
the Mundane Periods was received by the
Grecians from the Nations they call Barba-
rous. Pythagoras J faith Porphyry ^ brought it
firft into Greece: And Origen witneffeth of
the Egyptian Wife Men, that it was delivered
by them. Laertius out of iTheopompus re-
lates. That the Perfian Magi had the fame
Tradition j and Berofus faith, that the Chal-
deans alfo. In fine^ among all the barbarous
"^ ^"^ Na-
of the World. 41I
Nations, who had among them any Perfon
or Sea,' and Order of Men, noted for Wif-
dom or Philofophy, this Tradition was cur-
rent. The Reader may confult the Book we
referr to, where is a notable Palfage taken
out of Plutarch'' s Tradate, De Ifede & Ofiride^
concerning a War between Oromazes and
Ar'manius^ fomewhat parallel to that men-
tioned in the Revelation between Michael
and the Dragon,
3 . T H E Reftitution of the World feems
jnore confonant to Reafon than its Abolition.
For if the World were to be annihilated, what
needed a Conflagration ? Fire doth not de-
ftroy or bring things to nothing, but only fe-
parate their Parts, The World cannot be a-
bolillied by it, and therefore had better been
annihilated without it. Wherefore the Scri-
pture mentioning no other DifTolution than
{s to be effe(^ed by the Inftrumentality of
Fire, it's clear, we are not to underftand anjr
Utter Abolition or Annihilation of the World,
but only a Mutation and Renovation, by thofe
Phrafes ofperifhing^ puffing away^ diffohing^'
being no viore^ &c. They are to be no more
in that State and Condition they are now in.
2. There muft be a material Heaven,
and a material Hell left. A Place for the
glorified Bodies of the BlefTed to inhabit and
converfe in i and a Place for the Bodies of the
Damned, a KoXa^vipwv, or Prifon for them to
be Ihut up in. Now, if the Place of the
412 Of the Diffolution
Bleffed be an Empyreal Heaven far above
thefe vifible Heavens, as Divines generally
hold ; and the Place of the Damned be be-
neath, about the Middle of the Earth 5 as is
the Opinion of the School-Men, and the
Church of Rom"., and as the Name Inferi im-
ports, and as the ancient Heathen defcribed
their Tartarus^
Horn. II. " f^'^ TXpTXpXV VjS^SVTSL
Tocrcov svspQ' 'Ai^fw cxrov npcLvoQ ig' dyro yai'vi;*
Then when all the intermediate Bodies fhall
be annihilated, what a ftrange Univerfe fhall
we have ? confifting of an immenfe Ring of
Matter, having in the Middle a vaft Vacuity,
or Space void of all Body, fave only one
fmall Point for an infernal Dungeon. Thofe
that are of this Opinion have too narrow
and mean Thoughts of the Greatnefs, I had
almofl faid Immenfity of the Univerfe, the
glorious and magnifick Produ(^s of the Crea-
tor's Almighty Power j and are too partial to
themfelves, to think the whole World was
created for no other End but to be ferviceable
to Mankind : But of this I have faid fome-
what in a former Difcourfe, and therefore
fliall not at prefent enlarge upon it.
But let us hear what they have to fay for
the Abolition,
mhmFs Their firft and moft weighty Argunient is
ffif.j'.^l taken from the End of the World's Creation^
whiQh
of the World. 413
which was partly and chiefly the Glory of
the Creator^ and partly the Ufe oF Man, the
Lord Deputy, as it were, or Viceroy thereof.
Now for the Glory of the Creator^ it being by
the admirable Frame of the World manifeft-
ed unto Man, Man being removed out of the
World, and no Creature being capable of
fiich a Manifeftation be(ide$ him, we ciannot
imagine to what Purpofe the Frame itfelf
Ihould be left, and reftored to a more per-
fect Eftate. The other End^ being for Man^s
UJe^ either to fupply his NeceiTity in Matter
of Diet, of Phylick, of Building, of Appa-
rel,- or for his Inftru6tion, Dire(^ion, Re-
creation, Comfort and Delight ; or laftly,
that therein, as in a Looking-glafs, he might
contemplate the Wifdoni, the Goodnefs and
Power of G o D i when he fhall attain that
bleffed Eftate, as he fhall have no farther
Ufe of any of thefe, enjoying perfed Happi-
nefs, and feeing G o d as He is. Face to Face,
the fecond or fubordinate End of the World's
Being muft needs be likewife fruftrate. And
what other End can be given or conceived
for the remaining or rcftoring thereof? dye.
T o this I anfwer, there may be an End of
the reftoring of the World, tho' we are not
able to find out or determine what. We
are too Ihort-fighted to penetrate the Ends of
God. There may be a new Race of rational
Animals brought forth to a6t their Parts
upon this Stage, which may give the Crea-
tor
414 Of the hijfotution
tor as much Glory as Man ever did or couldi-
And yet if there ihould be no material and
vifible rational Creature made to inhabit the
Earth, there are fpiritual and intellectual Be-
ings, which may be as bufy, and as mucli
delighted in fearching out, and Gontempla-
ting the Works of God in this new Earthy
and rendring Him the Praife of His Wifdoni
and Power as Man could be. Thefe Things
vve may conje«5turej but we muii leave it
to the only wife G od to determine what Ufe
fliall be made of it. It feems to me to be too
great Prefumptiori, and over-valuing our-
ielves, to think that all this World was fo
Hiade for us, as to have no other End of its
Creation, or thiit God could not be glorified
but by us.
This firft and principal Argument being
anfweredj the fecond admits of an eafy So-
lution. They enquire whether the Vegeta-
bles, and Creatures etidued with Senfe, Ihall
all be reftored, or fome only ? namely fuch
as fhall be found in Being at the Day of
Judgment* If all, where ' fliall we find
Stowage for them ? Surely we may in this
cafe properly apply that which the Evangelift
in another ufeth figuratively^ if they fhould
all be reftored, even the World itfelf could
not contain the Things which fliould be re-
ftored. If fome only, then would I gladly
know, why thofe fome fhould be vouchfafect
ihis great Honour, and not all, or how thofe
Creatures
of the World. 415'
Creatures without a Miracle lliall be re-
ftrain'd from propagating and multiplying,
and that infinitely in their Kinds by a perpe-
tual Generation. Or laflly, How the feve*
ral Individuals of thefe Kinds, Ihall, contrary
to their Primitive Natures^ live and dure
immortally ?
T o all this I anfwer, That not only all
Animals^ but all Vegetables too, yea, and
their Seeds alfo^ will doubtlefs be mortified
and dcftroyed by the Violence of the Confla-
gration ; but that the fame Ihould be refto-
red, and endued with eternal Life^ I know
no Reafon we have to believe ; but rather
that there fhould be new ones produced, ei-
ther of the fame with the former, or of diffe-
rent Kinds, at the W ill, and by the Power of
the Almighty Creator, and for thofe Ends
and Ufes for which He fhall defign them.
This Queftion being anfwered in this Man-
ner, all that follows concerning the Earth
remaining without any Furniture or Inhabi-
tants, &c, falls to the Ground. So I have
difpatch'd thefe Seven Queftions concerning
the Diflblution of the World, there remains
now only the Inference or Ufe of the prece-
dent Do&rine.
C H A P«
Chap. XII.
The A^ofllis Inference from the prece^
dent Do&rine.
^'??^.?^ Come now to the Inference the
gI *(^ Apollle makes rrom the prece^
ri ^ ^^"^ Dodrine^ What manner of
Converfation and Godlinefs ? One
Word here needs a little Explication, and
that is Hobj, What is meant by a holy Gon*
verfation ?
Holiness is an Equivocal Term. It is
attributed either to G o d, or to the Crea-
ture. When it is attributed to God, it fig-
nifies either^
1 . T H E unfpottecl Purity of Hts Nature,
and the conftant and immutable Rectitude
of His Will. So it is taken, i John iii. 3.
And e'very Man that hath this Hope in him^
furifieth hi?nfelf as He is pure : And, i Pet*
i, 15. As He J which called you ^ is Holy^ fd be
ye Holy in all manner of Con'verfation ; becaufe
it is Written^ Be ye Holy^ for I a?n Holy. Pfal.
cxlv. 17. fhe LoKD is Righteous in all His
Ways J and Holy in all His Jvorh,
2. His Sovereign Majefty and Greatnefs
appearing in His tranfcendent Wifdom and
Power, in His Supreme and Abfoiute Domi*
nioq
of the World. 417
nion over all things : In refpe^t whereof. He
is called the Holy One of Ifrael^ and His Na?ne
is faid to be Holy : That is^ to be invoked
with the greateft Reverence. Holy and Re^
'Verend if His Name* Becaufe of this His
Greatnefs and Excellency, He is to be wor-
Ihipped, and adored with the moft fubmiffive
Humility and Veneration, with a tranfcendent
dnd incommunicable Worfhip and Devo^
tion.
When Holinefs Is attributed to Crea^^
tures, it fignifies either an Inherent and Ini
ward, or a Relative or Outward, Holinefs.
1* Inherent or Inward Holinefs is a Con-
formity of Heart and Life to the Will of
God: Or, as '^ others define it, An habitual * nijkep
Frame of Mind : Whereby we are fitted for wukins'i
Vertuous Adions, but more efpecially for^^^S^
the Duties of Religion. Indeed, Holinefs
doth always include a Reference to G o d.
2. Relative or Outward Holinefs refults
from a Separation and Setting apart any
thing from a prophane and common, and
applying it to a. facred or religious Uk. For^
the Majefty of God, who at firft created, and
continually fuftains and governs all things,)
Deing fo great and inviolable, all Perfons^
Things, and Times,and Places, and Ceremo-
nies, feparated and appropriated to His Ser-
vice and Worfhip, are by all Nations efteem-
cd Sacred, and to have a Chara^er of Holi»
9cfs iniprintcd on them^
E e 3i
4 1 8 Of the Dijfolution
B Y Holinefs, in this Place, is to be undcr-
ftoodan inherent Holincfs, which is well de-
X)e sx- fined by^ Dr. Outrain^ A Conformity of Heart
'^"/-i- 1' and Life to the Will of God. I iliall not
^' *' difcourk at large concerning a holy Conver-
fation, nor inftance Particulars wherein it
confifts. That would be to write a Body of
Pradical Divinity. I iliall, therefore, at pre-
fent, fuppofe the Reader fufficiently inftru-
fted in that. My Bufinefs ihall be to lliew
the Strength of the Apoftle's Inference.
It may be faid. How doth this DilToIutioa
Concern us, who may, perchance, be dead and
rotten a Thoufand Years before it comes ?
^What have we to do with it ?
I ANSWER, It concerns us, i. Becaufe, it's
poflible, it may happen in our Times i it may
liirprizc us before we are aware. The pre-
cife Time thereof is uncertain. And it ihall
be fudden and unexpected, coining as a 'Thief
in the Nighty as we have before fhewn ;
Therefore, we ought always to be upon our
Guard, to have our Loins girt about^ and
our Lights burning. This Ule the Scripture,
in many Places, makes of the Uncertainty
of the Time of Christ's Coming, Luke
xii.. 40. Be ye therefore ready : For the Son of
Man cofneth at an Hour when ye think not*
Luke xxi. 34, 35. And tale heed to your^"
fehes^ kjl at any time your Hearts be over-
charged with Surfeiting and Drunlennefs^ and
Cares of this Life, and fo that Day coine upon
yon
of the World. 4ip
)''£^Matt.xiii*
42, 50. That Lake of Fire anaBrimftone^
Rev. XX. I o. or oiFire burning with Bri?nftone^
Rfu.xix. 20. Which Pkces, tho' they b*
• not
of the World. 4^5
riot literally to be expounded, yet do they
import at leaft a very fad and deplorable
Eftate, a high Degree of Torment and An-
guiih : And all this Eternal, and without In-
termiflfion, Night and Day. Thefe fioall go
into everldfting PuniJJjjnent^ Matth. xxv. ^6.
The State of the Damned is fuppofed to be
a State of abfolute and complete Mifery,
made up of the Lofs of the greateft Good,
and a conftant, freih, and lively Apprehen-
fion of it, which Divines call Pcena Da?nnL
And, 2. Excefs of bodily Pain and Suffer-*
ings, and fad Diftrefs and Trouble of Mind,
occafioned by all manner of frightful Ap-
prehenfions, and vexatious Perturbations and
ReHeftions, which they call Pcsna Semus ;
and this without any Intermiilion or Hope of
Deliverance eternally. Jude vii. it is called
the Vengeance of eternal Fire. Rev. xiv. 1 1.
The Smoke of their Torment is faid to afcend
up for e-ver and ever. And Rev, xx. i o. it
is laid of the Beaft and falfe Prophet, that
theyfhall be tormented Night and Day for ever
and ever. If this be fo, is it not our great-
eft Wifdom to ufe our utmoft Diligence and
Endeavour to avoid fo deplorable a Condi-
tion, and to fecure to ourfelves an Intereft
in a future Eftate of everlafting Bliis and
Happinefsj when this Life lliall be ended?
But here the Epicureans and fenfual Per-
jfons will be ready to object and argue, Here
are Pleafures and Delights in this World,
F f which
Of the Dijfolution
which are very inviting and taking, and do
highly gratify my Senfes and Appetites. I
hear Hkewife of future Rewards and Punifli-
nients for thofe that deny or fulfill their Car-
nal Lufts and Defires. Thefe fenfual Pleafures
I fee and tafte, and feel, and am fure of, the
other I do but only hear of, and therefore
they do not, they cannot fo ftrongly affed
me : Were Heaven, and the Happinefs there-
of, fet before my Eyes, and did I fee it as
plainly and clearly as I do thefe Things be-
low, then indeed I fliould not need many
Motives to provoke me to endeavour the Ob-
taining of it. But, alas 1 that is far above
out of our Sight, the Joys of Heaven are by
the Apoftle termed Things not feen, Agair^,
thefe outward and temporal Enjoyments are
prefent and eafily obtainable ; the other at a
great Diftance, future^ and befides, very
hard to come by ; and I love my Eafe, Ut
efl ingenium hominum a labore prodive ad //-
hidinem. Should I deny myfelf Good in
this Life, and then perchance ceafe to be,
and fo have no Reward for my Pains ; nay^
on the contrary, expofe myfelf to the Ha-
zard of many Afflictions and Sufferings,
which are the Portion of the Godly in this.
Life, how unneceffariiy fliall I make my-
felf miferable ? Miferable I fay, becaufe by
the Apoftle's own ConfelTion, Chriftians, if
in this Life only they had Hcpe^ would beofdtl
Men the moft fniferaUe^ i Gor. xv. i^. Had I
not
of the World. 43 ^
hot better make fnre of what is before me ?
Why have I thefe Appetites within me, and
fuch Objects about me, the one being fo fuit-
able to the other, is it not more natural and
reafonable to fulfill, than deny them ? Surely
it cannot be Wifdom to lofe a certain Good,'
for an uncertain Hope ; and for an unground-
ed Fear of Hell hereafter, to undergo a Pur-
gatory here.
To this Argumentation upon the falfe
Foundation of the Uncertainty of a future
Eftate of endlefs Happinefs or Mifery, accor-
dingly as we have behaved ourfelves in this
Life, I anfwer,
T H A T for the Futurity of fuch an Eftate,
we have the beft Authority in the World, to
wit, the Holy Scriptures, and univcrfal Tra-
dition.
I . T H E Holy Scriptures, whofe Authority
to be more than humane, hath been by ma-
ny fo clearly and convincingly demonftrated,
hat I fhall take it for granted, and not wafte
Time to prove it. The Teftimonies herein
contained, concerning eternal Happinefs and
Mifery, are fo clear and full, that it feems to
me impoffible, without manifeft Diftortion,
to elude or evade the Force of them. Some
we have already recited, and might produce
many more, Ila. xxxiii. 14. Who among us
JJ:all dwell with the devouring Fire ? Who a-
mong usJJjall dwell with everlafti?ig Burnings ?
pan. xii. 2. And many^ of them that Jleep in
F f 2 the
9"
7^
43^ Of the Dijfolution
the Thift of the Earth Jhall awake^ fome to
everlafiing Life^ and fome to Shame and ever^
lafting Contempt, 2 ThefT. i. 9. WhoJJmllbe
f unified with everlafting Deflru6lion from the
Prefence of the Lord, &c, fpeaking of them
who know not G o d, and obey not the Gof-
pel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ifai,
Ixvi. 24. For their Wormfiall not die^. neither
Jlmll their Fire be quenched.
The Origenifi^^ and others, that cannot be
reconciled to the Catholick Dodrine of the
Eternity of the PuniHiments of the Damned,
make the Word ct/ wv, from which the Latin
dijum is derived, to fignify fometimes a de-
terminate Time, as might (fay they) eafily
be proved by many Examples^ and fo dc
cfMvoL^ or aii^vc/s^ which we tranflate for ever^
{ignifies, w^hen applied to this Matter, a long
indeed, but yet a finite Time; and sic ths
aiava^ T60V' ^/wvccv, which we render for ever
and evcvy may likewife (ignify not an eter-
nal Duration, but a Time to which for^a
Term may be fet by God, though to usual
known. In the fame Senfe they accept the
Adje<^ive aic^^viog for a long, but finite Time.
But I am of S.Auguftins Opinion, that ct/w-
viog doth in the New Teftament fignify the
fame wath dter?ius in Latin^ and is appropri-
ated to Things that have no End ; and that
£ic THf aic^vccg twv
that I may ufe Dr. Whiehcofs Words, [Ser-
mom^ Vol. II. Serm, V.]
T o which I anfwer ,• Why might not God
make a Creature, endued with a Faculty of
Underftanding, to difcern that which is Good,'
and Freedom of Will to make Choice of it,
and under no Neceflity of Sinning ? If He
may, and hath made fuch an one, it doth
neceffariiy follow, unlefs He fruftrates His
own Workmanlliip, that He muft fuffer it
to a6i: according to its own Will. Indeed,
without this Freedom of Choice, there can
be no fuch thing as Vertue or Vicq. For,
how can that be a vertuous Adion to whioh
the Agent is as neceffariiy determined, as z
Stone to fall downward.
But farther to vindicate the Honour of
our Maker, (^ faith the forementioned Dn
Whichcot ) and to put all out of Doubt, all
thofe things confidered which are the Pro-
vilion of G o d, Man is more fufficient to His
Effe(5t, and the Purpofes of His Creation,
than any other Creature whatfoever. For as
that to which a Man is called and required,
is of a higher Nature than that of any other
Creature below him ; fo alfo are his Prin-
ciples higher and nobler ; and there is over
G g 2 and
45*^ Of the Diffolution
and above thefe, the Afliftance of Grace,'
which is (upernatural, and more than is due
to him. This is fuch an Afliftance as is able
to raife a Man to that which is fupernatural,
and to fit him for the State of Glory. You
fee, inferiour Nature is fufficient to its End,
and hath not failed, and we are confident
that it will not fail. Now, why a Man that
is inverted with nobler Principles Ihould not
ad at a higher rate, according to thofe Prin-
ciples and Endowments, is a thing not to be
anfwered. But to return from whence I
have digrefled.
I A M as unwilling as any Man to limit the
Mercies of God, becaufe I have as much
need of them as any Man : Yet I muft re-
ferr it to Him, whether He will be more
favourable than He hath threatned, or no,
whether He will remit fomething of the Se-
verity of His Comminations. I am alfo wil-
ling to reftrain and confine the Senfe of thefe
Words, cc/wvff, and cumEQ 0Li(}iV(*^v^ ias far as
the Context will permit. But let our Opi-
nions and Hopes of the Mercies of God, and
temporary Hell, be what they will j a tem-
porary Hell, I fay, or rather a Purgatory^ in-*
(lead of Hell : For the Word Hell^ accor-
ding to the ufual Acception of it, includes
Eternity*
I SHALL add farther. That fince God
hath threatned eternal Punifiimcnts, and it
is no Injuftice in Him to infli(^.them upon
the
of the World. 4^3
the Breakers of His Laws i and, fince we
can fcarce reconcile it with His Veracity not
to do fo, it is our wifeft and fafeft Courfe to
believe them. For, though He fhould not
intend to execute the Severity of them up-
on us, as we riiay groundlefly imagine ; yet
it is clear, that He would have them be be-
lieved by us, elfe they cannot have that End
and EffeiSt He defigned them to : And, there-
fore, it muft be Unbelief and. Prefumption
in us to deny or diftruft them, tho' upon
Suppofition, that they are irreconcilable with
His Goodnefs ^ with which, yet, perhaps,
they may accord well enough, tho' we can-
not at prefent difcern it. All Divine Reve-
lations are to be believed and accepted by us,
as well Threatnings as Promifes ,• and, if
we may diftruft the Veracity of God in Them,
I know not but we may as well do it m
Thefe : If we deny the Eternity of the Tor-
ments of Hell, I do not fee but that we may,
upon as good grounds, with Origen^ deny
the Eternity of the Joys of Heaven.
Let not then the Prefumption of a tem-
porary Hell encourage thee to go on in Sin 5
For, how if thou Ihouldft find thyfelf mi-
flaken ? If the Event fruftrate thy Hopes,
and fall out contrary to thy Expectation, as
it is moft likely it will. What a fad Cafe
wilt thou be in then ? How wall the Uncx-
pc^ednefs thereof double thy Mifery c^ /;//-
. t po-vifa
Of the Dijfolution
pYOvlfa gravius feriunt. How wilt thou be
ftricken, as it were, witli a Thunderbolt^
when the Almighty Judge fliall fulminate
againft thee a dreadful indeed, but by thee
formerly undreaded. Sentence, adjudging
thee to endlefs Puniihments ? How wilt
thou damn thine own Credulity, who by a
groundlcfs Belief of a temporary Hell, haft
precipitated thyfelf into an eternal, which
(Dtherwife thou mighteft poiTibly have avoi-
ded ?
Well, but fuppofe there be fome Sha-
dow of Hope of the Determination of the
Puniihments of the Damned ,• it is by all
acknowledged to be a great Piece of Folly,
to leave Matters of the higheft Moment, and
which moft nearly concern us, at Uncer-
tainties ; and a Point of Wiidom, to fecure
the Main Chance, and to be provided againft
the worft that can come. An eternal Hea-
ven, or State of complete Happinefs, is the
Main Chance, and is not to come into any
Competition, or fo much as to be put in-
to the Balance againft- a few fhort, tranlient,
fordid, loathed, and, for the moft part, up-
on their own account, repented Pleafures :
To fecure to ourfelves an Intereft in fuch
a State, is our greateft Wifdom. And as
for being provided againft the worft that
may or can come ,♦ What can be worfe thani
an eternal Hell ? Which there is, I do not
fay
of the World. 4^^
fay a PoOfibility, but the greatcft Probability-
imaginable, that it will be our Portion, if-
we perfift in Impenitency, and die in our
Sins. But fuppofe the beft iliould happen
that we can hope or conceive, that Hell
fhould laft only eJq cl'1(^vclq (x/ojvgov, for Ages
of Agsf, .and at laft determine : Do we
think this a fmall Matter ? If we do, it is
for Want of Confideration and Experience
of Acute Pains. Should any of us be .under
the Senfe and Suffering of a raging Paro- ;
xyfm of the Stone, or Gout, or Colick,
I doubt not but rather than endure it for
Ten thoufand Years, he would willingly
part with all his Expectation of a Bleiied
Eftate after that Term were expired, yea,
and his Being to boot. But, what are any
of thefe Pains to the Torments and Perpef-
fions of Hell ? or, the Duration of Ten
thoufand Years to thofe Ages of Ages ? If
thou makeft light of all this, and nothing
can reftrain thee from Sin, but the Eternity
of Punifliment, thou art bound to thank
God, who hath ufed this only eflxdiual
Means, threatning an eternal Hell, A.nd it
ill becomes thee to complain of His Ri-
gour and Severity, who wouldft have made
fo pernicious an Ufe of His Lenity and
Goodnefs. But thou who haft entertained
fuch an Opinion, and abufcd it, to encou-
rage thyfelf to go on in thy Sins, though
others
Of the Dijfolution.
others fiiould efcape with a temporary Pu-
niflimentj furely thou haft no Reafon to ex-
ped any milder Doom than to be fentenced
to an eternal.
FINIS.
ADVERTISEMENT,
PHyftco-Ttheohgy : Or, a Demonftration of the Being an*!
Attributes of God, from His Works of Creation. Be-
ing the Subftanee of Sixteen Sermons, preached in S.Mary
ie Bovo, London, at the Honourable Mr. Boyle's Leftures, in
the Year 171 1 and 1712. With large Notes, and many
curious Obfervations. Never before Publiflied. By ^*^.
Verbm, Reftor of Vpminfter in Ejfex, and F. R. S. Printed
kit IV^JmySf at the Prinesi jitm in S. Paufi Chuj^cB^rd.
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