GEOLOGIA OR A DISCOURSE Concerning the EARTH before the DELUGE WHEREIN The FORM and PROPERTIES ascribed to it In a Book intituled The Theory of the Earth Are Excepted against And it is made appear That the DISSOLUTION of that Earth was not the Cause of the Universal Flood ALSO A New Explication of that Flood is attempted By ERASMVS WARREN Rector of Worlington in Suffolk 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ECCLESIAST iii. 11. Et Mundum tradidit Disputationi eorum LONDON Printed for R. Chiswell at the Rose and Crown in St. Paul's Church-Yard M DC XC TO THE READER HAving perused the Book called The Theory of the Earth considering it simply and abstractedly in it self as a Philosophic Scheme or representation of things I found it a Treatise not unworthy of the ingenious Author of it Though so it was not without its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Defects But then taking it as it relates to the Doctrine of the Bible and so bears the Title Sacred I thought it liable to several Exceptions Some of these I determinâ—d to set down forthwith and in a Letter transmit them to the learned Theorist But my Pen growing warm quite our-run the bounds of my first Intentions and forcing me to alter the Method I had begun carry'd things on to this length and drew them up in this Form My Design is only an humble Proposal of some few Exceptions against the Essentials of the Theory And I as humbly beg that they may not be mistaken as to their Rise nor misconstâ—ued as to their End They â—low but from Affection to Truth and are directed to her Vindication Let none therefore think them off-springs of a narrow mind or issues of a captious disputatious Spirit much less of a stingy â—icque against Philosophy to which as I owe all becoming veneration so I shall ever duly pay it Nor have I ingaged with the Theory at all because it is New but because it is False For all that is true must needs be ancient only the Discovery of some truth may be New But then every such discovery of important truth is highly to be valued and applauded To be welcom'd into the World with thanks and joy and entertain'd with reverence and a sweet reception Yea as every such Discovery of weighty Truth ought to be receiv'd with great kindness and respect so that happy Person who makes the Discovery ought to be exceedingly honoured too and lookt upon as deserving a Coronet and a Monument And for my own part I had much rather assist with my hands in â—itting up both than write one word or syllable with my Pen to hinder him of either Again therefore I heartily profess my Scope to be nothing else but a Vindication of Truth unless I â—hall add and of Religion also For though I am far from that temper of being alarm'd at the proposal of every new Theory as if all Religion were falling about our ears yet I am sensible the Theorist has assaulted Religion and that in the very foundation of it And therefore he must not blame me if I have taken the alarm to use his own word when he was pleased in such a manner to give it And truly should not some of us have been awakened by it considering how loud he rings it in our ears he might well have concluded we were too fast asleep When the fourteen Books of Numa Pompilius that ancient and famous King of Rome were found in the Earth in a Chest of Stone and being taken out were perused by several at last upon the Praetor Pâ—tilius's report that they contained pleraque dissolvendarum Religionum many things tending to the undoing of Religion at least in some Ceremonies or appendages of it they were condemned by the Senate An Argument of their tenderness and due concern for the Religion they had though but a mean one Now allowing our regard for Religion to exceed that of the Romans as in reason it should but as much as our Religion exceedeth theirs and how deeply must we resâ—nt especially those of us in Holy Orders even the smallest injuries done unto it But then when Books come forth too like to Numa's the Contents whereof strike at Religion the least we can do is to complain of the abuse and endeavour meekly to confute them And that the Theory of the Earth does strike at Religion and assault it as I said in the very Foundation of it is but too evident For in several things as will appear in our Discourse it contradicts Scripture and by too positive asserting the truth of its own Theorems makes that to be false upon which our Religion is founded And to assert such things positively as imply Scripture to be false in any Periods of it must be of very pernicious consequence For if it fails in some instances it may do so in many and that which renders it suspected in part will impeach the credit of the whole Let it be noted therefore that the Dispute here is not meerly whether the World we live in be the same now as it was of old before the Flood or whether there be not as much difference betwixt its primaeval and its present State as betwixt a goodly Structure when standing in its glory and groveling in its ruines but which is far more material whether some sacred and revealed Truths or gay but groundless Philosophic Phancies shall be preferred The Book has lain by in Manusâ—ript a great while Why it did so is well known to some good Men and I need not trouble all with the Reasons of it But when none as I could learn were dispos'd to write better I let it come abroad In it I have not to speak in the Theorist 's language made Iudgment or Consure of his Hypothesis upon general presumptions and prejudices nor according to the temper and model of my own spirit but I think according to reason And that I might not impose upon my self or others have laid aside that lazy and fallacious method of censuring by the lump and endeavoured to bring things close to the Test of true and false to explicit proof and evidence And whosoever says he makes such Objections against an Hypothesis hath a Right to be heard This Right therefore so far as it is mine and I may lawfully do it I now challenge To conclude Whereas I have endeavoured to explain the Universal Deluge in a new and unusual way I would by no means be thought to ground upon it as certainly true but only to show that another way of opening and unfolding that intricate Phaenomenon may be found out as plausible or approvable as that which the Theory goes in And truly for my own part I am much of the Opinion of a very learned Friend of mine a great ornament both to the University and the Faculty he is of who upon perusal of this Book in Manuscript wrote this to me among other things Though we have Moses yet
Philosophy upon our SAVIOUR's Miracles though it carries me a little farther still out of my way to take notice of his Baseness They were much superiour to the Wonders of Moses Yet that rude Epicurean would fain argue them down into the hateful Rank of Prestigious Impostures and make the HOLY JESUS no better than a Conjurer Yea having gotten the sacred Story by the end of our LORD's Flight into Egypt he perverts it most shamefully to make it countenance that black and hellish Reproaâ—h which he would have fastned on his GLORIOUS MAJESTY For he blasphemously affirms That he was brought up in an obscure manner and being Lett for a Servant thither grew skilful in the strange Feats of that Nation and then returning from thence by the Feats he could do gain'd himself the Name and Repute of a GOD. And yet still says the Wretch in another place he was but a Iuggler and as such a one went up and down dishonourably begging and getting his livelihood by what he could do by Sleight-of-hand Now whither tends this Why as it is all but a Cast of Celsus's profound Philosophy so the drift of it was but to advance Philosophy and set it too high to exalt it that is above the Christian Doctrine and to maintain it in way of Opposition to that And thus to come home to our purpose at last Some have set Philosophy too high in reference to the Flood I mean that great and general Flood which put a disastrous period to the First World For they held it proceeded from Second Causes in such a manner as reflects upon the First in such a manner that when to do the greater honour to Philosophy they attempt by the help of it to explain how the Explication grievously impeaches Scripture and charges it very boldly and unhandsomly a thing by no means to be endured For though Philosophy as has been said be eminently serviceable to Divinity and that in its noblest and most important Articles unless they be such as are absolute Mysteries and so naturally as unintelligible to meeâ— Reason as finest Speculations are imperceptible to Sense yet it must not be allow'd to clash or interfere with it in the least especially in its holy Foundations or Principles the Inspired Oracles For so the Hand-maid would pertly usurp over her Mistress and forgetting her duty proudly domineer in her Station of Obedience 17. And this is too much the Fault of The Theory of the Earth It pends too hard against the Sacred Scriptures and advances to an intrenchment upon Divine Revelation Which will evidently appear in several Particulars in the Sequel of our Discourse 18. It abounds with Philosophy indeed and the Philosophy it contains is well delivered But it is not justly regulated and kept within due Limits For it runs so fast and is driven so far that it treads unseemly and unsufferably too upon the heels of Truth even of that most Divine and Infallible Truth which was spoken by GOD and therefore to be infinitely reverenc'd of Men. 19. Now this Irregularity I apprehended so great that the reverence I bear to that Holy Volume whose Contâ—nts are no other than the Doctrines of Heaven ingaged me in drawing up the ensuing Exceptions and then in publishing them Though I must own too that I was much encouraged in the Undertaking by the Theorist's ingenuous and frank Invitation Whosoever by solid Reasons will shew me in an Error and undeceive me I shall be very much obliged to him This I shall endeavour to do with all Sincerity and that only as a Friend and Servant to Truth And therefore with such Candour Meekness and Modesty as becomes one who assumes and glories in so fair a Character And also with such Respect to the Virtuosoe who wrote the Theory as may testifie to the World that I esteem his Learning while I question his Opinion 20. And that our Work may be done with the more ease and order it shall be prosecuted in a Method cut out to our hands and shaped according to that Recapitulation of the Theory which we find set down in the Second Book and the Ninth Chapter in these words That there was a Primitive Earth of another Form from the present and inhabited by Mankind till the Deluge That it had those Properties and Conditions that we have ascribed to it namely a perpetual Equinox and Spring by reason of its right Situation to the Sun was of an Oval Figure and the exterior face of it smooth and uniform without Mountains or a Sea That in this Earth stood Paradise the Doctrine whereof cannot be understood but upon Supposition of this Primitive Earth and its Properties Then That the Disruption and Fall of the Earth into the Abyss which lay under it was that which made the Vniversal Deluge and the Destruction of the Old World And That neither Noah's Flood nor the present Form of the Earth can be explained in any other Method that is rational nor by any other Causes that are intelligible These are the Vitals of the Theory and the Primary Assertions whereof I do freely profess my full Belief Against these Assertions my Exceptions shall be levelled and in the same order in which they stand 21. So much for the First Chapter which may be reckoned as an Introduction to the following Discourse Which if any shall look upon as a Collection of Notes somewhat confusedly put together rather than a formal well digested Treatise they will entertain the best or truest Idea of it CHAP. II. 1. The Hypothesis of the Earth's Formation stated 2. The first Exception against it It would have taken up too much time 3. The World being made in Six Days 4. How there might be Light and Days before there was a Sun 5. A Proof that the Creation was perfected in Six Days time 6. Numeral Cabbalism cannot overthrow it 7. The Jews in Cabbalizing still allowed a Literal meaning to Scripture only they superadded a Mystical one never contrary to it 8. Though were there a Cabbala destructive to the Letter of Moses's Story of the Creation that would not invalidate the Argument alledged 9. Moses's Account of the Creation runs not upon bare Numbers but upon Time 10. What Account the Christian Church has made of the Cabbala 11. How it discovers its own Vanity 12. The Literal sense to be kept to in the Story of the Creation 13. Where Scripture speaks so as not to be understood Literally it is sometimes for plainness sake 1. AS every thing had a Beginning except One I mean that most perfect and glorious ESSENCE who gave Being to all so the Earth among the rest had its Origin likewise This none but Infidels or Anti-Scripturists can doubt the Article being founded upon no less than Divine which is the most firm and unquestionable Evidence Could any Doubt of this Matter offer to form it self in our Minds and to settle there the very first Verse in the Holy Biblâ— would not
fail to drive it out from thence But then as to the Way of the Earth's Formation we are more at a Loss as being not so satisfactorily instructed concerning it Here Providence seems to have left us to our selves and for the improvement of both remits us to the Conduct of Philosophick Learning in some measure and to our own Judgments Only we must be careful that the Idea's we frame be congruous to the Truths that came down from above and are or should be the Touchstone of all Hypotheses among Christians Which because the way of the Earth's Formation according to the Theory is not it overthrows the first vital Assertion which is this There was a Primitive Earth of another Form from the present and inhabited by Mankind till the Deluge The latter Clause of it touching the Earth's being inhabited till the Deluge we do not question The former part of it cannot stand by reason the Manner of the Earth's Rise which the Theory ascribes to it overturns it It is supposed to have proceeded thus Fig 1 Pag 47 Where 1 denotes the fiery Centre of the Earth 2. The Interior Orb of the Earth composed of the grossest particles of the Chaos 3. The Element of Water or the Abyss 4. The Oyly Liquor upon the surface of the Water 5. The Mass or Body of the Air. But this Body of the Air being at first very muddy and impure through abundance of terrestrial Particles that as fast as they could free themselves from the Air with which they were mingled and in which they were intangled they sunk downward And meeting in their descent with the Oyly Liquor on the face of the Deep there they stuck and incorporating with that unctious Substance made a certain Slime or a fat soft light Earth spread upon the Waters Which growing thicker and thicker by a continual accession of more terrestrial Particles sliding down still out of the Air as it purify'd it self at last it came to its just Dimensions And then waxing more dry and stiff and firm and solid in fine it attained to its due Consistency and so became the First habitable Earth Thus have I briefly but I hope truly represented the Manner of the Primitive Earth's Formation If there be any thing of Mistake in the Description it is altogether involuntary But I think I have spoken the very mind of the Hypothesis as it is more largely set down by the Theorist 2. But if the Primitive Earth's being of another Form does depend upon its rising in such a method as this as indeed it does then it could not be of another Form from the present Earth because it could not rise in such a manner for several Reasons As First Because it would have taken too long time in doing it A longer time by much than that Divine Account we have of its Origination does mention or will allow For to say nothing how long the Inferior Earth would have been in forming by the subsiding of the grossest parts of the Chaos to the Centre of it till which were sunk the other Sedimentals could not so well have separated And to say nothing how considerable a space of time it would have required for the Aereal Matter to have clarify'd it self and to have setled in its proper Region And to say nothing of the Lastingness of that other Purgation whereby the liquid part of the Chaos would have sent forth its Oyliness to invest the Waters to receive those Dregs that fell out of the Air To say nothing of these how much time must have been spent in producing the exterior Orb of the Earth which was to be made up of those terrestrial Particles which fell from above and rested upon the Oyly out-side of the Deep Should these fine Particles have showred down as fast as ever we saw small Rain or Snow do yet how many Days and Weeks must have passed before they could have swell'd into so huge a Body as the Earth was at first I say as the Earth was at first For according to the Hypothesis now before us the Primitive Earth was bigger than this So much bigger as to take all that space into its Ambit which reacheth up to the tops of the highest Mountains at least Yea if the first Earth did not fill a much bigger space than that as it might do for according to this Hypothesis we know not how far its Circumference might extend yet a space somewhat bigger it must needs occupy in regard the Mountains are now worn lower than they were And for such inconceivable Quantities of little Particles to descend out of the Air as would be sufficient to make such a bulky Globe as the Primitive Earth must necessarily be a good whiles work And so it is expresly acknowledged to be Theor. p. 58 59. And then if as fast as they showred down into the Oyly Substance they did immediately mix and incorporate with it yet then it would take up some time again to dry and harden this new made Earth and to reduce it to an habitable Consistency And therefore its Formation this way could by no means fall in with the real time of its Production Nay it could not be compleated in that space of time in which GOD declares that he began and finisht the whole Creation 3. For that glorious Work is expresly limited to Six Days And every Day has its respective Task particularly specified and appropriated to it And however more might be created on some Days than is mentioned as Angels Hell c. yet we may be sure there was no less Not but that GOD could have done all in one Day if he had so pleased or in one Hour or Minute As he could also have given Being to the World many millions of Ages before He did But it was not his Will that it should exist sooner and his Will it was that the Creation of it should be protracted to an Hexaemeron or Six Days Work and therefore he drew it out to that length But then when Philo Iudaeus St. Austin and others teach that the World was created in an Instant we have no reason jurare in verba to give up our selves to a Belief of their Doctrine Nor is the Saying of the Son of Syrach sometimes alleged in Proof of the Opinion to be at all regarded He that liveth for ever creavit omnia simul created all things together As if he created them together in the same moment Whereas besides that the Book is Apocryphal the Greek Copy reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He created all things in common as well one as other in which sense it relates to no time And accordingly our English is most proper he created all things in general Yet this Apocryphal Text seems to be the chief ground upon which St. Austin built his Opinion of the World 's being made in an instant But by that Account which Moses gives in the Earth brought forth Grass and Herbs and Trees
disruption of the Abyss as if the fall of the Earth had caused such extraordinary commotions in the Air or convulsions of its Regions as made them every where to pour down Waters For the Theory will have the Rains to be antecedent to the disruption I do not suppose the Abyss broken open till after the forty days rain But then this is most directly against Scripture again for that plainly affirms the contrary that the Fountains of the great Deep and the Windows of Heaven were both opened upon one day Gen. 7. 11. In the six hundredth year of Noah's life in the second month the seventeenth day of the month the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up and the windows of heaven were opened So that in the same year of Noah's Life and in the same Month of that Year and on the same Day of that Month the Fountains below and the Windows above were both set open that the Waters issuing out of both might raise the Deluge 6. Let me add in the next place That it is a known Question that has been moved by Writers of all sorts Ancient and Modern Iewish and Christian Divines Historians Chronologers c. at what time of the year the Flood came in Iosephus for instance will have it to happen in Autumn others in the Spring and they give their reasons for it The Question does manifestly proceed upon inadvertency their not minding that when it was Spring in one part of the World it was Autumn in another And the like Question is put by Writers and bandied among them touching the Creation at what time of the year that great Work was done But somewhat more improperly there being no Seasons of the year before the Creation Now this being the general Judgment of the Learned That the year had Tempestival Changes from the beginning even the same that it has now as these Questions import from hence it may be inferted that they never dreamt of this Position of the Earth or a Perpetual Aequinox but were all of the contrary perswasion or common Opinion 7. As for the Authorities that are made use of to establish the Doctrine we are upon if they be examined they will hardly be found to speak home in the case For though in the Contents of the Tenth Chapter of the Second Book of the Latin Theory it be thus declared the last Article concerning the right Situation of the first Earth is establisht by the sentences of Philosophers yet if their Sentences alledged in that Chapter be well considered they will appear to be too weak and insufficient I shall set them all down fully to avoid suspicion of perverting or misrepresenting them The first is taken out of Plutarch and delivered by him as the joint Opinion of two ancient Philosophers Diogenes and Anaxagoras think that after the World was constituted and living creatures were brought forth out of th◠Earth the World in a manner was inclined towards its Southern part of its own accord And that this perchance was done by providence that some parts of the World might be inhabited and others not by reason of cold heat and convenient temperature But this will do the Theory little service it rather fights against it For the Inclination here is said to be made by Providence that some of the Worlds parts might be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 habitable by reason of a good temperature Which agrees not with the Theory for that holds the World to have been of the best temperature before the Earth was inclined insomuch that it knew no Season but Spring And what then could mend its habitableness Yet in order to that the Earth was inclined as the Citation intimates And when in the Judgment of these Philosophers the inclination of the Earth was to conduce to or improve its habitableness and according to the Tenor of the Theory it would rather have been an hindrance or disadvantage to the same it is apparent that this Allegation does rather cross than confirm the Hypothesis In case it be argued That this Inclination might promote or mend the habitableness of the Earth as it quenched the flame in the Torrid Zone and reduced its intolerable to a gentle hea◠neither thus can the Passage be drawn to favour the Theory For say the Philosophers by vertue of this Inclination some parts of the Earth were to be rendred 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 uninhabitable and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 too upon the account of vehement heat Whereas this very Inclination was of necessity to be a qualification or corrective or indeed a perfect extinction of all furious burning in the Torrid Zone as the Theory owns So that the Authority cited is so far from establishing the Theory's Hypothesis of the Earth's Inclination that it will not be easily reconciled to it Nor can it excuse the matter with this Pair of Philosophers to say that they were blinded here with the common Error and ran for company with those that believed there was a Torrid Zone when there really was none For allowing they were so sagacious as to discover this Secret of the Earth's Inclination we must also grant that by the same quick-sightedness they would clearly have discerned that the effect thereof could not have been 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a scorching raging insufferable heat about the middle of the Earth but a certain mitigation or quenching of the same The second Sentence is that of Empedocles which occurs in the same Chapter of Plutarch Empedocles teacheth That the Air giving way to the force of the Sun the North inclined the Northern parts being elevated and the Southern ones depressed and this happened by that means to the whole World Here is a mighty effect produced without a cause assigned at least here is non causa pro causa the assignation of a cause altogether incompetent and not to be understood For why should the Air yield to the force of the Sun more towards the South than towards the North when his force was equal upon both the Regions at once For he moving at all times exactly in the midst betwixt them his influence must be exactly alike upon each and therefore that it should cause the depression of one more than of the other is a thing in the dark and unintelligible But say the Sun had had power to displace the Earth and by sinking one Pole of it through such a cession of the Air to have raised the other yet then that this cession should not be in the Air nor consequently this dislocation of the Earth till the Flood happened is not to be thought And therefore this Sentence favours not the Theory neither for that has positively determined the time of the Deluge to have been the juncture of the Earth's declension or dislocation Whereas if the Sun had been the cause thereof by working a change in the Air conducive thereunto it must have been accomplisht
not wonder that strong Perswasions should sometimes be built upon weak grounds Or to speak it in the Theorists next words we are not to be surprised if we find Men confident in their Opinions many times far beyond the degree of their evidence 3. Yet that his Intentions in conposing and publishing his Book were good and laudable we have no reason to doubt His own Declaration speaks them so I have no other design than to contribute my endeavours to find out the truth in a subject of so great importance and wherein the World hath hitherto had so little Satisfaction pag. 97. A noble aim but he that would cleverly hit the mark must beware of shooting through Sâ—ripture and wounding it at the rate the Theorist has done 4. To Conclude If so be sincere and upright Intentions will justifie the failures of a Pen and in any measure serve to extenuate or excuse them I can take up that Plea in behalf of mine And whereas in the new Explication of the Deluge I may seem to have run out into a kind of lax interpretation of one or two Texts of Holy Scripture I have sufficiently apologiz'd for that excursion already by owning that besides it is necessary to expound those Scriptures a new way upon the account of the old Hypothesis of the Flood it was made but to vie with the Theory and to try if we could hit upon another way of explaining the Deluge that might pass for rational and intelligible And therefore I only add this which I do most heartily I had rather much rather my Papers should be burnt to Ashes and my self with them than that I should knowingly and wilfully write any thing in way of opposition to depravation of or derogation from any Divine Truth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 FINIS Books lately Printed for Richard Chiswell DOctor Towerson's Explication of the Creed Lords â—rayer Ten Commandments and Sacraments in Four Volumes Fol. The Parable of the Pilgrim By Symon Patrick D. D. now Lord Bishop of Chichester Dr. Wake 's Tracts in 2. Volumes 4 o. His 15. Sermons in 8 o. Popery not Founded in Scripture or the Texts which Papists Ciâ—e out of the Bible for the Proof of the Points of their Religion Examined in 17. Tracts with a Table By several London Divines In â— Vol. 4 o. Cardinal Bellarmine's Notes of the Church Examined and Confuted in 19. Tracts and a Table By several London Divines 4 o. The Judgment of God upon the Roman Catholick Church from its first Rigid Laws for Universal Conformity to it unto its last End With a prospect of these near approaching Revolutions viz. The Revival of the Protestant Profession in an Eminent Kingdom where it was totally suppressed The last End of all Turkish Hostilities The general Mortification of the power of the Roman Church in all parts of its Dominions By Drâ—e Cressener D. D. JAcobi Usserii Armachani Archiep. Historia dogmatica Controversiae inter Orthodoxos Pontisicios de Scripturis Sacris Vernaculis nunc primum â—dita Accesserunt ejusdem dissertationes de Pseudo-Dionysii scriptis de Epistola ad Laodicenos antehac ineditae Descripsit digessit notis atque Anâ—tuario completavit Henricus Wharton A. M. Revereâ—dissimo Archiep. Caâ—â—uariâ—nsi à Sacris Domesticis Scriptorum Ecclesiasticorum Historia Literaria à Câ—risto nato usque ad Saeculum XIV Facili methodo digesta Qua de Vita illorum aâ— Rebus gestis de Secta Dogmatibus Elogio Stylo de Scriptis genuinis dubiis supposititiis ineditis deperditis Fragmentis deque variis Operum Editionibus perspicuâ— agitur Accedunt Scriptores Gentiles Christianae Religionis Oppugnatores cujusvis Saeculi Breviarium Inseruntur suis locis Veterum aliquot Opuscula Fragmenta tum Graeca tum Lalina hactenus inedita Praeâ—issa denique Prolegomena quibus plurima ad Antiquitatis Ecclesiâ—sticae studium spectantia traduntur Opus Indicibus necessariis instructum Autore GVILIELMO CAVE SS Theol. Profes Canonico Windesoriensi Accedit ab aiia Manu Appendix ab inâ—unte Saeculo XIV ad Annum usque MDXVII Fol. 1689. * Hanc Theoriam Sacram appello cùm Telluris Physiologiam communem non respiciat sed majores mundi nostri vicissitudines quarum meminit Sacra Scriptura Praefat ad Lectorem * In the Preface to the Eng. Theory †Liv. Hist. Dec. 4. lib. 10. * Read the 17th Chapter of this Discourse * In the Preface to the Eng. Theory †〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In Epict. Ench. cap. 29. * Voluptas quam percipimus ex intuitu rerum quas oâ—â—li cernunt minime aequi paranda est cum illa quam adsert notitia illarum quas philosophando invenimus Des Cartes in Praefat. ad Princip a Corpus hoc animi pondus ac poena est premente illo urgetur in vinculis est nisi accessit philosophia illum respirare rerum naturae spectaculo jussit à terrenis dimisit ad divina Haec libertas ejus est haec evagatio subducit interim se custodiae qua tenetur coelo resicitur Sen. Ep. 65. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Alex. Strom. lib. 1. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strom. lib. 4. d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strom. lib. 7. b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De Placit Philos. lib. 1. cap. 6. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ibid. a Lib. de â—und incorâ—upt * 2 Tim 1. 10. * 1 Cor. 15. 50. * Phil. 3. 21. * Tertul. lib. de Resur * Vide quà m in solatium nostri resurrectionem sutur am omnis natura meditetur Sol demergit nascitur Astra labuntur redeunt Flores occidunt reviâ—iscunt post senium Arbusta frandescunt Semina non nisi corrupta revirescunt Ita Corpus in seculo Sepulchro ut arbo es in hyberno occultant virorem ariditate mentitâ Quid festinas ut crudâ adhuc hyeme reviviscat redâ—at expectandum nobis etiam corporis ver est In Octav. pag. 113. a Athenagoras de 〈◊〉 mort p. 175 176. The 〈◊〉 Treatise is very well 〈◊〉 any Scholar's serious â—eading a In Ancor b 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Legat. pro Christ. sub fine c Lib. 10. de Repub. d Strom. l. 5. p. 599. e 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 f Mors quam pertimescimus recasamus intermittit vitam non cripit Veniet iterum qui nos in lucem reponâ—t dies Aequo animo debet rediturus exire Ep. 36. g 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cont. Cels. lib. 5. h In Prooem pag. 3. i 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strom. lib 5. pag. 595. a Aquin. Sam. Theol. sap Quest. 81. Ar. 1 2. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clem. Alex. Strom. lib. â— a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Var. Histor. lib. 7. cap. 21. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Strom. lib. 1. a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Strom. lib. 5. b Pag. 309. c 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Orig.
I believe we must stay for Elias to make out to us the true Philosophical modus of the Creation and Deluge THE CONTENTS CHAP. I. 1. THE great Usefulness of Natural Philosophy 2. In proving there is a God 3. In acquainting us with His Nature 4. In asserting a Providence 5. In excluding Idolatry 6. In vindicating the Gospel in several Points 7. As the Immortality of the Soul 8. The Resurrection of the Body 9. The Conflagration of the World 10. And the endless fiery Torments of the Damned 11. Philosophy is useful also as to Divinity 12. And like to flourish 13. Caution against abusing it 14. Which is done either by speaking or thinking slightly of it 15. Or by setting it too low in its Operatiâ—ns 16. Or else by Raising it too high 17. Which is the fault of The Theory of the Earth 18. A Character of it 19. The Occasion of this Discourse against it 20. Together with its Method 21. This Chapter an Introduction to the Discourse Page 1 2 CHAP. II. 1. The Hypothesis of the Earth's Formation stated 2. The first Exception against it It would have taken up too much time 3. The World being made in Six Days 4. How there might be Light and Days before there was a Sun 5. A Proof that the Creation was perfected in Six Days time 6. Numeral Cabbalism cannot overthrow it 7. The Jews in Cabbalizing still allowed a Literal meaning to Scripture only they superadded a Mystical one never contrary to it 8. Though were there a Cabbala Destructive to the Letter of Moses's Story of the Creation that would not invalidate the Argument alledged 9. Moses's Account of the Creation runs not upon bare Numbers but upon Time 10. What Account the Christian Church has made of the Cabbala 11. How it discovers its own Vanity 12. The Literal sense to be kept to in the Story of the Creation 13. Where Scripture speaks so as not to be understood Literally it is sometimes for plainness sake p. 45 CHAP. III. 1. A Second Exception against the Formation of the Earth viz. the Fluctuation of the Waters of the Chaos whereon it was to be raised 2. That Fluctuation caused by the Moon 3. The Theorist's Doubt whether she were then in our Neighbourhood considered 4. The Precariousness of his Hypothesis in several things relating to the Chaos Which ought to have been better cleared and confirmed according to his own declared Iudgment 5. The Descent of the Earthly Particles out of the Air not only Precarious but Vnphilosophical 6. And also Anti-Scriptural p. 73 CHAP. IV. 1. A Third Exception against the Formation of the Earth the Fire at the Center of it 2. The Theory faulty in not setting â—orth the Beginning of the Chaos which was necessary to be done 3. Such a Chaos was not Created 4. Nor yet produced in Des-Cartes his way 5. And therefore that Central Fire seems a thing unreasonable 6. That the Chaos was produced in the Cartesian way not to be allowed by the Theory 7. The Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 also insinuates the contrary 8. The Septuagint cleared in one Passage 9. The Story of the Creation not to be restrained to the Terrestrial World p. 86 CHAP. V. 1. The Form of the Earth excepted against from the want of Rivers 2. Notwithstanding the way devised to raise them there would have been none in due time 3. Whereupon Two great Inconveniences must have ensued 4. No Rivers could have been before the Flood p. 106 CHAP. VI. 1. Another Exception against the Hypothesis it would have drowned the World though Man had not sinned 2. Or though Mankind had been never so penitent 3. Which would have reflected upon Providence and imboldened the Atheist p. 121 CHAP. VII 1. Saint Peter's words alledged in favour of the Hypothesis inapplicable to that Purpose 2. Wherein the stress of them seems to lie 3. Seven other Allegations out of Scripture of no Force 4. As being Figurative and so not Argumentative 5. Which Tycho Brahe not minding it gave occasion to his Systeme p. 1â—7 CHAP. VIII 1. A continual Aequinox before the Flood by vertue of the Earth's Position improbable 2. For then that Position would have remained still or the Change thereof would have been more fully upon Record 3. Scripture does not favour this Aequinox but rather discountenance it 4. It would have kept one half of the Earth unpeopled 5. And have hindred the Rains at the time of the Flood 6. The Doctrine of the Aequinox is against the Judgment of the Learned 7. The Authorities alledged for the Right Situation of the Earth upon which the Aequinox depends Insufficient to prove it 8. Two Queries propounded relating to the Aequinox p. 158 CHAP. IX 1. The Oval Figure of the Primitive Earth excepted against from the nature of that Mass upon which it was founded 2. And from its Position in its Annual Motion 3. As also from the Roundness of the Present Earth 4. Which Roundness could not accrue to the Earth from its Disruption in regard that would have rendred it more Oval still in case it had been Oval from the beginning 5. Or at least would not have made it less Oval than it was p. 189 CHAP. X. 1. That there were Mountains before the Flood proved in way of Exception to the Theory out of Scripture 2. And that they could not be made by the Falling in of the first Earth argued from the Mountains in the Moon 3. And from the Opinion of the Talmudists and others 4. How Mountains might arise in the very beginning 5. There must be Mountains in the first World because there were Metals in it p. 201 CHAP. XI 1. That there were open Seas before the Flood made evident from Scripture 2. Such Seas necessary then as Receptacles for Great Fishes 3. The Abyss being no fit place for them 4. A farther Confirmation of open Seas 5. An Objection against them answered 6. Another Objection answered 7. A Third answered p. 218 CHAP. XII 1. The Scripture's Silence touching the Rainbow before the Flood does not argue its non-appearance till after it 2. It s appearance from the beginning no hindrance or diminution of its Federal Significancy 3. But matter of congruence to GOD's Method of Proceeding in other Cases 4. Clouds were extâ—nt before the Flood and therefore the Rainbow was so 5. The Conclusion of this Chapter relating to the Two foregoing ones also p. 252 CHAP. XIII 1. The Doctrine of Paradise intelligible without the Theory 2. Where that Doctrine is best taught 3. What it is with a brief Paraphrase upon it 4. It is Clear in it self though obscured by Writers 5. Longaevity before the Flood no property of Paradise and might be the Priviledge but of few 6. It could not be common to all according to the Theory p. 262 CHAP. XIV 1. The Flood could not be caused by the Dissolution of the Earth and its falling into the Abyss 2. For it would have been inconsistent