you for seeing you are wont to indulge me a great Freedom when I have the felicity to Communicate with you I have made use of that Liberty now and thereby am become Tedious For which I beg your pardon and request nothing more passionately than that you would vouchsafe me the honour of letting me be Esteem'd what I so sincerely am SIR Your most Affectionate faithful and humble Servant JOHN EDWARDS Cambr June 16. 1697. OF THE Mosaick Doctrine OF THE CREATION BEING Some brief Remarks on Mr. Whiston's New Theory of the Earth In Vindication of the Mosaick Account of the Creation I Have in another place endeavour'd to prove and I hope to the Satisfaction of the Learned and Judicious that Moses's Narration of the Creation of the World is Literal and Historical and that it is a true and just Account of the whole Process of that Divine Work And this I undertook to make good in opposition to the fond Notions which had possess'd some men's heads and had been divulg'd by their Pens viz. that Moses is not to be understood according to the Letter that he speaks to the capacity of the Blockish Brick-makers that were newly come out of Egypt and scarcely understood Common Sense and therefore any Story of a Cock and a Bull would serve them When Moses speaks of the Creation we are not to understand him as if he intended to give any True and Real Account of that matter we must not think that he would trouble the brains if you can suppose they had any of a company of Dull Slaves with Natural Philosophy And when he speaks of the formation of Adam and Eve and several things appertaining to it we must not be so silly as to fancy a Literal meaning of the words but we must take it all in a Mystical and Allegorical Sense Thus the known Theorist dictates to the world Where by the way observe how weak and shallow such suggestions are as if the first Chapters of Genesis were to be read only by the people of that Age in which Moses lived as if none but Drudges and Slaves were to look into these Writings or as if these were so ignorant and stupid that they could not understand a plain and downright Narrative or as if these thick skinn'd Labourers who were not capable of Natural Philosophy could judg of Allegories as if those who could not understand any thing of the plain History of the Creation were able to comprehend Mysteries Parables Hieroglyphicks Mythologies in short as if an Allegorical and Mystical Sense were easier than a Literal one These things duly weigh'd are sufficient to shew the Vanity of that Writer's Discourse Notwithstanding this another and a New Theorist hath lately so far imbibed his Notions as to shew little regard to the letter of Moses's Writings which I take to be a very false Step and a dangerous one in a person especially that is no Profess'd Deist and by his Character seems to own the Authority of the Scriptures It is very strange and ominous that such a one should give so little deference to Revelation and assert things which palpably interfere with the Sacred and Infallible Records of Moses His Grand Proposition is this that the Mosaick Creation extends no further than the Earth or as he expresses it at other times Nothing but the Earth only is the subject of the Mosaick Creation This every where occurs in his Treatise so that there is no need of assigning any particular page as I shall do afterwards when I cite any other passages out of his Book But who is there that hears this Proposition named and is not enclin'd to think that this Learned Theorist design'd to expose the Sacred History of Moses and to erect a doctrine that absolutely runs counter to the first words of the Bible In the beginning God created the heaven and Earth Here is a dichotomy of the Whole Visible World into heaven and Earth and therefore we cannot but infer thence that the Heavenly Bodies are a portion of that System which Moses here describes These words are an Epitomy and Abstract of the Creation more particularly and distinctly delineated afterwards in that chapter and consequently the Mosaick Creation extends to the Heavens as well as to the Earth But what saith the New Theorist to this Why he grants that in the foremention'd Text the Heaven signifies the Heavenly Bodies viz. the Sun Moon and Stars but he denies that it is to be so understood elsewhere and particularly in any part of this first chapter of Genesis for according to him heaven here is no more than the Atmosphere of the Earth or the Region of the Air p. 11. Which is a very precarious and groundless Interpretation for though it is true the region of the Air that surrounds the Earth is call'd heaven and the firmament of heaven in this chapter as well as in other places of the Sacred Volume yet we are to know that both these words heaven and firmament are used here in a Different Sense There is the Lower or Aerial Firmament v. 6 7. and there is the Upper or Etherial one v. 14 15 17. And so heaven is either the Lower Heaven which is no other than the Regions of the Air or the Atmosphere of the Earth of the Vpper Heaven which is the Aether or Region of the Sun and Stars The former of these Heavens was the work of the second day and is distinctly mention'd in v. 8 9. The latter is expresly named in v. 14 15. and was the work of the fourth day The not attending to this distinction of the Two Firmaments or Heavens in this Chapter hath been one occasion of those Mistakes and Misapprehensions which this Ingenious Author and some others of late have fallen under But can there be any thing plainer than this that there was a Double Firmament or Heaven one viz. the Expanse of Air to be between the waters and the waters v. 6. i. e. to be placed between the Seas below and the Clouds above the other viz. the Ethereal Expanse to be the seat and receptacle of the Sun and Stars v. 16 17 God made two great lights he made the stars also and God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth How then can it be true that Moses's description of the Creation reaches no further than the Earth Doth not this History make particular mention of that Higher Heaven or Expanse where the Luminaries are doth it not acquaint us what was the design of the Allmighty in making it Doth not Moses in plain words relate that the Fourth Days Work was the creating of the Heavenly Bodies from v. 14. to 20th Doth he not mention the Celestial Lights in general v 14 15. and then particularly the two great lights v. 16. that is the Sun Moon and other Planets for they are all comprehended under these two as being the most Eminent which is no unusual way of speaking in
BRIEF REMARKS UPON Mr. WHISTON'S New Theory of the Earth And upon an Other Gentleman's Objections Against some Passages in a Discourse of The Existence and Providence of God Relating to the Copernican Hypothesis By Iohn Edwards B. D. LONDON Printed for I. Robinson at the Golden Lion and I. Wyat at the Rose in St. Paul's Church-yard 1697. To my Worthy and Honoured Friend Dr. IOHN WOODWARD Professor of Physick in Gresham College and F. R. S. SIR THE forming of these brief Remarks upon Mr. Whiston's Theory of the Earth was occasion'd by one of your Letters which you were pleas'd to honour me with for your mentioning that Vndertaking of his and your cursory Glance upon it revived in me the thoughts which I a little before had of making some Reflections on that Attempt And the Motive to it was this my apprehension that this Learned Gentleman had not dealt fairly with the Mosaick History which as I conceive is a fault of a very high nature I chiefly argue with him about his abandoning the literal Sense or the genuine meaning of the Mosaick Creation But I hope this may excite a Resolution in you to go further and particularly to rifle his several Hypotheses which I question not you are perswaded are founded on a precarious bottom In defence of your self you will be obliged to say something to him for you are a Theorist as well as he and the Earth is your common Subject But to the Theoretick part you have added Experience and Observation whereby you have cultivated this Theme to a Prodigy and are going on still to oblige the World with greater and nobler Discoveries the Consummation of which we all with great impatience expect and long for As to this little Essay of mine the Bookseller had notice of it and in this Idle Time this Stationers Vacation was pleased to call for it to set the Press on work I was not wholly averse to the making it Publick because I knew there is this one thing to commend it viz. the Goodness of my Design which is to conciliate a Reverence to the Mosaick Writings and particularly that part of them where the First Formation of all things is treated of In the first Chapter of Genesis Moses presents us with the Primitive State of the World and acquaints us what are the First Principles and Rudiments of all things viz. the Chaos and Light All Terrestrial gross and dark bodies were framed out of the first and all Etherial bright and tenuious bodies were educed out of the second Whatever belongs to this Earth and the Planets which are of a resembling nature had its original from the former and the Ether Sun and Stars which appertain to the Superior part of the World had their rise from the latter These are the General Sources these are the Primitive Materials of all visible beings in the World the one passive dull and inert the other active subtile and brisk On these two Principles viz. the Chaotick Matter and Light or Fire there might be built a solid System of Natural Philosophy every way congruous to these and the other Discoveries of the Divinely Inspired Philosopher in this Chapter The contrary is that which I make bold to censure and animadvert upon in the insuing Papers wherein I have shew'd that Mr. Whiston makes his Philosophick Principles jarre with Reveal'd Truth and suffers his Mathematicks to confront the Bible As to the Second Part of my Reflections wherein I doubt concerning the Earths moving about its Axis it may be I differ from you and from the generality of Vertuoso's at this day But truly I am not so much a Tychonian as to for swear the Copernican Hypothesis but the Truth of the matter is this when I was treating of the most Substantial Points of Divinity that is when I was asserting and vindicating the Being and Providence of God I was unwilling to found these or any thing belonging to them upon an infirm and unstable basis upon a dubious and disputable Doctrine and which had not long prevail'd in the Learned World Such I take the Opinion of the Circumgyration of the Earth to be and therefore till I could be absolutely satisfied about the reality of it I thought it was safest to aquiesce at present in the other Doctrine and the rather because it is suitable to the Mundane System which Moses presents us with whose Literal sense of the Account of it is not to be slighted by Christian Philosophers According to this Inspired Sage the Grand Parts and Divisions of the Material World were ranged and disposed according to the Specifick Gravity of them though the Laws of Gravity or any other supposed Mechanism were not every where observ'd in the Creation nor any where exactly it being below the Divine Soveraign Being to confine himsef to such Laws our Earth and the Planetary Bodies which are of the same matter with it as to the main have the lowest place because they are heaviest the Waters which are Ponderous in the next degree to the Earth are accordingly situated next above the superficies of it the Atmosphere of the Air conformably to the degree of its weight is above the Waters and the Ethereal Luminous and Firy bodies as being lightest of all have the uppermost place This is the Order and Method of the Creation according to Moses's account of it but it is inconsistent with the Copernican Circumvolation of the Earth and his System of the Heavens If it be said that this Terrestrial Globe is a despicable Spot a Speak a Point in comparison of the Vast and Spatious Congeries of the Sun and Fixed Lights I grant it is so if it be meant of their Bulk and Quantity but then this must be remembred that though the Earth be inferiour to the Solar body and the Stars on the account of Magnitude yet it is far superiour to them upon other Accounts which are of mighty weight and moment all which I have particularly mention'd and insisted upon in the Second Chapter of that Discourse wherein I undertook to prove the Existence and Providence of an Eternal Infinite and All-Wise Being from the Fabrick and Sructure of the World If any person will be pleased to answer those Arguments and satisfie me about them I faithfully promise him I will be his Proselite and I will declare that I am not enclin'd any longer to think that the Place of our Residence is not a Voluble Planet I have lived to see Monsieur Des Cartes's Philosophy introduced into the Publick Schools with great applause and at last exploded and this may be the fate of the Copernican Hypothesis though it hath been embraced some considerable time by the Greatest Philosophick Wits who have now rendred it a Modish Opinion Yet there may be a Time when its Fashionableness shall expire and when this Seat and Habitation of Mankind shall return to its Rest again But why do I thus trespass Truly Sir I must partly impute it to
in his allotting more Time for the creating of that and what belongs to it than all the rest of the World and would thereby convince us that the Earth as small as it is the Noblest and Choicest Part of the World Thirdly They can't be brought to acknowledge that the Heavenly Bodies yea and the Whole World were made for the use of Man and on this account likewise as well as those before mention'd they cast off the Mosaick History of the Creation because it favours not his Opinion of theirs but represents Man as the Lord of all the Creatures and him for whom next to the Divine Being all things were made and more particularly the Heavens round about him Our New Theorist can't indure to hear of this it is a doctrine which he utterly explodes and in order to that depretiates and vilifies Mankind p 89 debasing him to the nature of a File or a Worm in the Works of the Creation So low so ignoble so groveling is he in his thoughts and so injurious to his own kind It is true he would seem to applaud Mankind as a Noble and Glorious Creature p. 90 and he takes notice of the Dignity of Man Book 4. Chap. 1. p. 253 but then we are to remember that it is usual with this Author to clash with himself what he asserts in one Part of his Book he renounces in another as might be evidenc'd in several Instances but that is not my business at present Though 't is highly improbable that there are any other Creatures of humane kind that receive any advantage and profit from the Creation yet he declares that it is not wise and rational it is not worthy to be believ'd of the All-Wise God that he chiefly or solely created the World for our use p. 70. He pronounces it inconsistent with the Divine Wisdom to make thousands of glorious bodies for the sole use of a few fallen and rebellious creatures p. 69. And after he had enlarg'd upon it he concludes that it argues the most extravagant degree of folly p. 71. But softer terms would have become him when he was speaking of so high a matter and I question not but he would have used them if he had Thought before he spoke that is if he had thought and consider'd how Noble a Being Man is and that he was design'd by his Maker to be the Flower and Top of the Creation and the Glory of the Visible World and that he hath the peculiar honour to have his Nature united to the Deity He that hath such apprehensions of Man can't think it strange that even the Sun Moon and other Planets which more nearly environ him and even the Fixed Globes of Light and Fire though at a vast distance from him were created for his Use and Service in some manner or other They were made to shed their Influences on Mankind here on earth which is express'd by their Ruling the day and the night Gen. 1. 16 18. and to give light upon the Earth which also is twice mention'd v. 15 17. Even the vast multitude of Fixed Lights which are meant by the Stars v. 16. or at least are comprehended under the host of heaven Chap. 2. V. 1. were made for this very purpose and consequently for the Service of Man This is confirmed from what we are told concerning those Glorious Creatures the Angels viz. that they are Ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for Mankind more especially them who shall be heirs of salvation Heb. 1 14. It is no wonder that the Heavens and all the Glorious Bodies in it are Servants to Men when the very Celestial Inhabitants are so It would have been accounted a wild and extravagant Notion that those Superiour Beings should be Waiters and Tenders on the inferiour ones unless the Infallible Writings had assured us of it but now being assured of this we may be reconciled to that other Truth that the Heavens serve Man and that the Sun and all the Luminaries are Servants to the Earth and officiously roll about it whilst it stands to receive their Influence This is congruous to the Divine Greatness and Majesty who hath made Man his Vice-gerent in this lower world and hath constituted the Earthly Globe the place of his Residence in which respect it is more excellent than all the Heavenly Bodies But I have spoken something of this in an other place and therefore shall add no more now Fourthly and lastly they hold that the Formation of the World was according to the strict laws of the Mechanick or Corpuscular Philosophy and therefore seeing Moses represents it not as such they give no credit to his Writings about this matter It is particularly alledged by our present Author that his New Hypothesis of the Earth is exactly according to the laws of Mechanism and thence he concludes it to be Authentick But the Consequence ought to be denied for this reason because he can never prove that the Creation of the World was comformable every ways to the Mechanism to bodies and the laws of Common Nature We must not think that the Origin of all things was in the same manner with the After-productions Rather we are to conceive that the ordinary way and method which have been observ'd in Nature ever since were not observ'd at the Creation for Common and Second Causes had nothing to do then the Divine Power and Influence peculiarly interposed and the Creation was a work of Infinite and Miraculos Power and Wisdom An Immediate and Extraordinary Hand set things on work at the first erecting of the World ayd consequently no Mechanical Laws can explain it â— know our Author seems to agree to this The change of the Chaos saith he into an habitable world was not a mere result from any necessary laws of Mechanism independently on the divine power but is the proper effect of the influence and interposition of Providence Nay that the Whole Work and Process of the Creation was not from mere Mechanick Laws but from the immediate operation of the All mighty and an Extraordinary and Miraculous Power he asserts in some pages together Book 4. Chap. 1. where he instances in several Particulars of the Creation But so it is this Gentleman hath a faculty of jarring with himself for in other places he disowns all this in three whole pages 36 37 38 he argues about the Mosaick Chaos from the Properties of bodies from the manner of their productions from the law of Gravitation and expresly avers that at the first Creation of the Earth all was done according to the known laws of matter and motion and therein mistakes and misinterprets the Mosaick Creation Besides he would not have complain'd that in the Scheme of the Mosaick Creation bodies alike in nature have an unlike original and again bodies unlike in nature have a like original p. 65 and that the Light appeared before the creation of the Sun from whence it is derived c. he could