on_o this_o occasion_n i_o can_v but_o observe_v that_o it_o be_v not_o the_o genuine_a content_n of_o the_o holy_a book_n themselves_o but_o such_o unwary_a interpretation_n of_o they_o as_o these_o which_o have_v main_o contribute_v to_o their_o contempt_n and_o be_v but_o too_o instrumental_a to_o make_v they_o appear_v absurd_a and_o irrational_a to_o the_o free_a reason_n of_o mankind_n for_o when_o man_n find_v that_o the_o scripture_n according_a to_o the_o universal_a sense_n of_o expositor_n ascribe_v such_o thing_n to_o god_n as_o their_o plain_a reason_n can_v not_o think_v compatible_a to_o a_o wise_a man_n much_o less_o to_o the_o alwise_a god_n they_o be_v under_o a_o shrewd_a temptation_n of_o think_v very_o mean_o of_o the_o bible_n itself_o and_o by_o degree_n of_o reject_v it_o and_o therewith_o all_o divine_a revelation_n to_o the_o son_n of_o men._n how_o fatal_o this_o malady_n have_v spread_v of_o late_a especial_o i_o need_v not_o say_v and_o though_o i_o full_o believe_v the_o main_a stroke_n or_o step_n as_o to_o the_o generality_n be_v vicious_a disposition_n and_o a_o debauch_a temper_n yet_o how_o far_o such_o ill-contrived_a unskilful_a and_o unphilosophical_a interpretation_n or_o rather_o misrepresentation_n of_o scripture_n particular_o relate_v to_o the_o material_a world_n of_o which_o we_o be_v now_o speak_v may_v have_v contribute_v to_o so_o fatal_a and_o pernicious_a a_o effect_n deserve_v the_o most_o serious_a and_o sober_a consideration_n this_o mischief_n be_v not_o to_o be_v remedy_v nor_o the_o veneration_n due_a to_o the_o sacred_a volume_n retrieve_v by_o a_o obstinate_a maintain_v such_o strange_a opinion_n as_o those_o here_o refer_v to_o by_o patronise_a the_o same_o with_o divine_a authority_n and_o then_o make_v vehement_a invective_n against_o such_o as_o many_o unskilful_a yet_o good_a man_n be_v ready_a to_o do_v who_o only_a fault_n be_v this_o that_o they_o can_v no_o more_o be_v induce_v to_o believe_v what_o 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phaenomena_n of_o nature_n yet_o upon_o a_o impartial_a enquiry_n into_o some_o of_o the_o most_o perplex_v difficulty_n occur_v there_o i_o have_v obtain_v so_o great_a a_o measure_n of_o satisfaction_n about_o they_o that_o my_o scruple_n now_o entire_o cease_v and_o i_o can_v doubt_v either_o of_o the_o truth_n or_o divine_a authority_n of_o the_o scripture_n i_o do_v not_o mean_v that_o all_o the_o difficulty_n be_v in_o particular_a vanish_v and_o perfect_o clear_v to_o i_o that_o be_v what_o be_v scarce_o to_o be_v hope_v for_o in_o this_o world_n but_o i_o have_v so_o frequent_o meet_v with_o few_o difficulty_n in_o the_o consideration_n of_o the_o book_n themselves_o than_o in_o the_o common_a interpretation_n and_o those_o very_a comment_n which_o ought_v to_o assoil_v they_o and_o in_o so_o many_o and_o those_o most_o remarkable_a point_n of_o all_o have_v meet_v with_o such_o clear_a and_o plenary_a though_o unexpected_a satisfaction_n that_o i_o have_v all_o imaginable_a 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solid_a acquaintance_n with_o not_o ingenious_a and_o precarious_a hypothesis_n but_o true_a and_o demonstrable_a principle_n of_o philosophy_n with_o the_o history_n of_o nature_n and_o with_o such_o ancient_a tradition_n as_o in_o all_o probability_n be_v derive_v from_o noab_n and_o by_o he_o from_o the_o more_o ancient_a father_n of_o the_o world_n from_o which_o medium_n what_o surprise_v and_o unhoped_a for_o light_n may_v be_v give_v to_o some_o famous_a portion_n of_o the_o holy_a scripture_n the_o follow_a page_n will_v it_o be_v hope_v afford_v some_o convince_a instance_n and_o prove_v sufficient_a to_o take_v away_o man_n ungrounded_a fear_n and_o apprehension_n in_o such_o matter_n and_o by_o the_o divine_a blessing_n appear_v a_o seasonable_a attestation_n to_o the_o certainty_n and_o authority_n of_o those_o lively_a oracle_n on_o which_o our_o happiness_n in_o this_o and_o the_o next_o world_n do_v so_o vast_o depend_v but_o i_o must_v leave_v this_o digression_n and_o 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the_o resolve_v the_o whole_a into_o a_o popular_a moral_a or_o parabolic_a sense_n and_o under_o what_o notion_n this_o history_n on_o the_o same_o account_n have_v appear_v to_o other_o of_o no_o less_o free_a but_o less_o religious_a disposition_n and_o thought_n i_o need_v not_o say_v what_o be_v indeed_o matter_n of_o doubt_n and_o perplexity_n to_o pious_a man_n be_v unquestionable_o to_o the_o loose_a and_o profane_a the_o subject_a of_o mirth_n and_o drollery_n and_o the_o sure_a encouragement_n to_o atheism_n and_o impiety_n but_o i_o shall_v not_o content_v myself_o with_o this_o general_a reflection_n but_o instead_o of_o prosecute_a such_o a_o discourse_n any_o father_n shall_v assign_v such_o particular_a instance_n of_o the_o irregular_a and_o unbecoming_a procedure_n in_o the_o vulgar_a scheme_n of_o the_o creation_n as_o be_v plain_o disagreeable_a to_o the_o divine_a wisdom_n and_o unsuitable_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o thing_n 1._o body_n alike_o in_o nature_n have_v here_o a_o unlike_a
positive_a evidence_n for_o the_o proposition_n before_o we_o yet_o set_v aside_o prepossession_n i_o have_v a_o equal_a right_n and_o pretence_n to_o truth_n with_o the_o common_a expositor_n i_o keep_v equal_o close_a to_o the_o letter_n of_o the_o sacred_a history_n 2._o this_o hypothesis_n give_v a_o rational_a account_n of_o the_o scripture_n stile_n wherein_o a_o day_n even_o in_o after_o age_n very_o frequent_o denote_v a_o year_n as_o be_v common_o take_v notice_n of_o by_o expositor_n thus_o by_o moses_n himself_o the_o word_n day_n be_v not_o only_o in_o the_o very_a recapitulation_n of_o the_o creation_n use_v for_o the_o entire_a six_o these_o be_v the_o 5._o generation_n of_o the_o heaven_n and_o of_o the_o earth_n when_o they_o be_v create_v in_o the_o day_n that_o the_o lord_n god_n make_v the_o earth_n and_o the_o heaven_n and_o every_o plant_n of_o the_o field_n before_o it_o be_v in_o the_o earth_n and_o every_o herb_n of_o the_o field_n before_o it_o grow_v but_o in_o other_o place_n as_o it_o seem_v for_o the_o just_a space_n of_o a_o year_n and_o at_o the_o 3._o end_n of_o day_n or_o after_o some_o year_n it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o cain_n bring_v of_o the_o fruit_n of_o the_o ground_n a_o offering_n unto_o the_o lord_n the_o day_n of_o adam_n after_o he_o have_v 5._o beget_v seth_n be_v eight_o hundred_o year_n and_o all_o the_o day_n that_o adam_n live_v be_v nine_o hundred_o and_o thirty_o year_n and_o he_o die_v and_o so_o of_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o genealogy_n in_o that_o chapter_n thus_o in_o other_o of_o the_o holy_a writer_n i_o will_v give_v thou_o ten_o shekel_n of_o silver_n by_o the_o 10._o day_n i._n e._n per_fw-la annâ—s_fw-la by_o the_o year_n or_o every_o year_n thus_o what_o in_o one_o place_n be_v joshuah_n wax_v old_a 1._o and_o come_v into_o day_n be_v in_o another_o joshuah_n be_v 1._o old_a and_o strike_v in_o year_n the_o like_a phrase_n we_o have_v of_o david_n the_o number_n of_o day_n that_o david_n 11._o be_v king_n in_o hebron_n over_o the_o house_n of_o judah_n be_v 11._o seven_o year_n and_o six_o month_n the_o day_n that_o david_n reign_v over_o israel_n be_v forty_o year_n so_o what_o be_v 28._o in_o the_o law_n bring_v your_o tyth_n after_o three_o year_n be_v in_o the_o prophet_n bring_v your_o tyth_n after_o three_o day_n 4._o which_o way_n of_o speak_v with_o other_o that_o follow_v may_v seem_v allude_v to_o and_o explain_v by_o these_o two_o though_o themselves_o somewhat_o of_o a_o different_a nature_n your_o child_n say_v god_n to_o the_o israelite_n shall_v wander_v 34._o in_o the_o wilderness_n forty_o year_n after_o the_o number_n of_o the_o day_n in_o which_o you_o search_v the_o land_n even_o forty_o day_n each_o day_n for_o a_o year_n shall_v you_o bear_v your_o iniquity_n even_o forty_o year_n lie_v thou_o ses_fw-fr god_n to_o 6._o the_o prophet_n ezekiel_n on_o thy_o left_a side_n and_o lay_v the_o iniquity_n of_o the_o house_n of_o israel_n upon_o it_o according_a to_o the_o number_n of_o the_o day_n that_o thou_o shall_v lie_v upon_o it_o thou_o shall_v bear_v their_o iniquity_n for_o i_o have_v lay_v upon_o thou_o the_o year_n of_o their_o iniquity_n according_a to_o the_o number_n of_o the_o day_n three_o hundred_o and_o ninety_o day_n so_o shall_v thou_o bear_v the_o iniquity_n of_o the_o house_n of_o israel_n and_o when_o thou_o have_v accomplish_v they_o lie_v again_o on_o thy_o right_a side_n and_o thou_o shall_v bear_v the_o iniquity_n of_o the_o house_n of_o judah_n forty_o day_n i_o have_v appoint_v thou_o a_o day_n for_o a_o year_n but_o what_o i_o main_o and_o principal_o intend_v here_o be_v that_o know_v frequent_a and_o solemn_a way_n in_o the_o prophetic_a write_n of_o determine_a year_n by_o day_n the_o instance_n of_o which_o be_v very_o obvious_a some_o whereof_o i_o shall_v here_o bare_o quote_v for_o the_o reader_n be_v satisfaction_n and_o more_o in_o a_o case_n so_o notorious_a and_o remarkable_a need_v not_o be_v do_v how_o long_o shall_v be_v the_o vision_n concern_v the_o 14._o daily_a sacrifice_n and_o the_o transgression_n of_o desolation_n to_o give_v both_o the_o sanctuary_n and_o the_o host_n to_o be_v tread_v under_o foot_n and_o he_o say_v unto_o i_o unto_o two_o thousand_o three_o hundred_o day_n then_o shall_v the_o sanctuary_n be_v cleanse_v from_o the_o time_n that_o the_o daily_a sacrifice_n shall_v be_v 13._o take_v away_o and_o the_o abomination_n that_o make_v desolate_a be_v set_v up_o there_o shall_v be_v one_o thousand_o two_o hundred_o and_o ninety_o day_n bless_a be_v he_o that_o wait_v and_o come_v to_o the_o one_o thousand_o three_o hundred_o five_o and_o thirty_o day_n but_o go_v thou_o thy_o way_n till_o the_o end_n be_v for_o thou_o shall_v rest_v and_o stand_v in_o thy_o lot_n at_o the_o end_n of_o the_o day_n i_o will_v give_v power_n unto_o my_o two_o witness_n and_o 3._o they_o shall_v prophesy_v one_o thousand_o two_o hundred_o and_o sixty_o day_n clothe_v in_o sackcloth_n the_o woman_n flee_v into_o 6._o the_o wilderness_n where_o she_o have_v a_o place_n prepare_v she_o of_o god_n that_o they_o shall_v feed_v she_o there_o one_o thousand_o two_o hundred_o and_o sixty_o day_n agreeable_o whereto_o a_o week_n consist_v of_o seven_o day_n denote_v seven_o year_n and_o a_o month_n consist_v of_o thirty_o day_n denote_v thirty_o year_n in_o the_o same_o prophetic_a write_n thus_o in_o that_o most_o famous_a of_o all_o prophecy_n concern_v the_o death_n of_o the_o messiah_n seventy_o week_n 26._o be_v determine_v upon_o the_o people_n and_o upon_o thy_o holy_a city_n to_o finish_v the_o transgression_n and_o to_o make_v a_o end_n of_o sin_n and_o to_o make_v reconciliation_n for_o iniquity_n and_o to_o bring_v in_o everlasting_a rightcousness_n and_o to_o seal_v up_o the_o vision_n and_o prophecy_n and_o to_o anoint_v the_o most_o holy_a know_v therefore_o and_o understand_v that_o from_o the_o go_v forth_o of_o the_o commandment_n to_o restore_v and_o to_o build_v jerusalem_n unto_o the_o messiah_n the_o prince_n shall_v be_v seven_o week_n and_o sixty_o and_o two_o week_n the_o street_n shall_v be_v build_v again_o and_o the_o wall_n even_o in_o a_o straight_o of_o time_n and_o after_o the_o sixty_o and_o two_o week_n shall_v messiah_n be_v cut_v off_o but_o not_o for_o himself_o the_o holy_a city_n shall_v they_o tread_v undersoot_o 2._o forty_o and_o two_o month_n power_n be_v give_v to_o the_o beast_n to_o continue_v forty_o and_o two_o month_n all_o which_o expression_n 5._o with_o other_o of_o the_o same_o nature_n be_v not_o accountable_a i_o mean_v there_o be_v no_o satisfactory_a reason_n can_v be_v give_v why_o a_o day_n shall_v so_o frequent_o denote_v a_o year_n in_o the_o sacred_a write_n on_o any_o other_o hypothesis_n we_o usual_o indeed_o content_v ourselves_o in_o these_o case_n with_o the_o bare_a know_v the_o meaning_n of_o scripture_n expression_n as_o if_o they_o be_v choose_v at_o a_o venture_n and_o so_o for_o instance_n find_v a_o day_n to_o represent_v a_o year_n in_o the_o same_o book_n we_o rest_v satisfy_v without_o inquire_v why_o a_o day_n rather_o than_o a_o hour_n a_o week_n or_o month_n the_o two_o latter_a of_o which_o term_n be_v yet_o use_v by_o these_o author_n be_v pitch_v upon_o to_o signify_v the_o before-mention_n d_o space_n to_o we_o or_o why_o if_o the_o word_n day_n must_v be_v make_v use_n of_o it_o must_v mean_v a_o determinate_a just_a year_n rather_o than_o a_o week_n a_o month_n or_o a_o thousand_o year_n for_o which_o last_o it_o yet_o seem_v sometime_o to_o be_v take_v so_o frequent_o in_o the_o sacred_a especial_o the_o prophetic_a 4._o write_n but_o it_o be_v very_o supposable_a that_o it_o be_v our_o 8._o ignorance_n or_o unskilfulness_n in_o the_o style_n of_o scripture_n 17._o and_o those_o thing_n therein_o deliver_v not_o the_o inaccuracy_n of_o the_o writer_n themselves_o which_o occasion_n our_o so_o lax_n and_o general_a interpretation_n it_o will_v 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where_o no_o such_o alteration_n need_v be_v make_v in_o which_o therefore_o it_o may_v seem_v hard_a to_o allow_v of_o a_o single_a instance_n against_o the_o use_n in_o the_o precedent_n and_o subsequent_a context_n in_o the_o first_o chapter_n yet_o the_o circumstance_n of_o that_o day_n be_v peculiar_a the_o like_a mixture_n of_o the_o persectum_fw-la and_o plusquam_fw-la perfectum_fw-la be_v in_o the_o second_o chapter_n and_o in_o other_o place_n of_o scripture_n to_o be_v observe_v and_o a_o distinct_a work_n be_v still_o hereby_o preserve_v to_o that_o day_n the_o place_v the_o sun_n moon_n and_o star_n in_o our_o firmament_n which_o otherwise_o be_v after_o a_o sort_n double_a do_v all_o in_o good_a measure_n take_v away_o the_o force_n of_o such_o reason_v and_o conspire_v to_o allow_v we_o that_o interpretation_n before_o give_v and_o thereby_o to_o secure_v the_o proposition_n before_o we_o from_o that_o grand_a objection_n which_o seem_v capable_a of_o cause_v so_o great_a 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be_v now_o well_o know_v those_o affection_n ought_v to_o be_v ascribe_v to_o the_o earth_n because_o every_o thing_n as_o to_o sensible_a appearance_n be_v in_o the_o same_o condition_n as_o from_o the_o annual_a and_o diurnal_a motion_n of_o the_o sun_n be_v they_o real_a must_v and_o will_v obtain_v the_o sun_n be_v say_v to_o be_v turn_v into_o darkness_n and_o the_o moon_n into_o blood_n when_o without_o any_o alteration_n in_o themselves_o they_o appear_v of_o a_o dark_a or_o bloody_a countenance_n to_o the_o inhabitant_n of_o the_o earth_n nay_o which_o be_v most_o of_o all_o to_o our_o present_a purpose_n god_n be_v then_o say_v to_o make_v all_o thing_n new_a 5._o and_o to_o create_v a_o new_a heaven_n and_o a_o new_a earth_n 17._o when_o he_o so_o change_v the_o constitution_n and_o state_n of_o our_o earth_n as_o to_o render_v thereby_o this_o whole_a sublunary_a world_n very_o different_a from_o and_o much_o excel_v that_o which_o former_o appear_v in_o all_o which_o and_o 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venerable_a and_o sacred_a 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d or_o history_n of_o the_o creation_n be_v otherwise_o in_o the_o high_a degree_n strange_a and_o unaccountable_a to_o the_o free_a reason_n of_o mankind_n yet_o i_o be_o full_o of_o opinion_n that_o general_o the_o difficulty_n occur_v in_o the_o sacred_a book_n be_v to_o be_v clear_v not_o by_o a_o great_a recede_v from_o but_o a_o close_o adhere_n to_o the_o obvious_a and_o most_o natural_a interpretation_n of_o the_o period_n therein_o contain_v and_o that_o the_o general_a nature_n of_o the_o scripture_n style_v every_o where_o due_o observe_v and_o consider_v several_a great_a scruple_n with_o relation_n to_o the_o action_n and_o providence_n of_o god_n and_o other_o thing_n contain_v in_o those_o book_n will_v be_v take_v away_o if_o we_o may_v be_v allow_v to_o recede_v a_o little_a from_o the_o receive_a opinion_n of_o man_n and_o placit_v of_o systematical_a author_n on_o no_o other_o condition_n than_o that_o for_o a_o 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conclusion_n of_o one_o and_o the_o commence_v another_o year_n viz._n the_o autumnal_a equinox_n and_o the_o full_a moon_n which_o must_v for_o ever_o fix_v and_o establish_v the_o constancy_n of_o their_o annual_a space_n and_o even_o the_o countryman_n have_v somewhat_o easy_o observable_a to_o fix_v his_o account_n and_o characterise_v his_o year_n the_o full_a moon_n rise_v when_o the_o sun_n set_v as_o the_o same_o common_a period_n of_o the_o old_a and_o introducer_n of_o the_o new_a year_n so_o that_o in_o so_o regular_a and_o true_o natural_a solar_a and_o lunar_a year_n as_o then_o obtain_v no_o observation_n of_o astronomer_n be_v necessary_a to_o adjust_a or_o calculate_v their_o measure_n of_o time_n nature_n or_o rather_o divine_a providence_n have_v so_o fit_v the_o heavenly_a revolution_n that_o nothing_o more_o than_o the_o easy_a observation_n of_o a_o full_a moon_n be_v necessary_a to_o determine_v their_o season_n and_o their_o year_n and_o to_o retain_v they_o at_o 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navigation_n which_o have_v there_o be_v a_o ocean_n must_v have_v be_v very_o perfect_a long_o before_o and_o this_o seem_v probable_a from_o the_o constant_a silence_n concern_v navigation_n in_o the_o golden_a age_n from_o the_o common_a opinion_n of_o all_o author_n and_o from_o the_o necessity_n of_o the_o 16._o most_o minute_n and_o particular_a direction_n from_o god_n himself_o to_o the_o fabric_n of_o it_o in_o the_o mosaic_a history_n 3._o that_o famous_a tradition_n among_o the_o 241._o ancient_n of_o the_o drown_v a_o certain_a vast_a continent_n call_v atlantis_n big_a than_o africa_n and_o asia_n 6._o seem_v to_o be_v a_o plain_a relic_n of_o the_o generation_n of_o the_o ocean_n at_o the_o deluge_n and_o consequent_o of_o that_o antediluvian_n state_n where_o the_o great_a part_n of_o what_o the_o ocean_n now_o possess_v be_v dry-land_n and_o inhabit_v as_o well_o as_o the_o rest_n of_o the_o globe_n 4._o the_o generation_n of_o the_o ocean_n with_o the_o situation_n 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the_o universal_a consent_n of_o the_o most_o ancient_a record_n of_o all_o nation_n beside_o as_o may_v be_v see_v in_o the_o author_n quote_v in_o the_o margin_n suprà _fw-la and_o be_v put_v moreover_o past_a doubt_n by_o dr._n woodward_n 7._o natural_a observation_n 2._o xlv_o this_o prodigious_a deluge_n of_o water_n be_v main_o occasion_v by_o a_o most_o extraordinary_a and_o violent_a rain_n for_o the_o space_n of_o forty_o day_n and_o as_o many_o night_n without_o intermission_n yet_o seven_o day_n and_o i_o will_v cause_v it_o to_o rain_v upon_o the_o 4._o earth_n forty_o day_n and_o forty_o night_n the_o window_n of_o heaven_n be_v open_v and_o the_o rain_n 12._o be_v upon_o the_o earth_n forty_o day_n and_o forty_o night_n and_o the_o flood_n be_v forty_o day_n upon_o the_o earth_n 17._o xlvi_o this_o vast_a quantity_n of_o water_n be_v not_o derive_v from_o the_o earth_n or_o sea_n as_o rains_n constant_o now_o be_v but_o from_o some_o other_o superior_a and_o celestial_a 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