upon_o it_o as_o a_o oracle_n and_o decree_n of_o fate_n ovid_n speak_v of_o it_o as_o such_o in_o the_o first_o of_o his_o metamorphosis_n esse_fw-la quoque_fw-la in_o fati_fw-la reminiscitur_fw-la affore_o tempus_fw-la quo_fw-la mare_fw-la quo_fw-la tellus_fw-la correptáque_fw-la regius_fw-la coeli_fw-la ardeat_fw-la &_o mundi_fw-la mole_n operosa_fw-la laboret_fw-la beside_o by_o doom_n of_o certain_a fate_n he_o know_v the_o time_n shall_v come_v when_o sea_n earth_n ravish_a heaven_n the_o curious_a frame_n of_o this_o world_n mass_n shall_v shrink_v in_o purge_v flame_n and_o lucan_n 7._o hos_n caesar_n populos_fw-la si_fw-la nunc_fw-la non_fw-la usserit_fw-la ignis_fw-la vret_fw-la cum_fw-la terris_fw-la uret_fw-la cum_fw-la gurgite_fw-la ponti_fw-la communis_fw-la mundo_fw-la superest_fw-la rogus_fw-la ossibus_fw-la astra_fw-la misturus_fw-la if_o now_o these_o body_n want_v their_o fire_n and_o urn_n at_o last_o with_o the_o whole_a globe_n they_o will_v sure_o burn_v the_o world_n expect_v one_o general_a fire_n and_o thou_o must_v go_v where_o these_o poor_a soul_n be_v wander_v now_o now_o though_o some_o be_v of_o opinion_n that_o by_o fata_fw-la here_o be_v to_o be_v understand_v the_o sibylline_a oracle_n and_o to_o that_o purpose_n do_v allege_v some_o verse_n out_o of_o those_o extant_a under_o that_o title_n as_o lactantius_n in_o his_o book_n de_fw-fr it_o a_o dei_fw-la cap._n 2._o 3._o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d and_o it_o shall_v sometime_o be_v that_o god_n not_o any_o more_o mitigate_a his_o anger_n but_o aggravate_v it_o shall_v destroy_v the_o whole_a race_n of_o mankind_n consume_v it_o by_o a_o conflagration_n and_o in_o another_o place_n there_o be_v mention_v make_v of_o a_o river_n of_o fire_n that_o shall_v descend_v from_o heaven_n and_o burn_v up_o both_o earth_n and_o sea_n tunc_fw-la arden_n fluvius_fw-la coelo_fw-la manabit_fw-la ab_fw-la alto_fw-mi igneus_fw-la at_o que_fw-la locos_fw-la consumet_fw-la funditus_fw-la omnes_fw-la terrámque_fw-la oceanúmque_fw-la ingentem_fw-la &_o caerula_fw-la ponti_fw-la stagnáque_fw-la tum_fw-la fluvios_fw-la fontes_fw-la ditémque_fw-la severum_fw-la coelestâ—mque_fw-la polum_fw-la coeli_fw-la quoque_fw-la lumina_fw-la in_o unum_fw-la haxa_fw-la ruent_fw-la â—ormâ_fw-la deletâ_fw-la prorsus_fw-la eorum_fw-la aâ—tra_fw-la cadent_a etenim_fw-la de_fw-la coelo_fw-la cunâ—a_fw-la revulsa_fw-la then_o shall_v a_o burn_a flood_n flow_v from_o the_o heaven_n on_o high_a and_o with_o its_o fiery_a stream_n all_o place_n utter_o destroy_v earth_n ocean_n lakes_n rivers_n fountain_n hell_n and_o heavenly_a pole_n the_o light_n in_o firmament_n that_o dwell_v lose_v their_o beauteous_a form_n shall_v be_v obscure_v and_o all_o reach_v from_o their_o place_n down_o from_o heaven_n to_o earth_n shall_v fall_v now_o because_o the_o verse_n now_o extant_a under_o the_o name_n of_o sibylline_a oracle_n be_v all_o suspect_a to_o be_v false_a and_o pseudepigrapha_n and_o many_o of_o they_o may_v be_v demonstrate_v to_o be_v of_o no_o great_a antiquity_n than_o the_o emperor_n antoninus_n pius_n his_o reign_n and_o because_o it_o can_v be_v prove_v that_o there_o be_v any_o such_o thing_n in_o the_o ancient_a genuine_a sibylline_a oracle_n i_o rather_o think_v as_o i_o say_v before_o that_o it_o be_v a_o doctrine_n of_o ancient_a tradition_n hand_v down_o from_o the_o first_o father_n and_o patriarch_n of_o the_o world_n josephus_n in_o his_o antiquity_n run_v it_o up_o as_o high_a as_o adam_n from_o who_o seth_n his_o son_n receive_v it_o his_o father_n say_v he_o soretel_v he_o 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d 〈◊〉_d there_o shall_v be_v a_o destruction_n of_o the_o universe_n once_o by_o the_o violence_n of_o fire_n and_o again_o by_o the_o force_n and_o abundance_n of_o water_n in_o consequence_n whereof_o he_o erect_v two_o pillar_n one_o of_o brick_n which_o may_v endure_v the_o fire_n and_o another_o of_o stone_n which_o will_v resist_v the_o water_n and_o upon_o they_o engrave_v his_o astronomical_a observation_n that_o so_o they_o may_v remain_v to_o posterity_n and_o one_o of_o these_o pillar_n he_o say_v continue_v in_o syria_n until_o his_o day_n whether_o this_o relation_n be_v true_a or_o not_o it_o may_v be_v thence_o collect_v that_o this_o be_v a_o universal_a opinion_n receive_v by_o tradition_n both_o among_o jew_n and_o gentile_n that_o the_o world_n shall_v one_o day_n be_v consume_v by_o fire_n it_o may_v be_v prove_v by_o good_a authority_n that_o the_o ancient_a gaul_n chaldaean_n and_o indian_n have_v this_o tradition_n among_o they_o which_o they_o can_v not_o receive_v from_o the_o greek_a philosopher_n or_o poet_n with_o who_o they_o have_v no_o intercourse_n but_o it_o must_v in_o all_o probability_n be_v derive_v down_o to_o both_o from_o the_o same_o fountain_n and_o original_a that_o be_v from_o the_o first_o restorer_n of_o mankind_n noah_n and_o his_o son_n i_o now_o proceed_v to_o the_o three_o particular_a propose_v in_o the_o beginning_n that_o be_v to_o give_v answer_n to_o the_o several_a question_n concern_v the_o dissolution_n of_o the_o world_n chap._n v._n the_o first_o question_n concern_v the_o world_n dissolution_n whether_o there_o be_v any_o thing_n in_o nature_n that_o may_v probable_o cause_v or_o argue_v a_o future_a dissolution_n three_o probable_a mean_n propound_v and_o discuss_v sect_n i._o the_o water_n again_o natural_o overflow_n and_o cover_v the_o earth_n the_o first_o question_n be_v whether_o there_o be_v any_o thing_n in_o nature_n which_o may_v prove_v and_o demonstrate_v or_o probable_o argue_v and_o infer_v a_o future_a dissolution_n to_o which_o i_o answer_v that_o i_o think_v there_o be_v nothing_o in_o nature_n which_o do_v necessary_o demonstrate_v a_o future_a dissolution_n but_o that_o position_n of_o the_o peripatetic_a school_n may_v for_o aught_o i_o know_v be_v true_a philosophy_n posito_fw-la ordinario_fw-la dei_fw-la concursu_fw-la mundus_fw-la posset_n durare_fw-la in_o aeternum_fw-la suppose_v the_o ordinary_a concourse_n of_o god_n with_o second_v cause_n the_o world_n may_v endure_v for_o ever_o but_o though_o a_o future_a dissolution_n by_o natural_a cause_n be_v not_o demonstrable_a yet_o some_o possible_a if_o not_o probable_a accident_n there_o be_v which_o if_o they_o shall_v happen_v may_v infer_v such_o a_o dissolution_n those_o be_v four_o the_o possibility_n of_o 1._o the_o water_n again_o overflow_n and_o cover_v the_o earth_n 2._o the_o extinction_n of_o the_o sun_n 3._o the_o eruption_n of_o the_o central_n fire_v enclose_v in_o the_o earth_n 4._o the_o dryness_n and_o inflammability_n of_o the_o earth_n under_o the_o torrid_a zone_n and_o the_o eruption_n of_o all_o the_o vulcano_n at_n once_o but_o before_o i_o treat_v of_o these_o it_o will_v not_o be_v amiss_o a_o little_a to_o consider_v the_o old_a argument_n for_o the_o world_n dissolution_n and_o that_o be_v its_o daily_a consenescence_n and_o decay_n which_o if_o it_o can_v be_v prove_v will_v in_o process_n of_o time_n necessary_o infer_v a_o dissolution_n for_o as_o the_o apostle_n say_v in_o another_o case_n that_o which_o decay_v and_o wax_v old_a be_v ready_a to_o vanish_v away_o hebr._n 8._o 13._o that_o which_o continual_o waste_v will_v at_o last_o be_v quite_o consume_v that_o which_o daily_o grow_v weak_a and_o weak_a will_v in_o time_n lose_v all_o its_o force_n so_o the_o age_n and_o stature_n and_o strength_n of_o man_n and_o all_o other_o animal_n every_o generation_n decrease_v they_o will_v in_o the_o end_n come_v to_o nothing_o and_o that_o all_o these_o and_o all_o other_o thing_n do_v successive_o diminish_v and_o decay_v in_o all_o natural_a perfection_n and_o quality_n as_o well_o as_o moral_a have_v be_v the_o receive_a opinion_n not_o only_o of_o the_o vulgar_a but_o even_o of_o philosopher_n themselves_o from_o antiquity_n down_o to_o our_o time_n plin._n nat._n hist._n l._n 7._o c._n 16._o in_o plenum_fw-la autem_fw-la cuncto_fw-la mortalium_fw-la generi_fw-la minorem_fw-la indy_n mensuram_fw-la staturae_fw-la propemodum_fw-la observatur_fw-la rarosque_fw-la patribus_fw-la proceriores_fw-la consument_fw-la ubertatem_fw-la seminum_fw-la exustione_fw-la in_fw-la cujus_fw-la vice_n nunc_fw-la vergat_fw-la aevum_fw-la in_o sum_n it_o be_v observe_v that_o the_o measure_n of_o the_o stature_n of_o all_o mankind_n decrease_v and_o grow_v less_o daily_a and_o that_o there_o be_v few_o tall_a than_o their_o parent_n the_o burn_a to_o which_o the_o age_n incline_v consume_v the_o luxury_n of_o the_o seed_n terra_fw-la malos_fw-la homines_fw-la nunc_fw-la educ_fw-la aâ—_n que_fw-la pusillos_fw-la juvenal_n sat._n the_o earth_n now_o breed_v man_n bad_a and_o small_a and_o gellius_n noct._n att._n lib._n 3._o c._n 10._o et_fw-la nunc_fw-la quasi_fw-la jam_fw-la mundo_fw-la senescente_fw-la rerum_fw-la atque_fw-la hominum_fw-la decrementa_fw-la sunt_fw-la and_o now_o as_o if_o the_o world_n wax_v old_a there_o be_v a_o decrement_n or_o decay_n both_o of_o thing_n and_o man_n i_o may_v accumulate_v place_n out_o of_o the_o ancient_n and_o modern_n to_o this_o
in_o his_o book_n de_fw-fr mundi_fw-la fabrica_fw-la more_o brief_o pergratum_fw-la lectori_fw-la fore_fw-la existimavi_fw-la si_fw-la rem_fw-la sâ—itu_fw-la dignissimam_fw-la exposuero_fw-la etc._n etc._n i_o think_v it_o may_v be_v very_o acceptable_a to_o the_o reader_n if_o i_o shall_v discover_v to_o he_o a_o thing_n most_o worthy_a to_o be_v know_v which_o i_o have_v long_o ago_o and_o for_o a_o long_a time_n observe_v and_o be_o daily_o more_o confirm_v in_o especial_o see_v no_o former_a writer_n that_o i_o know_v of_o have_v publish_v any_o thing_n concern_v it_o it_o be_v this_o that_o the_o superficies_n of_o the_o whole_a earth_n which_o be_v now_o rough_a and_o uneven_a by_o reason_n of_o mountain_n and_o valley_n and_o so_o only_o rude_o spherical_a be_v daily_o from_o the_o very_a beginning_n of_o the_o world_n reduce_v to_o a_o perâ—â—â—t_a roundness_n in_o so_o much_o that_o it_o will_v necessary_o come_v to_o pass_v in_o a_o natural_a way_n that_o it_o be_v one_o day_n overflow_v by_o the_o sea_n and_o render_v unhabitble_a first_o then_o that_o we_o may_v clear_o apprehend_v the_o cause_n of_o this_o thing_n we_o must_v lay_v down_o as_o a_o foundation_n from_o holy_a writ_n that_o the_o terraqueous_a globe_n be_v in_o the_o beginning_n endue_v with_o a_o more_o perfect_a spherical_a figure_n that_o be_v without_o any_o inequality_n of_o mountain_n and_o valley_n and_o that_o it_o be_v whole_o cover_v with_o the_o sea_n and_o so_o altogether_o unfit_a for_o terrestrial_a animal_n to_o inhabit_v but_o it_o be_v then_o render_v habitable_a when_o by_o the_o beck_n or_o command_n of_o its_o creator_n the_o great_a part_n of_o the_o land_n be_v translate_v from_o one_o place_n to_o another_o whereupon_o here_o appear_v the_o hollow_n of_o the_o sea_n there_o the_o height_n of_o the_o mountain_n and_o all_o the_o water_n which_o before_o cover_v the_o face_n of_o the_o whole_a earth_n recede_v and_o flow_v down_o fill_v those_o depress_v and_o hollow_a place_n and_o this_o congregation_n of_o water_n be_v call_v the_o sea_n hence_o some_o grave_a author_n doubt_v not_o to_o assert_v that_o the_o mountain_n be_v make_v up_o of_o that_o very_a earth_n which_o before_o fill_v the_o cavity_n of_o the_o sea_n whence_o it_o follow_v that_o the_o earth_n as_o now_o it_o be_v mountainous_a and_o elevate_v above_o the_o water_n have_v not_o its_o natural_a figure_n but_o be_v in_o a_o violent_a state_n but_o nullum_fw-la violentum_fw-la est_fw-la perpetuum_fw-la beside_o the_o earth_n be_v heavy_a than_o the_o water_n none_o of_o its_o part_n ought_v to_o be_v extant_a and_o appear_v above_o its_o superficies_n and_o yet_o we_o see_v that_o the_o earth_n be_v real_o high_a than_o the_o sea_n especial_o the_o mountainous_a part_n of_o it_o in_o which_o respect_n also_o both_o land_n and_o water_n be_v in_o a_o violent_a state_n wherefore_o it_o be_v very_o convenient_a to_o the_o nature_n of_o both_o that_o they_o shall_v daily_o return_v towards_o their_o ancient_a and_o primigenial_a state_n and_o figure_n and_o according_o we_o affirm_v that_o they_o do_v so_o moreover_o we_o say_v that_o the_o water_n both_o of_o rains_n and_o rivers_n be_v the_o cause_n of_o this_o restitution_n as_o will_v appear_v by_o the_o follow_a observation_n first_o we_o see_v that_o river_n do_v daily_o fret_v and_o undermine_v the_o root_n of_o the_o mountain_n so_o that_o here_o and_o there_o from_o most_o mountain_n they_o cause_v great_a ruin_n and_o precipice_n whence_o the_o mountain_n appear_v break_v and_o the_o earth_n so_o fall_v from_o the_o mountain_n the_o river_n carry_v down_o to_o the_o low_a place_n from_o these_o corrosion_n of_o the_o river_n proceed_v these_o â—low_n but_o great_a ruin_n call_v labinae_fw-la à _fw-la labendo_fw-la in_o which_o some_o street_n and_o whole_a village_n be_v precipitate_v into_o the_o river_n 2._o we_o daily_o see_v that_o the_o rain-water_n wash_v away_o the_o superficies_n of_o the_o mountain_n and_o carry_v they_o down_o to_o the_o low_a place_n hence_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o the_o high_a mountain_n be_v also_o hard_o and_o more_o stony_a than_o the_o rest_n by_o mean_n whereof_o they_o better_o resist_v the_o water_n hence_o also_o it_o come_v to_o pass_v that_o ancient_a building_n in_o mountain_n their_o foundation_n be_v by_o degree_n discover_v prove_v not_o very_o durable_a for_o which_o reason_n the_o foundation_n of_o the_o roman_a capitol_n be_v now_o whole_o extant_a above_o ground_n which_o of_o old_a at_o its_o first_o erection_n be_v sink_v very_o deep_a into_o it_o this_o same_o thing_n all_o the_o inhabitant_n of_o the_o mountain_n do_v confirm_v all_o say_n that_o this_o lower_a of_o mountain_n be_v long_o since_o know_v to_o they_o for_o that_o former_o some_o intermediate_v mountain_n intercept_v the_o sight_n of_o a_o castle_n or_o tower_n situate_v in_o a_o more_o remote_a mountain_n which_o after_o many_o year_n the_o intervenient_a mountain_n be_v depress_v come_v clear_o into_o view_n and_o george_n agricola_n be_v of_o opinion_n which_o i_o very_o much_o approve_v of_o that_o the_o river_n produce_v the_o mountain_n and_o hill_n in_o this_o manner_n in_o the_o begin_n of_o the_o world_n there_o be_v not_o so_o many_o particular_a divide_a mountain_n but_o only_o perpetual_a eminent_a ridge_n of_o land_n not_o dissect_v into_o so_o many_o valley_n as_o we_o now_o see_v so_o for_o example_n our_o apennine_n be_v at_o first_o one_o continue_v even_o eminent_a ridge_n of_o land_n not_o divide_v into_o any_o particular_a mountain_n and_o hill_n by_o intervening_a valley_n as_o now_o it_o be_v but_o that_o after_o the_o river_n begin_v to_o flow_v down_o from_o the_o top_n of_o it_o by_o little_a and_o little_o fret_v and_o corrode_a the_o ground_n they_o make_v valley_n and_o daily_o more_o and_o more_o and_o by_o this_o mean_v the_o whole_a apennine_a come_v to_o be_v divide_v into_o many_o hill_n and_o mountain_n 3._o in_o plain_n we_o see_v the_o direct_o contrary_a happen_v for_o the_o plain_n be_v daily_o more_o and_o more_o elevate_v because_o the_o water_n do_v let_v fall_v in_o the_o plain_a and_o hollow_a place_n the_o earth_n they_o bring_v down_o with_o they_o from_o the_o mountain_n hence_o we_o see_v that_o ancient_a building_n in_o such_o place_n be_v almost_o whole_o bury_v in_o the_o ground_n so_o in_o rome_n at_o the_o foot_n of_o the_o capitoline_n mountain_n we_o see_v the_o triumphal_a arch_n of_o septimius_n almost_o whole_o overwhelm_v in_o the_o earth_n and_o everywhere_o in_o ancient_a city_n many_o gate_n and_o door_n of_o house_n almost_o land_v up_o little_a thereof_o be_v extant_a above_o ground_n from_o which_o it_o appear_v that_o this_o sink_v and_o demersion_n of_o building_n into_o the_o earth_n be_v a_o manifest_a sign_n of_o their_o antiquity_n which_o be_v so_o much_o the_o great_a by_o how_o much_o the_o deep_o they_o be_v sink_v so_o for_o example_n at_o bononia_n in_o italy_n many_o of_o the_o ancient_a gate_n of_o the_o city_n which_o the_o bolognese_n call_v torresotti_n be_v very_o deep_o sink_v which_o be_v a_o certain_a argument_n of_o their_o antiquity_n and_o thence_o it_o appear_v to_o be_v true_a that_o history_n relate_v that_o they_o be_v build_v in_o the_o time_n of_o s._n petronius_n about_o 1200_o year_n ago_o but_o here_o it_o be_v to_o be_v note_v that_o other_o thing_n agree_v those_o be_v deep_o depress_v that_o be_v build_v in_o low_a place_n than_o those_o in_o high_a for_o the_o reason_n abovesaid_a so_o at_o bononia_n that_o old_a port_n call_v il_fw-fr torresotto_fw-it di_fw-it s._n georgio_n be_v deeply_o bury_v or_o land_v up_o than_o that_o which_o be_v call_v il_fw-fr torresotto_fw-it di_fw-it stra_fw-la castilione_n because_o that_o be_v situate_v in_o a_o low_a place_n and_o therefore_o the_o earth_n be_v more_o easy_o raise_v up_o about_o it_o 4._o the_o same_o be_v affirm_v by_o architect_n who_o when_o they_o dig_v their_o foundation_n do_v everywhere_o in_o plain_a place_n first_o of_o all_o remove_v the_o earth_n which_o they_o call_v commota_fw-la lose_v or_o shake_a which_o be_v mix_v with_o fragment_n of_o wood_n iron_n rubbish_n coin_n ancient_a urn_n and_o other_o thing_n which_o when_o it_o be_v throw_v out_o they_o come_v to_o another_o sort_n of_o earth_n that_o have_v never_o be_v stir_v but_o be_v solid_a compact_a and_o not_o mix_v with_o any_o heterogeneous_a thing_n especial_o artificial_a that_o move_v commota_fw-la and_o impure_a earth_n be_v it_o which_o the_o water_n have_v by_o little_a and_o little_o bring_v down_o from_o the_o high_a to_o the_o more_o depress_a place_n which_o be_v not_o everywhere_o of_o equal_a depth_n but_o now_o because_o in_o the_o mountain_n there_o be_v no_o where_o find_v such_o move_v or_o new_a earth_n as_o be_v plain_a from_o the_o experience_n of_o
course_n and_o the_o swiftness_n of_o their_o stream_n for_o a_o great_a part_n of_o the_o way_n be_v very_o considerable_a a_o constant_a declivity_n be_v necessary_a to_o their_o descent_n and_o therefore_o i_o can_v by_o no_o mean_n assent_v to_o the_o learned_a doctor_n plot_n if_o i_o understand_v he_o aright_o 79._o that_o the_o valley_n be_v as_o much_o below_o the_o surface_n of_o the_o sea_n as_o mountain_n be_v above_o it_o for_o how_o then_o can_v river_n descend_v down_o to_o the_o sea_n through_o those_o valley_n the_o sea_n will_v rather_o run_v into_o they_o and_o make_v sinuse_n or_o else_o if_o they_o be_v enclose_v the_o water_n will_v stagnate_n there_o and_o make_v pool_n if_o this_o be_v do_v by_o way_n of_o filtration_n which_o seem_v to_o be_v the_o most_o likely_a mean_n of_o raise_v the_o water_n i_o do_v not_o see_v but_o these_o filter_n may_v suck_v up_o the_o whole_a ocean_n and_o if_o aperture_n and_o outlet_n large_a enough_o be_v make_v pour_v it_o out_o upon_o the_o earth_n in_o no_o long_a time_n but_o i_o can_v be_v full_o reconcile_v to_o this_o opinion_n though_o it_o have_v great_a advocate_n especial_o the_o forementioned_a very_o learned_a and_o ingenious_a person_n dr._n robert_n plot._n i_o acknowledge_v subterraneous_a water_n i_o grant_v a_o confluence_n and_o communication_n of_o sea_n by_o underground_o channel_n and_o passage_n i_o believe_v that_o wherever_o one_o shall_v dig_v as_o deep_o as_o the_o level_n of_o the_o sea_n he_o shall_v seldom_o fail_v of_o water_n the_o water_n make_v its_o way_n through_o sand_n and_o gravel_n and_o stone_n in_o like_a manner_n as_o it_o be_v observe_v of_o the_o river_n seine_n that_o in_o floud-time_n all_o the_o neighbour_a well_n and_o cellar_n be_v fill_v with_o water_n and_o when_o the_o river_n decrease_v and_o sink_v again_o those_o water_n also_o of_o the_o well_n and_o cellar_n diminish_v and_o by_o degree_n fall_v back_o into_o the_o river_n so_o that_o there_o be_v scarce_o any_o well_n or_o fountain_n in_o the_o plain_n near_o the_o river_n but_o their_o water_n keep_v the_o level_n of_o the_o river_n rising_z and_o fall_v with_o it_o but_o this_o inferior_a constant_a circulation_n and_o perpetual_a motion_n of_o water_n seem_v to_o i_o not_o yet_o sufficient_o prove_v and_o make_v out_o i_o think_v that_o the_o patron_n and_o abettor_n of_o this_o opinion_n have_v not_o satisfactory_o demonstrate_v how_o it_o be_v or_o can_v be_v perform_v to_o what_o be_v offer_v concern_v the_o centre_n of_o gravity_n be_v near_a to_o our_o continent_n by_o reason_n of_o the_o preponderancy_n of_o the_o earth_n and_o the_o water_n lie_v as_o it_o be_v on_o a_o heap_n in_o the_o other_o hemisphere_n i_o answer_v 1._o that_o in_o the_o present_a terraqueous_a globe_n the_o new_a world_n which_o lie_v between_o the_o two_o great_a sea_n and_o almost_o opposite_a to_o our_o continent_n do_v in_o â—ome_o measure_n counterpoise_v the_o old_a and_o take_v off_o a_o great_a part_n of_o the_o advantage_n which_o by_o reason_n of_o its_o preponderancy_n it_o may_v otherwise_o have_v moreover_o i_o be_o of_o mr._n brierwood_n opinion_n that_o there_o may_v be_v and_o be_v a_o vast_a continent_n towards_o the_o southern_a pole_n opposite_a to_o europe_n and_o asia_n to_o counterpoise_v they_o on_o that_o side_n nay_o i_o do_v very_o believe_v that_o the_o continent_n and_o island_n be_v so_o proportionable_o scatter_v and_o dispose_v all_o the_o world_n over_o as_o if_o not_o perfect_o and_o exact_o yet_o very_o near_o to_o counterbalance_n one_o another_o so_o that_o the_o globe_n can_v walter_n or_o reel_v towards_o any_o side_n and_o that_o the_o centre_n of_o the_o convex_a superficies_n of_o the_o sea_n be_v the_o true_a centre_n of_o the_o whole_a terrestrial_a sphere_n both_o of_o motion_n and_o of_o gravity_n i_o add_v also_o of_o magnitude_n which_o be_v exceed_o convenient_a as_o well_o for_o the_o facility_n as_o the_o equability_n of_o the_o earth_n diurnal_a motion_n this_o hypothesis_n of_o the_o continent_n be_v disperse_v equal_o on_o all_o side_n of_o the_o globe_n make_v these_o centre_n concur_v in_o one_o point_n whatever_o cause_n we_o assign_v of_o the_o raise_n up_o the_o dry_a land_n at_o first_o whereas_o if_o we_o shall_v suppose_v the_o dry_a land_n to_o have_v be_v raise_v up_o by_o earthquake_n only_o on_o one_o side_n of_o the_o globe_n and_o to_o have_v cast_v off_o the_o water_n to_o the_o other_o and_o also_o that_o the_o water_n can_v find_v no_o way_n into_o the_o cavern_n that_o be_v leave_v within_o then_o the_o watery_a side_n must_v needs_o preponderate_v the_o landside_n and_o bring_v the_o centre_n of_o gravity_n near_o to_o its_o own_o superficies_n and_o so_o raise_v the_o land_n still_o a_o great_a deal_n high_o and_o make_v a_o considerable_a distance_n between_o the_o centre_n of_o magnitude_n and_o of_o gravity_n in_o our_o hypothesis_n of_o the_o equal_a dispersion_n of_o the_o continent_n and_o island_n no_o such_o thing_n will_v happen_v but_o each_o continent_n take_v it_o with_o all_o its_o internal_a cavern_n whether_o light_a or_o heavy_a than_o its_o bulk_n in_o water_n that_o be_v whether_o the_o water_n do_v make_v its_o way_n into_o the_o cavern_n thereof_o or_o do_v not_o for_o in_o the_o first_o case_n it_o will_v be_v heavy_a in_o the_o second_v light_a will_v have_v its_o counterpoise_n on_o the_o opposite_a side_n so_o that_o the_o centre_n will_v still_o concur_v the_o case_n will_v be_v the_o same_o if_o the_o dry_a land_n be_v discover_v and_o the_o mountain_n raise_v by_o the_o immediate_a application_n of_o the_o divine_a power_n 2._o the_o sea_n be_v no_o where_o above_o a_o german_a mile_n deep_a for_o which_o we_o have_v good_a authority_n in_o most_o place_n not_o half_a so_o much_o take_v then_o as_o a_o middle_a term_n half_o a_o mile_n suppose_v it_o every_o where_o half_o a_o mile_n deep_a the_o earth_n below_o the_o sea_n we_o have_v no_o reason_n to_o suppose_v of_o different_a gravity_n what_o proportion_n have_v this_o half_a miles_n thickness_n of_o water_n to_o the_o whole_a terraqueous_a globe_n who_o semidiameter_n be_v by_o the_o account_n of_o mathematician_n three_o thousand_o four_o hundred_o and_o forty_o italian_a mile_n what_o little_a advantage_n than_o can_v it_o have_v of_o the_o earth_n opposite_a to_o it_o in_o point_n of_o preponderancy_n 3._o grant_v the_o centre_n of_o gravity_n shall_v be_v near_o our_o continent_n the_o centre_n be_v the_o low_a place_n and_o the_o water_n a_o fluid_a body_n unless_o stop_v which_o it_o may_v indeed_o be_v if_o it_o be_v encompass_v round_o with_o high_a shore_n as_o high_a as_o the_o mountain_n without_o any_o break_v or_o outlet_n in_o they_o where_o it_o find_v declivity_n it_o will_v descend_v as_o near_o as_o it_o can_v to_o it_o without_o any_o regard_n of_o the_o earth_n preponderancy_n and_o though_o we_o shall_v grant_v that_o the_o dryness_n of_o the_o shore_n may_v stop_v it_o and_o cause_v it_o to_o lie_v on_o a_o heap_n yet_o will_v it_o run_v up_o the_o channel_n of_o river_n till_o it_o come_v as_o near_o as_o possible_a to_o the_o centre_n of_o gravity_n indeed_o the_o river_n themselves_o can_v not_o descend_v but_o must_v run_v towards_o the_o middle_n of_o the_o continent_n all_o this_o i_o think_v will_v follow_v from_o this_o hypothesis_n by_o as_o good_a consequence_n as_o the_o water_n be_v force_v through_o the_o subterraneous_a channel_n out_o at_o the_o spring_n again_o i_o do_v not_o peremptory_o affirm_v that_o all_o fountain_n do_v proceed_v from_o rain_n only_o i_o contend_v that_o rain_n may_v suffice_v to_o feed_v they_o and_o that_o probable_o it_o do_v feed_v ordinary_a spring_n this_o the_o ingenious_a french_a author_n do_v well_o demonstrate_v in_o the_o river_n seine_n and_o i_o believe_v it_o be_v demonstrable_a in_o most_o other_o river_n the_o little_a brook_n that_o run_v near_o my_o dwel_v and_o have_v its_o head_n or_o source_n not_o above_o four_o or_o five_o mile_n off_o where_o there_o be_v no_o extraordinary_a eruption_n of_o water_n all_o along_o its_o course_n receive_v small_a rivulet_n on_o both_o side_n which_o though_o they_o make_v a_o considerable_a stream_n at_o five_o mile_n distance_n from_o the_o fountainhead_n yet_o single_o be_v so_o small_a that_o they_o may_v very_o well_o be_v conceive_v to_o drain_v down_o from_o the_o high_a ground_n that_o lie_v about_o they_o and_o take_v the_o whole_a together_o it_o be_v a_o very_a considerable_a length_n and_o breadth_n of_o land_n that_o contribute_v to_o the_o maintenance_n of_o this_o little_a river_n so_o that_o it_o may_v easy_o be_v believe_v that_o all_o its_o water_n owe_v its_o original_a to_o rain_v especial_o if_o it_o be_v consider_v further_o that_o in_o wintertime_n