A vindication of the new theory of the earth from the exceptions of Mr. Keill and others with an historical preface of the occasions of the discoveries therein contain'd, and some corrections and additions.
         Whiston, William, 1667-1752.
      
       
         
           1698
        
      
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             A vindication of the new theory of the earth from the exceptions of Mr. Keill and others with an historical preface of the occasions of the discoveries therein contain'd, and some corrections and additions.
             Whiston, William, 1667-1752.
          
           [12], 52 p.
           
             Printed for Benj. Tooke ...,
             London :
             1698.
          
           
             Attributed to Whiston by Wing and NUC pre-1956 imprints.
             Errata: p. 52.
             Reproduction of original in the Cambridge University Library.
             Includes bibliographical references.
          
        
      
    
     
       
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         eng
      
       
         
           Keill, John, 1671-1721. -- Examination of Dr. Burnet's Theory of the earth.
           Creation -- Early works to 1800.
           Religion and science.
           Earth -- Early works to 1800.
        
      
    
     
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           A
           VINDICATION
           OF
           THE
           
             New
             The●ry
             of
             the
             Earth
          
           FROM
           THE
           EXCEPTIONS
           OF
           Mr.
           KEILL
           and
           Others
           .
        
         
           WITH
           An
           HISTORICAL
           PREFACE
           of
           the
           Occasions
           of
           the
           Discoveries
           therein
           contain'd
           :
           and
           some
           Corrections
           and
           Additions
           .
        
         
           LONDON
           :
           Printed
           for
           
             Benj.
             Tooke
          
           at
           the
           Middle-Temple-Gate
           in
           Fleetstreet
           .
           1698.
           
        
      
       
         
         
         
           PREFACE
           .
        
         
           IT
           may
           not
           perhaps
           ,
           for
           some
           Reasons
           ,
           be
           improper
           in
           it self
           ,
           or
           unacceptable
           to
           the
           Reader
           ,
           to
           have
           a
           short
           History
           of
           the
           Occasions
           and
           Methods
           of
           the
           discovery
           of
           the
           several
           Particulars
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           ;
           and
           to
           see
           by
           what
           steps
           I
           proceeded
           in
           that
           matter
           :
           that
           at
           once
           I
           may
           claim
           to
           my self
           what
           Interest
           or
           Right
           I
           really
           had
           in
           the
           same
           ;
           and
           it
           may
           appear
           how
           far
           ,
           and
           in
           what
           manner
           any
           other
           Persons
           or
           Opportunities
           were
           concern'd
           therein
           :
           and
           at
           the
           same
           time
           the
           Reader
           may
           perceive
           how
           little
           Affinity
           there
           is
           between
           a
           bare
           Hypothesis
           ,
           the
           product
           only
           of
           the
           Wit
           and
           Skill
           of
           the
           Inventor
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           Branches
           of
           a
           Theory
           in
           which
           the
           foregoing
           Qualifications
           were
           not
           necessary
           ,
           and
           so
           can
           or
           ought
           to
           be
           very
           little
           consider'd
           therein
           .
           To
           wave
           therefore
           any
           more
           words
           by
           way
           of
           Introduction
           ,
           I
           shall
           come
           to
           that
           Account
           it self
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           single
           Subject
           of
           this
           Preface
           .
        
         
           The
           Reader
           is
           therefore
           to
           know
           ,
           that
           ever
           since
           I
           saw
           the
           University
           ,
           and
           began
           to
           rellish
           the
           New
           Philosophy
           ;
           I
           mean
           particularly
           the
           Cartesian
           ,
           togegether
           with
           some
           other
           later
           discoveries
           of
           a
           more
           solid
           nature
           ,
           I
           withal
           fell
           into
           an
           exceeding
           liking
           of
           the
           main
           part
           of
           Dr.
           
             Burnet's
             Theory
             of
             the
             Earth
          
           ;
           and
           thought
           my self
           never
           more
           pleas'd
           than
           in
           a
           repeated
           perusal
           of
           so
           ingenious
           and
           remarkable
           a
           Book
           .
           Insomuch
           that
           upon
           my
           being
           to
           perform
           the
           accustomed
           Exercise
           in
           the
           Schools
           for
           my
           first
           degree
           ,
           one
           of
           my
           Positions
           was
           in
           Vindication
           of
           the
           same
           .
           This
           
           good
           liking
           continued
           with
           me
           a
           great
           while
           after
           ;
           till
           my
           deeper
           researches
           into
           Mechanical
           Philosophy
           ,
           and
           the
           Discoveries
           contain'd
           in
           Mr.
           Newton's
           wonderful
           Book
           began
           to
           convince
           me
           of
           the
           Indefensibleness
           of
           many
           of
           the
           particulars
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           whole
           Scheme
           ,
           as
           it
           then
           lay
           ,
           could
           not
           be
           justify'd
           by
           the
           Principles
           of
           sound
           Philosophy
           ;
           nor
           did
           it
           ,
           upon
           better
           consideration
           ,
           agree
           with
           the
           accounts
           in
           the
           Holy
           Scriptures
           .
           Yet
           still
           several
           of
           the
           particulars
           ,
           especially
           the
           
             Perpetual
             Equinox
          
           before
           the
           Flood
           ;
           and
           the
           Situation
           of
           the
           Earth
           upon
           a
           
             Fluid
             Abyss
          
           ,
           seem'd
           very
           reasonable
           ,
           and
           very
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Accounts
           Sacred
           and
           Profane
           of
           those
           ancient
           Ages
           of
           the
           World.
           And
           as
           I
           have
           never
           yet
           found
           reason
           to
           alter
           my
           Opinion
           about
           the
           latter
           ,
           when
           duly
           stated
           ;
           so
           I
           was
           in
           great
           perplexity
           how
           to
           believe
           the
           former
           ;
           since
           I
           found
           the
           way
           of
           changing
           the
           Position
           of
           the
           Earth's
           Axis
           in
           Dr.
           Burnet
           ,
           by
           the
           Laws
           of
           Mechanism
           plainly
           impossible
           ;
           on
           which
           yet
           ●he
           before
           mention'd
           Opinion
           did
           in
           great
           measure
           depend
           .
        
         
           In
           this
           doubtfulness
           of
           Mind
           ,
           a
           Thought
           came
           into
           my
           head
           (
           since
           which
           I
           believe
           't
           is
           now
           at
           the
           least
           five
           or
           six
           Years
           .
           )
           That
           from
           Mr.
           Newton's
           Discoveries
           't
           was
           certain
           that
           a
           Comet
           might
           pass
           near
           the
           Earth
           ;
           and
           that
           also
           in
           case
           it
           pass'd
           near
           enough
           and
           in
           a
           certain
           trajectory
           ,
           it
           might
           alter
           the
           Position
           of
           the
           Earth's
           Axis
           ,
           as
           now
           the
           Sun
           does
           ,
           backward
           and
           forward
           every
           year
           :
           (
           tho'
           this
           be
           a
           thing
           only
           known
           to
           those
           who
           have
           made
           some
           progress
           in
           Mr.
           Newton's
           Book
           ,
           and
           not
           here
           to
           be
           explain'd
           for
           every
           Reader
           .
           )
           I
           thought
           it
           therefore
           worth
           my
           while
           ,
           after
           a
           long
           time
           ,
           to
           try
           whether
           ,
           by
           this
           means
           ,
           if
           a
           Comet
           ,
           in
           the
           most
           advantagious
           manner
           possible
           came
           near
           the
           Earth
           at
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           the
           Earth's
           Axis
           could
           be
           thereby
           chang'd
           from
           a
           Parallelism
           to
           
           that
           of
           the
           Ecliptick
           ,
           to
           the
           Obliquity
           of
           23½
           Degrees
           ,
           which
           it
           has
           had
           ever
           since
           that
           time
           .
           This
           calculation
           I
           try'd
           about
           November
           or
           December
           1694.
           
           But
           could
           by
           no
           means
           perceive
           that
           the
           hundredth
           part
           of
           the
           present
           Obliquity
           was
           by
           any
           such
           Method
           to
           be
           accounted
           for
           .
           Which
           occasion'd
           therefore
           my
           laying
           aside
           that
           Hypothesis
           I
           had
           so
           long
           before
           been
           fond
           of
           ,
           and
           desirous
           to
           establish
           ;
           and
           permitted
           my
           Thoughts
           a
           greater
           freedom
           about
           the
           occasions
           of
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           than
           Dr.
           Burnet's
           Notions
           had
           allow'd
           me
           before
           .
        
         
           Not
           long
           after
           this
           ,
           considering
           the
           Nature
           of
           Comets
           ,
           and
           viewing
           sometimes
           Mr.
           Newton's
           Scheme
           of
           the
           last
           famous
           one
           among
           us
           ,
           which
           my self
           could
           easily
           remember
           ,
           in
           1680
           and
           1681.
           
           A
           Thought
           came
           into
           my
           mind
           ,
           which
           in
           discourse
           I
           mention'd
           to
           a
           very
           Learned
           Friend
           ,
           
           that
           't
           was
           possible
           the
           Tail
           of
           a
           Comet
           might
           afford
           Water
           at
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           and
           that
           the
           confused
           Mass
           of
           Air
           ,
           and
           irregular
           Steams
           from
           the
           Comet
           's
           Atmosphere
           or
           Tail
           might
           afford
           a
           fair
           Solution
           of
           that
           Phaenomenon
           I
           had
           been
           so
           desirous
           of
           the
           Perpetual
           Equinox
           to
           account
           for
           before
           :
           I
           mean
           the
           unhealthy
           state
           of
           our
           Air
           and
           Earth
           at
           present
           ,
           and
           the
           effect
           thereof
           ,
           the
           shortning
           of
           Mens
           lives
           ever
           since
           the
           Deluge
           .
           These
           were
           my
           first
           and
           crude
           thoughts
           of
           this
           matter
           ;
           which
           tho'
           the
           particulars
           were
           but
           ill
           adjusted
           ,
           and
           uncertain
           ;
           yet
           gave
           me
           an
           eagerness
           of
           considering
           the
           matter
           farther
           ,
           and
           occasion'd
           all
           the
           subsequent
           discoveries
           which
           are
           contain'd
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           .
           And
           truly
           ,
           upon
           a
           little
           farther
           consideration
           ,
           now
           the
           hint
           was
           once
           given
           ,
           I
           soon
           found
           that
           a
           great
           many
           of
           the
           Phaenomena
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           did
           of
           their
           own
           accord
           fall
           in
           with
           my
           Notion
           ;
           and
           that
           if
           on
           its
           Original
           Formation
           ,
           the
           Inward
           constitution
           of
           the
           Earth
           were
           suppos'd
           a
           Fluid
           ,
           (
           as
           I
           had
           long
           done
           ,
           
           tho'
           on
           no
           good
           consideration
           of
           the
           nature
           of
           that
           Fluid
           ;
           )
           and
           if
           withal
           the
           Inequality
           of
           the
           Earth's
           Surface
           at
           first
           ,
           which
           Dr.
           Burnet
           positively
           deny'd
           ,
           could
           be
           Mechanically
           accounted
           for
           ,
           I
           then
           imagin'd
           I
           could
           go
           a
           great
           way
           in
           a
           new
           Hypothesis
           of
           the
           Mosaick
           Creation
           ,
           and
           the
           Deluge
           .
           At
           which
           time
           ,
           about
           Easter
           1695
           ,
           Dr.
           
             Woodward's
             Essay
          
           was
           made
           publick
           ;
           and
           read
           by
           me
           with
           a
           great
           deal
           of
           eagerness
           and
           sollicitude
           ,
           to
           see
           whether
           the
           History
           of
           the
           Phaenomena
           of
           the
           Inward
           parts
           of
           the
           Earth
           would
           accord
           with
           ,
           or
           contradict
           those
           Notions
           I
           began
           to
           entertain
           about
           the
           Points
           before-mention'd
           .
           And
           as
           a
           little
           before
           I
           had
           observ'd
           ,
           that
           't
           was
           highly
           reasonable
           to
           suppose
           a
           Fluid
           nearer
           the
           Center
           of
           the
           Earth
           to
           be
           heavier
           than
           those
           upon
           its
           Surface
           ;
           yea
           than
           that
           Orb
           of
           Earth
           which
           was
           above
           it
           ;
           so
           ,
           as
           I
           was
           reading
           Dr.
           
             Woodward's
             Essay
          
           ,
           That
           Axiom
           also
           in
           Hydrostaticks
           ,
           that
           Bodies
           according
           to
           their
           different
           specifick
           Gravities
           will
           sink
           into
           Fluids
           in
           a
           different
           proportions
           ,
           and
           so
           be
           extant
           in
           different
           degrees
           ;
           came
           into
           my
           thoughts
           ;
           upon
           what
           occasion
           I
           know
           not
           :
           and
           together
           ,
           eas'd
           me
           ,
           to
           my
           no
           small
           satisfaction
           ,
           of
           the
           Difficulties
           which
           before
           stopp'd
           my
           progress
           in
           that
           Hypothesis
           my
           Thoughts
           were
           so
           busy
           upon
           .
        
         
           Having
           now
           got
           the
           main
           strokes
           of
           the
           New
           Theory
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           concern'd
           the
           particular
           Phaenomena
           of
           the
           Deluge
           at
           least
           ,
           in
           my
           mind
           :
           and
           not
           finding
           the
           Observations
           in
           Dr.
           
             Woodward's
             Essay
          
           wholly
           disagreeable
           to
           the
           same
           ,
           I
           began
           to
           write
           my
           Thoughts
           ,
           and
           digest
           'em
           into
           as
           regular
           a
           method
           ,
           as
           the
           warmth
           of
           my
           Temper
           ,
           still
           increas'd
           by
           the
           daily
           addition
           of
           new
           ,
           and
           to
           me
           very
           surprizing
           discoveries
           ,
           would
           permit
           .
           About
           which
           time
           I
           consider'd
           ,
           that
           if
           the
           Comet
           pass'd
           by
           the
           Earth
           at
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           it
           must
           alter
           the
           annual
           Motion
           and
           Period
           ,
           
           from
           the
           Universality
           of
           the
           Law
           of
           Attraction
           ,
           so
           fully
           demonstrated
           by
           Mr.
           Newton
           .
           Whereupon
           I
           went
           to
           try
           whether
           ,
           if
           the
           Earth
           mov'd
           in
           a
           Circle
           before
           the
           Flood
           ,
           the
           becoming
           Eccentrical
           at
           that
           time
           would
           account
           for
           ,
           and
           correspond
           to
           those
           5¼
           odd
           Days
           ,
           which
           we
           now
           have
           in
           ours
           above
           360
           ,
           an
           ●ven
           and
           regular
           Year
           ,
           which
           I
           was
           willing
           to
           imagin
           the
           Antediluvians
           had
           enjoy'd
           .
           But
           as
           this
           Calculation
           fail'd
           my
           present
           Hopes
           ,
           so
           it
           discover'd
           a
           Coincidence
           vastly
           more
           remarkable
           ;
           namely
           ,
           that
           the
           ancient
           Solar
           Year
           ,
           if
           the
           Earth's
           Orbit
           was
           Circular
           ,
           exactly
           corresponded
           with
           the
           present
           and
           ancient
           Lunar
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           accurate
           Equality
           and
           Agreement
           of
           the
           Eccentricity
           of
           the
           Earth
           with
           the
           
             Lunar
             Epact
          
           .
           Which
           Coincidence
           I
           must
           own
           did
           in
           the
           highest
           degree
           please
           and
           satisfy
           my
           Thoughts
           ;
           and
           gave
           me
           some
           assurance
           of
           the
           truth
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           probability
           of
           my
           main
           Hypothesis
           .
        
         
           Soon
           after
           this
           I
           discern'd
           another
           most
           remarkable
           way
           of
           trying
           the
           Reality
           of
           the
           Passing
           by
           of
           the
           Comet
           ;
           namely
           ,
           to
           see
           whether
           the
           Place
           of
           the
           Perihelion
           ,
           at
           which
           I
           perceiv'd
           the
           Deluge
           must
           ,
           on
           my
           Hypothesis
           ,
           begin
           ,
           would
           accord
           with
           the
           Time
           of
           the
           Year
           deliver'd
           by
           Moses
           .
           This
           ,
           with
           no
           small
           fear
           of
           a
           disappointment
           ,
           I
           try'd
           :
           and
           having
           only
           I
           think
           Tycho's
           Tables
           of
           its
           Motion
           then
           by
           me
           (
           in
           Mercator's
           Astronomy
           ,
           )
           I
           consulted
           it
           accordingly
           ,
           and
           to
           my
           still
           higher
           satisfaction
           and
           assurance
           found
           the
           Astronomical
           Tables
           ,
           and
           the
           Mosaick
           History
           ,
           exactly
           to
           agree
           in
           the
           same
           Time
           of
           the
           second
           Month
           from
           the
           Autumnal
           Equinox
           .
        
         
           Soon
           after
           this
           I
           found
           out
           another
           still
           more
           sure
           way
           of
           discovering
           the
           time
           ,
           nay
           the
           very
           day
           of
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           Flood
           from
           Astronomy
           ,
           and
           so
           of
           trying
           whether
           the
           former
           coincidences
           were
           by
           chance
           ,
           or
           occasion'd
           by
           the
           reality
           of
           that
           Passage
           of
           the
           Comet
           
           to
           which
           I
           ascribed
           the
           Deluge
           .
           Now
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           tho'
           I
           saw
           the
           necessity
           of
           the
           day
           of
           the
           Comets
           passing
           by
           being
           near
           the
           New
           or
           Full
           Moon
           ,
           yet
           I
           was
           not
           then
           well
           enough
           vers'd
           in
           Astronomical
           calculations
           readily
           to
           try
           this
           matter
           ;
           and
           besides
           did
           not
           know
           how
           many
           years
           ought
           to
           be
           accounted
           since
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           because
           of
           my
           own
           unacquaintedness
           with
           the
           point
           then
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           variety
           of
           Chronologers
           Sentiments
           about
           it
           .
           However
           ,
           since
           I
           look'd
           upon
           the
           most
           Learned
           ,
           the
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Coventry
           and
           Lichfield
           ,
           (
           whose
           most
           free
           ,
           ready
           ,
           and
           generous
           Assistance
           in
           all
           my
           Studies
           ,
           I
           must
           own
           with
           the
           highest
           Gratitude
           )
           as
           by
           common
           consent
           ,
           the
           most
           Accurate
           Chronologer
           of
           this
           Age
           ;
           and
           did
           remember
           that
           in
           a
           Bible
           which
           lay
           in
           his
           Study
           I
           had
           formerly
           observ'd
           the
           Year
           of
           the
           World
           4004
           ,
           set
           in
           the
           beginning
           of
           St.
           Matthew
           :
           I
           suppos'd
           his
           Lordship's
           opinion
           to
           be
           that
           from
           the
           Herbrew
           Verity
           ,
           the
           Christian
           AEra
           ,
           began
           
             Anno
             Mundi
          
           4004.
           
           Upon
           which
           Supposition
           ,
           tho'
           with
           great
           diffidence
           of
           mistake
           on
           every
           side
           ,
           I
           try'd
           to
           find
           the
           time
           of
           the
           Moon
           corresponding
           to
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           Deluge
           ;
           and
           found
           it
           to
           be
           as
           near
           the
           new
           as
           my
           Hypothesis
           requir'd
           .
           Which
           exceedingly
           pleas'd
           me
           at
           the
           present
           ,
           but
           gave
           me
           a
           new
           Sollicitude
           lest
           it
           should
           overturn
           all
           in
           case
           I
           had
           made
           any
           mistake
           in
           the
           Chronology
           ,
           since
           the
           Deluge
           ;
           which
           then
           at
           best
           only
           depended
           on
           the
           memory
           of
           a
           number
           I
           had
           occasionally
           seen
           before
           ;
           tho'
           since
           I
           have
           received
           full
           satisfaction
           in
           the
           point
           .
           In
           great
           concern
           therefore
           I
           went
           down
           to
           his
           Lordship's
           Lodgings
           ,
           and
           with
           no
           small
           fear
           ,
           enquir'd
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           what
           I
           had
           remembred
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           Lordship's
           opinion
           touching
           the
           number
           of
           Years
           according
           to
           the
           Hebrew
           Verity
           ,
           till
           the
           Christian
           AEra
           ;
           And
           found
           I
           was
           exactly
           right
           in
           the
           whole
           ,
           to
           my
           no
           small
           encouragement
           ,
           and
           to
           my
           greater
           assurance
           of
           the
           
           certain
           truth
           of
           that
           Hypothesis
           which
           by
           so
           many
           trials
           had
           ,
           beyond
           expectation
           ,
           approved
           it self
           to
           me
           .
        
         
           After
           all
           this
           I
           discover'd
           ,
           as
           I
           thought
           ,
           that
           the
           Ocean
           was
           an
           effect
           and
           remains
           of
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Deluge
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           passing
           by
           of
           the
           Comet
           would
           distinguish
           the
           Earth
           into
           two
           Continents
           ,
           and
           interpose
           an
           Ocean
           betwixt
           '
           em
           .
           But
           here
           in
           my
           first
           thoughts
           I
           was
           stopt
           a
           little
           ,
           and
           fear'd
           that
           this
           last
           Hypothesis
           would
           overturn
           my
           other
           ;
           because
           the
           Position
           of
           the
           Centers
           of
           the
           two
           Continents
           would
           determine
           the
           time
           of
           the
           Year
           when
           the
           Comet
           pass'd
           by
           ;
           and
           that
           ,
           as
           my
           first
           thoughts
           represented
           to
           me
           ,
           in
           a
           downright
           opposition
           to
           my
           other
           accounts
           of
           that
           matter
           .
           But
           it
           proved
           quite
           otherwise
           ,
           for
           as
           all
           my
           former
           fears
           had
           come
           to
           nothing
           ,
           but
           ended
           to
           my
           utmost
           satisfaction
           ;
           so
           on
           a
           more
           exact
           consideration
           I
           found
           this
           position
           of
           the
           Centers
           of
           the
           two
           Continents
           so
           exactly
           agreeable
           with
           the
           time
           of
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           Deluge
           stated
           by
           the
           other
           methods
           ,
           that
           instead
           of
           contradicting
           ,
           I
           perceiv'd
           ,
           with
           pleasure
           enough
           ,
           it
           highly
           confirm'd
           and
           secur'd
           the
           same
           .
           And
           then
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           bigness
           of
           the
           Comet
           ,
           and
           the
           several
           other
           coincidences
           all
           along
           ,
           they
           generally
           occur'd
           readily
           to
           my
           thoughts
           as
           I
           went
           on
           ;
           and
           so
           need
           not
           have
           any
           particular
           notice
           taken
           of
           them
           in
           this
           place
           .
        
         
           But
           I
           think
           somewhat
           before
           I
           had
           proceeded
           so
           far
           ,
           I
           drew
           up
           a
           hasty
           imperfect
           draught
           of
           my
           notions
           ,
           to
           communicate
           to
           some
           Friends
           ,
           and
           especially
           to
           Dr.
           Bentley
           immediately
           ,
           and
           the
           Mr.
           Newton
           afterwards
           ,
           whom
           I
           accordingly
           waited
           on
           ,
           the
           first
           at
           London
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           as
           I
           (
           in
           attendance
           on
           my
           Lord
           Bishop
           of
           Norwich
           )
           pass'd
           by
           Cambridge
           ;
           which
           was
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           about
           Whitsontide
           ,
           the
           same
           Year
           1695.
           
           And
           having
           now
           by
           the
           Hints
           and
           Directions
           I
           received
           from
           these
           Learned
           Persons
           ,
           especially
           from
           the
           latter
           ;
           and
           by
           a
           more
           accurate
           review
           
           and
           reconsideration
           of
           the
           whole
           ,
           much
           corrected
           ,
           improved
           ,
           and
           enlarged
           my
           Hypothesis
           ;
           and
           took
           in
           several
           Particulars
           more
           as
           they
           occurr'd
           to
           me
           ;
           especially
           that
           most
           remarkable
           one
           about
           the
           lowness
           of
           Caucasus
           now
           ,
           and
           its
           greater
           altitude
           at
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           on
           which
           I
           lay
           so
           much
           stress
           in
           my
           Book
           ,
           
           I
           found
           my self
           prepar'd
           to
           digest
           the
           whole
           into
           a
           Systeme
           ,
           and
           began
           to
           make
           it
           ready
           for
           Mr.
           Newton's
           Review
           ,
           and
           to
           think
           of
           putting
           it
           into
           the
           Press
           .
           Only
           I
           was
           still
           somewhat
           puzled
           about
           Dr.
           Woodward's
           Observation
           of
           the
           time
           of
           the
           Year
           in
           which
           all
           the
           Plants
           buried
           at
           the
           Deluge
           were
           lodg'd
           in
           their
           several
           places
           ;
           whence
           he
           had
           stated
           the
           commencing
           thereof
           half
           a
           Year
           differently
           from
           that
           which
           all
           my
           ways
           of
           determining
           it
           assur'd
           me
           of
           .
        
         
           In
           this
           difficulty
           I
           wrote
           to
           the
           Doctor
           for
           a
           resolution
           of
           some
           Queries
           relating
           to
           those
           Plants
           ,
           and
           received
           such
           an
           answer
           ,
           part
           of
           which
           is
           in
           my
           Book
           ,
           as
           gave
           me
           sufficient
           foundation
           ,
           I
           thought
           ,
           to
           clear
           the
           difficulty
           ,
           and
           turn'd
           what
           was
           before
           a
           shrewd
           Objection
           against
           ,
           into
           a
           real
           attestation
           to
           that
           time
           of
           the
           Year
           which
           my
           Hypothesis
           assign'd
           in
           the
           Case
           .
           Being
           thus
           clear
           of
           my
           difficulties
           ,
           I
           went
           on
           with
           my
           work
           with
           considerable
           application
           ,
           and
           no
           small
           degree
           of
           pleasure
           and
           satisfaction
           ;
           till
           I
           brought
           it
           to
           an
           intire
           Systeme
           ,
           and
           sent
           it
           to
           Cambridge
           for
           Mr.
           Newton's
           final
           Review
           and
           Correction
           .
           Which
           being
           over
           ,
           and
           communicated
           to
           me
           ,
           I
           soon
           brought
           it
           into
           the
           present
           form
           ,
           and
           only
           added
           that
           
             Preliminary
             Discourse
          
           ,
           which
           partly
           on
           another
           occasion
           ,
           I
           had
           in
           good
           measure
           finish'd
           before
           ;
           and
           which
           I
           found
           would
           be
           but
           a
           necessary
           preparation
           to
           some
           points
           of
           great
           moment
           in
           the
           following
           Theory
           .
           This
           is
           a
           true
           and
           faithful
           account
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           my
           memory
           can
           now
           recollect
           the
           Particulars
           ,
           of
           the
           progress
           of
           this
           matter
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           occasions
           of
           the
           several
           discoveries
           contain'd
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           .
        
         
         
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           when
           I
           brought
           my
           Manuscript
           to
           Mr.
           Newton
           the
           first
           time
           ,
           he
           told
           me
           (
           what
           I
           never
           heard
           syllable
           of
           before
           ;
           and
           of
           which
           I
           know
           nothing
           particularly
           to
           this
           hour
           :
           )
           that
           he
           had
           heard
           ,
           That
           Mr.
           Halley
           (
           a
           Person
           sufficiently
           ,
           and
           deservedly
           Eminent
           in
           the
           Learned
           World
           )
           had
           propos'd
           Reasons
           at
           Gresham-College
           why
           a
           Comet
           could
           not
           cause
           the
           Deluge
           .
           But
           when
           I
           ask'd
           him
           farther
           ,
           whether
           he
           knew
           the
           Nature
           of
           that
           Hypothesis
           Mr.
           Halley
           set
           up
           ,
           and
           oppos'd
           :
           He
           told
           me
           he
           did
           not
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           to
           be
           able
           ,
           to
           give
           me
           any
           manner
           of
           satisfaction
           ;
           but
           desir'd
           me
           to
           apply
           my self
           to
           Mr.
           Halley
           if
           I
           had
           a
           mind
           to
           be
           farther
           inform'd
           about
           it
           .
           Which
           to
           this
           day
           I
           have
           not
           done
           ,
           and
           so
           could
           not
           possibly
           make
           any
           use
           of
           any
           Notions
           he
           either
           propos'd
           ,
           or
           refuted
           in
           this
           matter
           ,
           as
           I
           am
           told
           some
           persons
           have
           been
           willing
           to
           suggest
           ,
           and
           which
           ,
           if
           it
           had
           been
           so
           ,
           I
           should
           as
           freely
           own
           as
           I
           do
           all
           the
           other
           Hints
           and
           Advantages
           I
           have
           had
           from
           any
           in
           this
           matter
           .
           And
           I
           am
           under
           less
           temptation
           than
           another
           in
           this
           case
           :
           for
           however
           remarkable
           I
           look
           upon
           several
           of
           the
           Discoveries
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           ;
           yet
           I
           think
           the
           Praise
           belonging
           to
           the
           Discoverer
           not
           so
           great
           as
           l●sser
           Points
           ,
           requiring
           a
           deeper
           Skill
           in
           the
           Author
           ,
           may
           justly
           deserve
           .
        
         
           The
           Case
           seems
           to
           me
           to
           be
           this
           .
           Tho'
           many
           Wise
           men
           ,
           with
           variety
           of
           Keys
           ,
           belonging
           to
           other
           places
           ,
           should
           long
           puzzle
           themselves
           in
           vain
           in
           the
           opening
           of
           a
           Door
           :
           and
           One
           of
           a
           worse
           character
           ,
           who
           had
           the
           good
           fortune
           to
           find
           the
           true
           one
           ,
           should
           with
           ease
           let
           them
           into
           the
           Closet
           ;
           yet
           I
           think
           He
           ,
           who
           upon
           this
           should
           value
           himself
           ,
           and
           expect
           a
           great
           degree
           of
           Commendation
           ,
           would
           thereby
           only
           demonstrate
           that
           he
           deserv'd
           but
           a
           very
           little
           share
           of
           it
           .
           The
           Application
           is
           easy
           ;
           and
           tho'
           I
           perhaps
           do
           believe
           that
           I
           have
           found
           a
           Key
           ,
           and
           have
           open'd
           and
           explain'd
           
           some
           Points
           of
           consequence
           ,
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           :
           Yet
           as
           I
           heartily
           own
           and
           adore
           the
           Divine
           Providence
           in
           all
           the
           Success
           of
           my
           Enquiries
           ,
           so
           I
           ,
           with
           the
           before-mention'd
           Thoughts
           ,
           am
           under
           little
           temptation
           of
           Envying
           any
           one
           their
           share
           in
           these
           Discoveries
           .
           And
           I
           can
           safely
           say
           ,
           that
           I
           have
           been
           more
           than
           ordinarily
           cautious
           not
           to
           mention
           any
           thing
           ,
           which
           was
           the
           product
           even
           of
           my
           own
           Thoughts
           ,
           if
           I
           found
           that
           others
           had
           also
           took
           notice
           of
           it
           ,
           without
           making
           such
           mention
           of
           them
           as
           the
           Case
           did
           require
           :
           And
           whatever
           Imputations
           I
           may
           otherwise
           deserve
           ,
           I
           have
           long
           since
           resolved
           to
           give
           no
           occasion
           that
           any
           one
           should
           take
           me
           for
           a
           Plagiary
           .
        
         
           
             Lowestoft
             ,
             Suffolk
             .
             
               Sept.
               2.
               1698.
               
            
          
        
      
    
     
       
         
         
           AN
           ANSWER
           TO
           Mr.
           Keill's
           Remarks
           ON
           THE
           New
           Theory
           of
           the
           Earth
           .
        
         
           SINCE
           I
           perceive
           the
           Force
           of
           my
           Reasoning
           has
           had
           so
           great
           an
           Influence
           on
           Mr.
           Keill
           ,
           as
           to
           obtain
           his
           Allowance
           of
           the
           Passing
           by
           of
           a
           Comet
           at
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           main
           Point
           I
           contend
           for
           ;
           and
           which
           once
           establish'd
           ,
           the
           rest
           (
           as
           I
           think
           I
           can
           still
           demonstrate
           )
           must
           ,
           when
           fully
           understood
           ,
           be
           granted
           also
           ;
           'T
           is
           a
           little
           surprizing
           that
           he
           of
           all
           Men
           should
           in
           Publick
           appear
           against
           me
           .
           And
           truly
           I
           am
           ready
           to
           hope
           I
           have
           but
           few
           competent
           Judges
           besides
           Mr.
           Keill
           ,
           who
           ,
           yielding
           me
           that
           main
           Point
           of
           all
           ,
           do
           yet
           reject
           my
           Account
           of
           the
           Phaenomena
           of
           the
           Deluge
           ;
           which
           are
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           but
           natural
           Consequents
           of
           such
           a
           Concession
           .
           But
           to
           let
           that
           pass
           ;
           this
           I
           am
           pretty
           secure
           of
           ,
           that
           if
           Mr.
           Keill
           were
           not
           more
           deeply
           engag'd
           against
           my
           design
           by
           a
           peculiar
           fondness
           he
           seems
           to
           
           have
           for
           the
           Introduction
           of
           unaccountable
           Miracles
           on
           all
           occasions
           ,
           than
           by
           any
           other
           decretory
           Objections
           against
           me
           ;
           't
           is
           probable
           he
           would
           rather
           privately
           have
           communicated
           his
           Difficulties
           ,
           and
           by
           Letter
           desir'd
           the
           Resolution
           of
           them
           ,
           than
           have
           taken
           this
           publick
           Method
           of
           writing
           Remarks
           on
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           ,
           and
           leading
           it
           as
           it
           were
           in
           Triumph
           after
           the
           Conquest
           he
           had
           been
           gaining
           over
           the
           
             Old
             one
          
           .
           But
           not
           to
           expostulate
           this
           procedure
           with
           Mr.
           Keill
           any
           farther
           ;
           I
           must
           ,
           before
           I
           come
           to
           Particulars
           ,
           both
           openly
           take
           notice
           of
           his
           Civility
           and
           Fairness
           to
           me
           ,
           in
           that
           he
           has
           been
           pleas'd
           ,
           amidst
           his
           somewhat
           severe
           Reflections
           on
           the
           Mistakes
           of
           others
           ,
           to
           deal
           with
           me
           kindly
           and
           candidly
           even
           whilst
           he
           looks
           upon
           me
           as
           guilty
           of
           not
           a
           few
           Errors
           in
           my
           Reasoning
           ;
           
           And
           at
           the
           same
           time
           faithfully
           promise
           him
           ,
           that
           I
           will
           cautiously
           avoid
           those
           dis-ingenuous
           and
           studied
           Evasions
           which
           ,
           as
           he
           truly
           observes
           ,
           are
           but
           too
           often
           made
           to
           pass
           for
           Answers
           to
           the
           shrewdest
           Objections
           .
           Neither
           will
           I
           refuse
           at
           any
           time
           ,
           on
           due
           conviction
           ,
           to
           own
           my
           Mistakes
           ;
           and
           as
           publickly
           to
           retract
           my
           Errors
           ,
           as
           I
           have
           publickly
           profess'd
           them
           .
           But
           to
           wave
           any
           farther
           Preliminaries
           ,
           and
           to
           come
           to
           the
           Particular
           Objections
           .
        
         
           (
           1.
           )
           'T
           is
           alledg'd
           that
           my
           first
           Hypothesis
           ,
           
           
             viz.
             That
             a
             Chaos
             is
             the
             Atmosphere
             of
             a
             Comet
             ,
          
           can't
           be
           true
           ,
           because
           the
           former
           is
           by
           all
           agreed
           to
           have
           
             had
             Darkness
             on
             the
             face
             of
             its
             Abyss
          
           ;
           
           whereas
           the
           latter
           is
           certainly
           a
           transparent
           Fluid
           ;
           and
           so
           has
           the
           Light
           ,
           if
           not
           of
           its
           own
           Central
           Body
           from
           within
           ,
           yet
           at
           least
           of
           the
           Sun
           from
           without
           ,
           freely
           admitted
           into
           it
           .
        
         
         
           For
           Answer
           to
           which
           I
           affirm
           ,
           That
           as
           to
           the
           Central
           Solid
           ,
           since
           a
           Comet
           is
           not
           capable
           of
           a
           Change
           to
           a
           Planet
           or
           Earth
           till
           a
           long
           time
           after
           its
           Perihelion
           ,
           or
           indeed
           till
           't
           is
           return'd
           from
           the
           vast
           and
           cold
           Regions
           beyond
           Saturn
           ;
           I
           wonder
           Mr.
           Keill
           should
           fear
           it
           would
           be
           not
           too
           warm
           only
           ,
           but
           so
           vehemently
           hot
           as
           to
           be
           light
           also
           :
           Iron
           and
           other
           Solids
           will
           be
           sufficiently
           hot
           a
           long
           time
           after
           their
           Light
           or
           visible
           Fire
           is
           gone
           ;
           and
           I
           don't
           imagin
           that
           Comets
           descending
           to
           the
           Sun
           can
           be
           so
           much
           hotter
           and
           brighter
           than
           such
           a
           cooling
           Ball
           of
           Iron
           as
           to
           illuminate
           the
           Regions
           about
           them
           for
           many
           hundred
           ,
           if
           not
           thousand
           Miles
           together
           .
           And
           then
           as
           to
           the
           Sun
           ,
           which
           is
           allow'd
           to
           shine
           through
           the
           Atmospheres
           of
           Comets
           while
           they
           remain
           such
           ,
           if
           Mr.
           Keill
           can
           prove
           that
           the
           Words
           of
           Moses
           refer
           to
           the
           past
           Ages
           ,
           and
           not
           to
           the
           time
           of
           the
           commencing
           of
           the
           Creation
           ,
           to
           which
           principally
           if
           not
           solely
           All
           Commentators
           I
           think
           refer
           them
           ;
           it
           will
           be
           to
           Mr.
           Keill's
           purpose
           :
           but
           if
           not
           ,
           here
           is
           no
           valid
           Objection
           against
           this
           part
           of
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           .
           For
           as
           to
           the
           word
           Abyss
           ,
           which
           was
           once
           dark
           ,
           and
           afterward
           enlightened
           ,
           I
           see
           no
           reason
           to
           restrain
           it
           at
           this
           time
           to
           the
           Dense
           Fluid
           alone
           ;
           (
           whither
           indeed
           the
           Light
           could
           not
           penetrate
           after
           it
           was
           once
           intirely
           and
           distinctly
           collected
           together
           below
           the
           Earth
           ;
           )
           But
           by
           it
           is
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           in
           this
           place
           meant
           all
           that
           heterogeneous
           and
           hitherto
           muddy
           Fluid
           which
           was
           beneath
           the
           Earth's
           future
           Surface
           ;
           or
           peculiarly
           below
           that
           place
           where
           Adam
           was
           to
           b●made
           ,
           and
           where
           the
           Spectator
           in
           this
           histori●●l
           Journal
           of
           the
           Creation
           is
           suppos'd
           to
           have
           〈◊〉
           .
           And
           I
           believe
           there
           can
           be
           no
           reason
           
           to
           refuse
           this
           Interpretation
           ,
           nor
           consequently
           to
           create
           hence
           any
           difficulty
           against
           my
           Hypothesis
           relating
           to
           this
           matter
           ,
           What
           comes
           to
           be
           next
           consider'd
           ,
           is
           this
           :
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           If
           we
           proceed
           Mechanically
           and
           Gradually
           in
           the
           Formation
           of
           a
           Planet
           from
           a
           Comet
           's
           Atmosphere
           ,
           
           we
           must
           allow
           the
           whole
           Subsidence
           to
           be
           as
           leisurely
           ,
           and
           to
           proceed
           by
           the
           same
           steps
           ,
           that
           the
           violence
           of
           its
           Heat
           decreases
           ;
           which
           will
           then
           be
           compleated
           not
           in
           six
           Days
           ,
           or
           single
           Years
           ,
           but
           scarcely
           in
           as
           many
           Centuries
           ;
           and
           the
           Opake
           parts
           will
           take
           so
           much
           time
           in
           descending
           and
           composing
           the
           Crust
           of
           Earth
           ,
           that
           the
           Sun
           might
           always
           as
           freely
           almost
           penetrate
           the
           Upper
           Regions
           of
           the
           Atmosphere
           at
           least
           ,
           if
           not
           farther
           ,
           as
           it
           does
           the
           whole
           Atmospheres
           of
           Comets
           while
           they
           are
           within
           our
           Observation
           .
        
         
           Now
           in
           Answer
           to
           this
           ;
           which
           I
           own
           to
           be
           an
           Argument
           of
           Good
           force
           ,
           and
           to
           deserve
           Consideration
           ;
           I
           say
           ,
           That
           if
           we
           found
           from
           the
           Phaenomena
           of
           Comets
           in
           their
           descent
           towards
           the
           Sun
           ,
           after
           their
           long
           Periods
           to
           cool
           and
           settle
           in
           ,
           since
           their
           last
           Perihelia
           ;
           that
           they
           had
           no
           Atmospheres
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           Masses
           which
           formerly
           compos'd
           'em
           were
           subsided
           and
           become
           like
           the
           Surface
           of
           Planets
           ,
           then
           indeed
           this
           Reasoning
           were
           unavoidable
           :
           (
           Tho'
           even
           in
           that
           case
           this
           would
           only
           enforce
           a
           still
           larger
           Interpretation
           of
           the
           Days
           of
           Creation
           than
           I
           allow
           ,
           without
           any
           farther
           harm
           to
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           Theory
           :
           )
           But
           seeing
           the
           contrary
           is
           evident
           from
           Astronomical
           Observations
           ,
           this
           cannot
           affect
           my
           Hypothesis
           .
           It
           must
           indeed
           from
           hence
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           follow
           ,
           that
           all
           the
           same
           Laws
           ,
           Properties
           ,
           and
           Operations
           of
           Bodies
           which
           we
           
           find
           establish'd
           here
           on
           Earth
           ,
           do
           not
           so
           universally
           obtain
           in
           the
           Atmospheres
           of
           Comets
           :
           which
           I
           confess
           the
           consideration
           of
           their
           Phaenomena
           has
           always
           oblig'd
           me
           to
           believe
           ,
           and
           which
           any
           one
           who
           reads
           a
           Page
           or
           two
           may
           easily
           see
           I
           was
           aware
           of
           when
           I
           wrote
           my
           Theory
           .
           
           The
           Introduction
           of
           the
           particular
           Laws
           ,
           
           Powers
           ,
           and
           Properties
           of
           Bodies
           with
           us
           ,
           (
           that
           of
           Universal
           Gravity
           ever
           excepted
           ;
           )
           being
           in
           my
           Opinion
           there
           explain'd
           the
           Immediate
           effect
           of
           the
           
             Spirit
             of
             God
          
           ,
           who
           is
           said
           to
           have
           
             moved
             on
             the
             face
             of
             the
             Waters
          
           at
           the
           very
           beginning
           of
           the
           Mosaick
           Creation
           .
           And
           so
           much
           I
           hope
           may
           suffice
           to
           shew
           the
           inconsequence
           of
           this
           Argument
           ;
           and
           that
           my
           Answer
           is
           no
           present
           Evasion
           of
           an
           emergent
           Difficulty
           ,
           but
           my
           setled
           Thoughts
           ever
           since
           I
           wrote
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           .
           And
           the
           consideration
           of
           this
           matter
           will
           afford
           a
           like
           Answer
           to
           what
           is
           with
           some
           shew
           of
           Strength
           urg'd
           in
           the
           next
           place
           ,
        
         
           (
           3.
           )
           If
           the
           Sand
           ,
           Stones
           ,
           and
           Gravel
           of
           our
           Earth
           were
           formerly
           in
           the
           Atmosphere
           of
           a
           Comet
           ,
           
           which
           is
           once
           in
           every
           Revolution
           prodigiously
           scorch'd
           by
           the
           nearness
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           they
           must
           formerly
           have
           been
           melted
           ,
           become
           transparent
           ,
           and
           been
           turn'd
           into
           Glass
           ;
           because
           such
           is
           now
           the
           natural
           Effect
           of
           a
           violent
           degree
           of
           Heat
           with
           us
           in
           the
           like
           case
           .
           
             I
             answer
          
           :
        
         
           But
           then
           ,
           as
           we
           have
           just
           now
           observ'd
           ,
           we
           can't
           universally
           reason
           from
           the
           State
           and
           Phaenomena
           of
           a
           Planet
           after
           its
           Formation
           ,
           to
           the
           Chaotick
           Condition
           it
           was
           in
           before
           .
           Tho'
           in
           truth
           we
           do
           not
           need
           this
           Answer
           in
           the
           present
           Case
           :
           For
           neither
           is
           it
           certain
           ,
           that
           because
           
           such
           gross
           and
           compounded
           Bodies
           on
           Liquefaction
           become
           Glass
           ,
           that
           therefore
           their
           first
           elementary
           Atoms
           ,
           or
           primary
           Dust
           ,
           scatter'd
           separately
           in
           the
           vastness
           of
           the
           Atmosphere
           ,
           would
           then
           have
           been
           subject
           to
           the
           same
           Mutation
           .
           Nor
           if
           that
           were
           granted
           ,
           does
           Mr.
           Keill
           know
           that
           either
           our
           Earth
           ,
           or
           the
           Comet
           that
           came
           by
           at
           the
           Flood
           ,
           was
           one
           of
           those
           which
           approach
           so
           near
           the
           Sun
           ,
           as
           that
           the
           Effects
           he
           mentions
           must
           be
           unavoidable
           in
           them
           ,
           tho'
           they
           should
           be
           so
           in
           others
           ,
           whose
           Perihelia
           expose
           them
           to
           the
           utmost
           degree
           of
           Scorching
           imaginable
           .
           But
           to
           proceed
           .
        
         
           (
           4.
           )
           'T
           is
           Objected
           that
           there
           is
           no
           need
           of
           a
           Central
           hot
           Solid
           to
           solve
           the
           Origin
           of
           Springs
           ,
           
           and
           such
           other
           Phaenomena
           of
           Nature
           ,
           they
           being
           better
           accounted
           for
           by
           other
           means
           ;
           nor
           if
           there
           were
           a
           Central
           hot
           Solid
           ,
           could
           its
           Heat
           be
           here
           sensible
           ,
           because
           the
           Heat
           of
           a
           very
           vehement
           Fire
           can't
           penetrate
           a
           stone
           Wall
           of
           a
           few
           Feet
           in
           thickness
           .
        
         
           Now
           as
           to
           the
           Reality
           of
           an
           internal
           Heat
           ,
           below
           the
           influence
           of
           the
           Sun
           ,
           in
           the
           Bowels
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           't
           is
           undeniable
           matter
           of
           fact
           ,
           and
           must
           be
           accounted
           for
           ,
           whatever
           become
           of
           the
           Origin
           of
           Springs
           ,
           or
           the
           like
           Phaenomena
           ;
           and
           so
           it
           may
           be
           needful
           to
           admit
           a
           hot
           Central
           Solid
           ,
           even
           tho'
           such
           Effects
           as
           I
           with
           Dr.
           Woodward
           am
           willing
           to
           ascribe
           to
           an
           Heat
           ,
           should
           be
           deducible
           from
           other
           causes
           .
           Tho'
           truly
           I
           don't
           think
           that
           account
           Mr.
           Keill
           refers
           to
           here
           of
           the
           Origin
           of
           Fountains
           so
           universal
           ,
           as
           to
           stand
           in
           no
           need
           of
           subterranean
           Vapours
           :
           For
           which
           ,
           tho'
           I
           believe
           I
           can
           give
           good
           reasons
           ;
           yet
           I
           don't
           think
           it
           at
           all
           necessary
           at
           
           present
           to
           engage
           in
           so
           long
           ,
           and
           somewhat
           foreign
           a
           Controversy
           .
           But
           then
           as
           to
           the
           confinement
           of
           heat
           by
           a
           Wall
           of
           no
           great
           thickness
           ,
           't
           is
           a
           very
           different
           case
           from
           our
           Earth
           :
           wh●re
           the
           Heat
           ever
           ascending
           upwards
           ,
           has
           first
           a
           Fluid
           to
           heat
           ;
           which
           when
           hot
           in
           one
           place
           ,
           will
           thereby
           be
           heated
           throughout
           ;
           and
           after
           that
           ,
           has
           a
           crust
           of
           Earth
           ,
           somewhat
           loosely
           put
           together
           ,
           and
           multitudes
           of
           
             Perpendicular
             Fissures
          
           quite
           through
           it
           ,
           with
           other
           pores
           and
           
             horizontal
             Fissures
          
           ,
           to
           permit
           the
           passage
           of
           the
           warm
           Steams
           to
           the
           upper
           Regions
           .
           Besides
           all
           which
           ,
           the
           Heat
           is
           not
           merely
           deriv'd
           anew
           from
           the
           Central
           Solid
           ;
           but
           has
           been
           ,
           by
           its
           means
           ,
           ever
           preserv'd
           since
           it self
           was
           deriv'd
           from
           the
           Sun
           at
           the
           ancient
           Perihelia
           .
           All
           which
           circumstances
           do
           so
           much
           alter
           the
           case
           ,
           that
           if
           Mr.
           Keill
           had
           been
           aware
           of
           them
           ,
           I
           hardly
           suppose
           he
           would
           have
           much
           insisted
           on
           this
           as
           a
           mighty
           difficulty
           in
           my
           Book
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           now
           come
           to
           the
           principal
           doubt
           of
           all
           ,
           
           which
           relates
           to
           my
           Interpretation
           of
           this
           Fourth
           day's
           Work
           ,
           so
           as
           to
           exclude
           the
           Original
           Creation
           of
           the
           heavenly
           Bodies
           at
           that
           time
           .
           Wherein
           Mr.
           Keill
           thinks
           I
           have
           not
           exactly
           observ'd
           my
           own
           First
           Postulatum
           ,
           but
           receded
           from
           the
           Letter
           of
           the
           Scripture
           ,
           without
           sufficient
           Reasons
           for
           so
           doing
           .
           As
           to
           which
           Point
           ,
           I
           must
           still
           own
           that
           I
           am
           by
           no
           means
           of
           Mr.
           Keill's
           mind
           ;
           and
           since
           he
           only
           delivers
           his
           opinion
           without
           producing
           his
           particular
           Reasons
           ,
           or
           enervating
           any
           of
           those
           I
           had
           so
           largely
           given
           for
           what
           I
           asserted
           ,
           I
           see
           no
           occasion
           for
           a
           farther
           Vindication
           at
           present
           ;
           and
           so
           shall
           still
           leave
           that
           matter
           to
           the
           consideration
           of
           the
           free
           and
           impartial
           Reader
           .
           However
           ,
           since
           
           here
           occur
           some
           particular
           Difficulties
           ,
           I
           shall
           take
           notice
           of
           such
           of
           them
           as
           have
           not
           already
           been
           consider'd
           .
        
         
           (
           5.
           )
           T
           is
           objected
           ,
           
           That
           because
           Comets
           have
           no
           secondary
           Ones
           moving
           about
           them
           ,
           the
           Moon
           ,
           our
           secondary
           Planet
           ,
           must
           either
           have
           been
           really
           created
           ,
           or
           at
           least
           brought
           into
           our
           Neighbourhood
           on
           the
           fourth
           Day
           ;
           which
           being
           therefore
           the
           importance
           of
           the
           word
           Made
           with
           relation
           to
           one
           ,
           ought
           to
           be
           taken
           in
           the
           same
           sense
           when
           referr'd
           to
           the
           other
           of
           the
           heavenly
           Bodies
           :
           and
           so
           my
           Interpretation
           of
           this
           day's
           work
           ,
           which
           is
           built
           on
           other
           Principles
           ,
           must
           be
           a
           mistake
           .
        
         
           Now
           ,
           tho'
           I
           might
           ask
           why
           the
           Moon
           might
           not
           as
           well
           have
           come
           into
           our
           Neighbourhood
           before
           ,
           as
           just
           upon
           this
           day
           ,
           in
           case
           she
           had
           not
           of
           old
           been
           our
           Companion
           ?
           Yet
           to
           put
           this
           matter
           to
           another
           issue
           ,
           I
           desire
           Mr.
           Keill
           to
           prove
           that
           no
           Comets
           have
           any
           Satellites
           revolving
           about
           them
           .
           For
           my
           part
           ,
           I
           think
           the
           Observations
           we
           have
           yet
           made
           about
           Comets
           are
           not
           nice
           nor
           numerous
           enough
           to
           determin
           this
           Point
           .
           Nay
           rather
           ,
           what
           the
           Histories
           of
           many
           Comets
           relate
           about
           the
           various
           Shapes
           and
           Figures
           they
           have
           sometimes
           appeared
           under
           ,
           seems
           to
           me
           hardly
           accountable
           ,
           unless
           we
           allow
           lesser
           Comets
           to
           have
           been
           Companions
           to
           the
           greater
           ,
           and
           by
           their
           various
           Positions
           and
           other
           circumstances
           to
           have
           occasion'd
           some
           at
           least
           of
           that
           variety
           and
           strangeness
           in
           many
           of
           their
           Phaenom●n●
           ,
           which
           not
           a
           few
           Accounts
           confirm
           to
           us
           .
        
         
         
           (
           6.
           )
           'T
           is
           alledg'd
           ,
           
           that
           before
           the
           Sun
           became
           visible
           ,
           't
           is
           not
           supposable
           that
           on
           the
           second
           Day
           of
           the
           Creation
           his
           Heat
           could
           raise
           Vapors
           enow
           to
           fi●l
           the
           Seas
           ,
           Lakes
           ,
           and
           Rivers
           in
           the
           primitive
           Earth
           ;
           on
           which
           yet
           my
           account
           of
           their
           Original
           is
           entirely
           built
           .
        
         
           Now
           not
           to
           examin
           the
           Computation
           which
           Mr.
           Keill
           makes
           use
           of
           about
           the
           quantity
           of
           Water
           rais'd
           and
           falling
           in
           a
           year
           ,
           which
           I
           suppose
           may
           be
           accurate
           enough
           :
           Nor
           to
           enquire
           how
           little
           the
           Heat
           of
           the
           Sun
           may
           be
           diminish'd
           on
           the
           Earth
           by
           so
           few
           Vapors
           collected
           together
           ,
           as
           may
           yet
           be
           sufficient
           to
           hide
           his
           Body
           from
           our
           fight
           ;
           I
           would
           ask
           Mr.
           Keill
           ,
           What
           if
           the
           Sun
           in
           half
           a
           year
           did
           not
           draw
           up
           Vapors
           enow
           to
           make
           the
           thousandth
           part
           of
           the
           present
           Ocean
           ?
           What
           is
           this
           to
           me
           ?
           who
           assert
           there
           was
           no
           Ocean
           till
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           nor
           no
           other
           than
           small
           Seas
           and
           Lakes
           ,
           perhaps
           not
           containing
           much
           more
           than
           a
           thousandth
           part
           of
           the
           Water
           that
           is
           now
           upon
           the
           Earth
           .
           And
           this
           is
           so
           visible
           in
           my
           Book
           ,
           that
           I
           prove
           there
           was
           before
           the
           Flood
           no
           Ocean
           ,
           
           by
           this
           very
           reason
           ,
           
           That
           the
           Sun
           could
           not
           draw
           up
           Vapors
           enow
           in
           half
           a
           years
           time
           to
           compose
           so
           vast
           a
           collection
           of
           Waters
           .
           Which
           if
           Mr.
           Keill
           had
           been
           pleas'd
           to
           observe
           ,
           he
           might
           have
           spar'd
           me
           the
           pains
           of
           answering
           such
           an
           Objection
           .
        
         
           Having
           proceeded
           thus
           far
           in
           my
           own
           Vindication
           ,
           I
           must
           now
           ,
           according
           to
           my
           promise
           ,
           be
           so
           ingenuous
           as
           to
           own
           that
           much
           of
           Mr.
           Keill's
           Reasoning
           against
           my
           Third
           Hypothesis
           of
           an
           Only
           Annual
           motion
           of
           the
           Earth
           before
           the
           Fall
           ,
           
           and
           so
           of
           a
           half
           year
           of
           Cold
           and
           Darkness
           together
           ,
           (
           without
           a
           greater
           freedom
           of
           
           thought
           than
           I
           expect
           in
           most
           Readers
           )
           taken
           as
           't
           is
           at
           present
           laid
           down
           in
           my
           Book
           ,
           is
           strong
           and
           forcible
           ,
           and
           unless
           I
           fly
           to
           such
           Evasions
           as
           I
           have
           resolv'd
           against
           ,
           not
           easily
           to
           be
           avoided
           .
           But
           then
           I
           must
           desire
           Mr.
           Keill
           to
           do
           me
           so
           much
           Justice
           ,
           as
           to
           remember
           that
           I
           told
           the
           Reader
           I
           had
           somewhat
           farther
           to
           say
           in
           the
           case
           ;
           which
           might
           therefore
           ,
           by
           a
           private
           enquiry
           ,
           have
           been
           first
           understood
           before
           this
           whole
           Proposition
           ,
           of
           so
           great
           Importance
           ,
           had
           been
           absolutely
           rejected
           .
           My
           Words
           are
           these
           :
           
             This
             ,
             
             when
             rightly
             consider'd
             may
             save
             me
             the
             labour
             of
             returning
             any
             other
             Answer
             to
             the
             particular
             Difficulty
             here
             mention'd
             ;
             and
             of
             enlarging
             upon
             several
             other
             things
             which
             might
             be
             said
             ,
             to
             great
             satisfaction
             ,
             on
             the
             present
             occasion
             .
          
           That
           upon
           this
           Opportunity
           therefore
           I
           may
           fully
           clear
           my
           Hypothesis
           from
           this
           Obvious
           ,
           Popular
           ,
           and
           not
           inconsiderable
           Objection
           ,
           I
           shall
           endeavour
           to
           set
           this
           matter
           in
           a
           new
           and
           clear
           Light.
           And
           tho'
           I
           do
           not
           my self
           see
           any
           plain
           Necessity
           of
           altering
           any
           thing
           I
           have
           said
           on
           this
           Head
           ;
           yet
           because
           I
           have
           been
           long
           inclinable
           to
           think
           the
           following
           Hypothesis
           very
           probable
           (
           as
           't
           is
           certainly
           very
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Phaenomena
           of
           Nature
           ,
           and
           the
           main
           Principles
           of
           my
           Theory
           )
           and
           very
           likely
           to
           satisfy
           the
           difficulties
           of
           abundance
           of
           Readers
           ,
           I
           shall
           more
           fully
           explain
           my
           thoughts
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           and
           thereby
           shew
           that
           all
           the
           Arguments
           that
           are
           levell'd
           against
           this
           Branch
           of
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           are
           unconcluding
           .
        
         
           Notwithstanding
           therefore
           I
           have
           already
           ,
           and
           do
           still
           assert
           that
           the
           
             Original
             Orbits
          
           of
           the
           Planets
           ,
           and
           particularly
           of
           the
           Earth
           were
           perfect
           Circles
           ;
           meaning
           by
           the
           
             Original
             Orbits
          
           ,
           those
           
           in
           which
           they
           were
           to
           revolve
           immediately
           after
           they
           were
           intirely
           form'd
           ,
           and
           were
           to
           be
           universally
           inhabited
           :
           Yet
           I
           must
           now
           add
           ,
           what
           I
           at
           first
           had
           some
           imperfect
           Thoughts
           about
           ,
           that
           this
           Reduction
           of
           the
           very
           Oblong
           and
           Eccentrical
           Orbit
           of
           our
           Earth
           whilst
           it
           was
           a
           Comet
           ,
           into
           a
           Uniform
           ,
           Concentrical
           and
           Circular
           one
           ,
           which
           I
           suppose
           it
           had
           before
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           may
           justly
           be
           allow'd
           to
           have
           been
           gradual
           ,
           and
           not
           done
           at
           once
           :
           the
           greatest
           part
           at
           the
           Commencing
           of
           the
           Mosaick
           Creation
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           at
           the
           Commencing
           of
           the
           Diurnal
           Rotation
           afterwards
           .
           (
           As
           indeed
           the
           Diurnal
           Rotation
           could
           not
           Mechanically
           begin
           ,
           I
           mean
           by
           the
           oblique
           Collision
           of
           a
           Comet
           ,
           but
           that
           the
           annual
           Orbit
           would
           thereby
           be
           alter'd
           also
           .
           )
           Which
           being
           suppos'd
           ;
           and
           that
           Providence
           adjusted
           all
           circumstances
           so
           as
           should
           be
           most
           to
           the
           advantage
           of
           Paradise
           ;
           We
           shall
           then
           have
           the
           Earth
           revolving
           in
           a
           moderate
           Ellipsis
           ,
           without
           any
           Diurnal
           Rotation
           about
           the
           Sun
           in
           the
           Space
           of
           a
           Year
           :
           (
           Tho'
           the
           exact
           length
           of
           that
           Year
           will
           not
           now
           be
           determinable
           :
           )
           A
           Day
           and
           a
           Year
           will
           be
           all
           one
           :
           We
           shall
           have
           that
           Diameter
           of
           the
           Earth
           which
           pass'd
           through
           Paradise
           ,
           parallel
           to
           the
           longer
           Axis
           of
           that
           Ellipsis
           it
           revolv'd
           in
           :
           And
           withal
           ,
           we
           shall
           have
           the
           place
           of
           Paradise
           ,
           respecting
           the
           same
           fixt
           Stars
           with
           the
           Perthelion
           of
           the
           Ellipsis
           .
           Which
           being
           suppos'd
           ,
           as
           the
           Circular
           Orbit
           is
           much
           the
           best
           for
           a
           Globe
           inhabited
           all
           round
           ,
           that
           providing
           equally
           for
           the
           convenience
           of
           both
           Hemispheres
           ;
           So
           is
           this
           Elliptick
           Orbit
           the
           best
           for
           a
           Globe
           inhabited
           but
           in
           one
           place
           ,
           as
           the
           Earth
           was
           in
           the
           Primitive
           State
           ;
           this
           providing
           peculiarly
           for
           the
           happiness
           of
           
           that
           particular
           Spot
           where
           alone
           the
           living
           part
           of
           the
           Creation
           was
           to
           reside
           ;
           as
           on
           consideration
           will
           easily
           appear
           .
           Thus
           ,
           for
           instance
           ,
           the
           heat
           of
           the
           day-time
           would
           gradually
           increase
           before
           ,
           and
           decrease
           after
           noon
           :
           but
           yet
           would
           never
           be
           violent
           ;
           because
           almost
           all
           the
           increase
           of
           the
           Heat
           by
           the
           Sun
           's
           rising
           above
           the
           Horizon
           still
           higher
           and
           higher
           in
           the
           Forenoon
           or
           Spring
           ,
           would
           be
           prevented
           by
           his
           real
           receding
           from
           the
           Earth
           ,
           and
           approaching
           nearer
           his
           Apegseon
           during
           the
           same
           time
           ;
           
             &
             vice
             versâ
          
           ,
           in
           the
           Afternoon
           or
           Summer
           :
           which
           would
           render
           the
           state
           of
           the
           Air
           more
           equable
           and
           uniform
           ,
           and
           less
           uneasy
           or
           inconvenient
           than
           any
           other
           method
           whatsoever
           .
           Thus
           also
           not
           only
           the
           Cold
           of
           the
           Night
           ,
           (
           which
           by
           our
           then
           being
           nearest
           the
           Sun
           would
           be
           inconsiderable
           ;
           )
           but
           the
           Duration
           and
           Darkness
           thereof
           (
           two
           very
           severe
           and
           frightful
           Phaenomena
           in
           my
           former
           Hypothesis
           would
           be
           entirely
           avoided
           .
           For
           the
           whole
           Night
           would
           then
           bear
           no
           more
           proportion
           to
           the
           entire
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           
           than
           in
           the
           Ellipsis
           the
           Area
           p
           B
           q
           bears
           to
           the
           whole
           Area
           H
           B
           G
           F
           :
           Suppose
           the
           Proportion
           of
           1
           to
           6
           ,
           which
           will
           amount
           to
           no
           more
           than
           two
           Months
           .
           Out
           of
           which
           Night-time
           ,
           we
           must
           deduct
           the
           two
           Crepuscula
           ,
           each
           of
           about
           half
           a
           Month
           ,
           which
           reduces
           now
           the
           Darkness
           of
           the
           Night
           to
           a
           single
           Month
           :
           Out
           of
           which
           another
           half
           Month
           is
           to
           be
           still
           deducted
           for
           the
           Moon
           's
           being
           above
           the
           Horizon
           ,
           and
           enlightening
           the
           Earth
           :
           So
           that
           at
           last
           ,
           if
           the
           Moon
           's
           Crepuscula
           be
           at
           all
           allow'd
           for
           ,
           we
           shall
           scarce
           have
           a
           single
           Week
           of
           pure
           Darkness
           in
           the
           whole
           Year
           .
           Which
           Hypothesis
           does
           at
           the
           first
           View
           so
           fully
           take
           off
           the
           popular
           Objections
           
           made
           against
           me
           ;
           and
           affords
           so
           easy
           and
           natural
           a
           Solution
           of
           the
           Difficulties
           urg'd
           by
           Mr.
           Keill
           ;
           besides
           its
           peculiar
           Fitness
           to
           render
           the
           primary
           Animals
           ,
           and
           particularly
           our
           first
           Parents
           happy
           ,
           and
           their
           state
           to
           the
           utmost
           degree
           Paradisiacal
           ;
           that
           I
           shall
           add
           no
           more
           in
           confirmation
           of
           it
           ,
           but
           leave
           it
           to
           Mr.
           Keill's
           and
           the
           Intelligent
           Readers
           own
           Consideration
           .
           Only
           before
           I
           pass
           on
           ,
           I
           cannot
           but
           take
           notice
           of
           a
           great
           mistake
           of
           Mr.
           Keill's
           about
           the
           quantity
           of
           Heat
           in
           the
           primitive
           Earth
           from
           my
           Hypothesis
           ,
           which
           he
           reckons
           some
           hundred
           of
           times
           as
           great
           as
           in
           the
           present
           State
           :
           which
           I
           am
           sure
           must
           be
           a
           plain
           Error
           ,
           and
           all
           its
           Consequences
           ,
           which
           he
           from
           thence
           draws
           against
           me
           ,
           without
           any
           foundation
           .
           The
           Heat
           then
           ,
           for
           the
           light
           half
           year
           ,
           being
           but
           the
           same
           quantity
           of
           Heat
           all
           at
           once
           ;
           which
           now
           at
           times
           ,
           and
           with
           interruptions
           we
           are
           partakers
           of
           .
           Which
           may
           deserve
           Mr.
           Keill's
           consideration
           and
           correction
           .
        
         
           We
           are
           now
           come
           to
           the
           principal
           Part
           of
           my
           Theory
           ,
           the
           Account
           of
           the
           Deluge
           of
           Noah
           :
           against
           which
           ,
           't
           is
           objected
           by
           Mr.
           Keill
           ,
        
         
           (
           7.
           )
           That
           the
           Presence
           of
           a
           Comet
           ,
           
           tho'
           it
           would
           cause
           considerable
           Tides
           in
           the
           Seas
           above
           ,
           yet
           it
           could
           not
           in
           the
           Abyss
           below
           the
           Earth
           :
           because
           this
           latter
           is
           pent
           in
           ,
           and
           closely
           shut
           up
           within
           a
           thick
           and
           solid
           Crust
           of
           Earth
           ,
           and
           has
           therefore
           no
           room
           to
           raise
           it self
           as
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Seas
           have
           .
        
         
           Now
           in
           answer
           to
           this
           ,
           I
           wonder
           how
           Mr.
           Keill
           comes
           to
           imagin
           the
           Orb
           of
           Earth
           to
           be
           so
           compact
           and
           solid
           a
           Sphere
           ,
           as
           to
           be
           able
           to
           overcome
           the
           great
           Impulse
           ,
           which
           on
           the
           
           Comet
           's
           approach
           the
           Abyss
           would
           make
           upon
           it
           ?
           In
           my
           Hypothesis
           ,
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           it
           had
           only
           the
           Consistence
           of
           adjoining
           Columns
           sinking
           down
           together
           into
           the
           same
           Fluid
           ,
           and
           that
           extreamly
           broken
           ,
           divided
           ,
           and
           shatter'd
           at
           the
           commencing
           of
           the
           
             Diurnal
             Rotation
          
           ;
           when
           great
           Numbers
           of
           Clefts
           and
           Fissures
           were
           every-where
           made
           through
           it
           ,
           and
           the
           Orb
           by
           consequence
           dispos'd
           to
           a
           division
           and
           separation
           of
           Parts
           upon
           any
           considerable
           Impulse
           whatsoever
           .
           One
           might
           almost
           as
           well
           assert
           ,
           that
           a
           Floor
           of
           disjoined
           Planks
           laid
           cross
           the
           Thames
           ,
           without
           any
           fastness
           on
           either
           side
           could
           sustain
           the
           force
           of
           the
           Tide
           ,
           and
           prevent
           its
           Ascent
           ;
           as
           that
           our
           Crust
           of
           Earth
           ,
           so
           cleft
           and
           disjoined
           as
           it
           was
           ,
           should
           be
           able
           to
           sustain
           the
           force
           of
           the
           Tide
           in
           the
           Abyss
           ,
           and
           prevent
           its
           Ascent
           ,
           and
           those
           Effects
           which
           would
           be
           consequent
           thereupon
           .
        
         
           (
           8.
           )
           'T
           is
           objected
           ,
           
           that
           the
           Expanded
           Vapors
           deriv'd
           from
           the
           Comet
           ,
           would
           ,
           by
           passing
           through
           the
           Air
           ,
           and
           its
           resistence
           at
           their
           first
           descent
           ,
           be
           all
           turn'd
           into
           Water
           ;
           and
           so
           ,
           tho'
           this
           may
           at
           once
           drown
           the
           World
           ,
           yet
           it
           will
           not
           account
           for
           the
           long
           Rains
           of
           forty
           Days
           ,
           to
           which
           the
           Deluge
           of
           Noah
           was
           principally
           owing
           .
        
         
           Now
           in
           answer
           to
           this
           I
           say
           ,
           That
           tho'
           much
           the
           greatest
           part
           of
           the
           Vapors
           should
           have
           been
           at
           first
           turn'd
           into
           Water
           ,
           and
           so
           continued
           ,
           yet
           't
           is
           hard
           that
           Mr.
           Keill
           will
           not
           allow
           many
           of
           them
           to
           escape
           the
           same
           ;
           enow
           at
           least
           to
           make
           a
           constant
           Rain
           for
           forty
           days
           together
           .
           I
           am
           sure
           't
           is
           to
           me
           strange
           ,
           that
           so
           thin
           a
           Body
           as
           our
           Air
           ,
           lying
           in
           so
           small
           a
           compass
           about
           the
           
           Earth
           ,
           as
           the
           height
           of
           not
           very
           many
           Miles
           (
           for
           much
           higher
           't
           is
           so
           very
           thin
           as
           to
           be
           perfectly
           inconsiderable
           )
           should
           have
           the
           good
           luck
           to
           stop
           ,
           arrest
           ,
           and
           condense
           all
           and
           every
           part
           of
           so
           immense
           and
           swift
           a
           descending
           Column
           of
           Vapors
           as
           we
           have
           here
           to
           be
           consider'd
           .
           But
           besides
           ,
           (
           not
           to
           question
           whether
           Mr.
           Keill's
           method
           of
           reducing
           Vapors
           into
           Rain-water
           be
           universal
           or
           not
           :
           )
           Let
           it
           be
           granted
           that
           these
           hot
           Vapors
           were
           at
           their
           first
           descent
           forc'd
           together
           ;
           yet
           till
           that
           quantity
           of
           Heat
           which
           caus'd
           and
           continued
           their
           degree
           of
           Expansion
           in
           the
           Comet
           's
           Atmosphere
           or
           Tail
           were
           mightily
           diminish'd
           ,
           and
           they
           become
           as
           cool
           as
           Vapors
           turning
           into
           Water
           with
           us
           ,
           till
           then
           I
           say
           ,
           whatsoever
           their
           first
           violent
           Motion
           might
           on
           the
           sudden
           produce
           ,
           yet
           their
           own
           proper
           Heat
           would
           immediately
           rarify
           'em
           again
           ,
           and
           so
           elevate
           'em
           to
           a
           proportionable
           height
           in
           the
           Air
           ,
           and
           capacitate
           them
           to
           produce
           that
           continual
           forty
           days
           Rain
           ,
           which
           appears
           to
           have
           had
           so
           great
           a
           share
           in
           the
           Universal
           Deluge
           .
        
         
           (
           9.
           )
           'T
           is
           objected
           ,
           
           That
           tho'
           a
           persorated
           Cylinder
           of
           Stone
           or
           Marble
           ,
           pressing
           upon
           Water
           in
           an
           exactly
           equal
           Cylindrical
           Vessel
           under
           it
           ,
           would
           thereby
           force
           it
           ,
           or
           any
           lighter
           Fluid
           on
           its
           Surface
           through
           the
           holes
           upwards
           ;
           yet
           the
           Pressure
           of
           the
           Additional
           Waters
           upon
           the
           Crust
           of
           Earth
           could
           not
           cause
           the
           Eruption
           of
           the
           
             Dense
             Fluid
          
           ,
           or
           of
           any
           Waters
           lying
           upon
           it
           in
           the
           Bowels
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           on
           several
           accounts
           ;
           particularly
           because
           in
           the
           first
           ase
           the
           Cylinder
           is
           specifically
           heavier
           than
           Water
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           second
           the
           Orb
           of
           Earth
           is
           lighter
           than
           the
           Dense
           Fluid
           under
           it
           :
           which
           Mr.
           Keill
           supposes
           does
           wholly
           alter
           the
           case
           .
        
         
         
           Now
           in
           answer
           to
           this
           I
           say
           ,
           If
           Mr.
           Keill
           desire
           it
           ,
           I
           will
           put
           a
           Cylinder
           of
           Wood
           ,
           which
           is
           lighter
           than
           Water
           ,
           instead
           of
           one
           of
           Stone
           or
           Marble
           which
           is
           heavier
           ;
           and
           I
           do
           not
           doubt
           of
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           Experiment
           in
           this
           case
           ,
           if
           that
           will
           afford
           him
           satisfaction
           .
           But
           indeed
           I
           perceive
           by
           all
           Mr.
           Keill's
           Reasoning
           here
           ,
           that
           he
           mistakes
           my
           Notion
           ;
           and
           that
           't
           is
           but
           setting
           him
           right
           in
           this
           ,
           and
           all
           his
           difficulties
           will
           vanish
           of
           their
           own
           accord
           .
           I
           say
           then
           ,
           and
           I
           am
           sure
           Mr.
           Keill
           can't
           contradict
           it
           ,
           that
           a
           lighter
           Solid
           will
           as
           truly
           press
           a
           Fluid
           heavier
           than
           it self
           ,
           till
           it
           is
           sunk
           so
           deep
           as
           the
           known
           Law
           of
           Hydrostaticks
           requires
           ,
           as
           a
           solid
           that
           is
           Specifically
           heavier
           :
           And
           if
           by
           its
           closeness
           of
           texture
           ,
           and
           want
           of
           room
           about
           it
           ,
           it
           be
           hindred
           from
           really
           descending
           so
           far
           ,
           it
           will
           continually
           press
           the
           Fluid
           ,
           and
           force
           it
           upwards
           ,
           or
           any
           way
           where
           there
           are
           any
           Holes
           and
           Fissures
           without
           an
           equal
           degree
           of
           pressure
           upon
           them
           .
           And
           this
           certainly
           is
           the
           present
           Case
           .
           Suppose
           the
           Columns
           of
           Earth
           at
           the
           beginning
           were
           200
           Miles
           in
           Depth
           in
           the
           whole
           ,
           and
           taken
           together
           but
           half
           so
           Dense
           as
           the
           Fluid
           on
           which
           they
           rely'd
           ;
           Then
           at
           the
           Mosaick
           Creation
           ,
           when
           the
           Strata
           of
           the
           Columns
           were
           not
           yet
           consolidated
           ,
           but
           every
           where
           previous
           to
           the
           Fluid
           ,
           the
           several
           Columns
           would
           ,
           as
           Mr.
           Keill
           well
           knows
           ,
           sink
           100
           Miles
           into
           the
           Fluid
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           100
           Miles
           would
           be
           extant
           above
           it
           .
           If
           now
           after
           the
           Consolidation
           of
           the
           Strata
           ,
           when
           the
           Orb
           can't
           sink
           freely
           as
           before
           ,
           a
           New
           addition
           be
           made
           at
           the
           top
           of
           each
           Column
           (
           whether
           of
           lighter
           or
           heavier
           matter
           't
           is
           all
           one
           )
           equal
           in
           weight
           
           to
           two
           Miles
           of
           the
           same
           Column
           ;
           which
           is
           just
           the
           case
           of
           the
           Deluge
           :
           In
           this
           state
           't
           is
           evident
           that
           the
           pressure
           of
           two
           intire
           Miles
           of
           each
           Column
           ,
           being
           so
           prodigiously
           great
           ,
           must
           squeeze
           the
           Fluid
           upward
           through
           the
           Fissures
           (
           which
           were
           just
           open'd
           ,
           and
           fill'd
           with
           Water
           to
           the
           height
           of
           perhaps
           60
           or
           70
           Miles
           ,
           from
           the
           Neighbouring
           Earth
           Satur'd
           with
           the
           same
           )
           and
           thereby
           throw
           out
           the
           incumbent
           Water
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           it self
           upon
           the
           Face
           of
           the
           Earth
           .
           And
           this
           the
           more
           easily
           ,
           because
           the
           pressure
           was
           from
           the
           Water
           ,
           which
           would
           lie
           chiefly
           in
           the
           Valleys
           ,
           whilst
           the
           Fissures
           were
           mostly
           in
           the
           Mountains
           ,
           and
           so
           above
           the
           Surface
           of
           the
           Cortex
           ;
           which
           otherwise
           by
           running
           into
           them
           ,
           would
           a
           little
           stop
           the
           upward
           current
           ,
           and
           retard
           the
           motion
           of
           the
           ascending
           Waters
           .
           Which
           things
           being
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           undeniably
           true
           ,
           and
           plainly
           express'd
           in
           my
           Book
           ,
           I
           must
           be
           a
           little
           surpriz'd
           that
           one
           so
           well
           Vers'd
           in
           Hydrostaticks
           as
           Mr.
           Keill
           ,
           should
           be
           so
           perplex'd
           in
           this
           matter
           .
           All
           Mr.
           Keill's
           Demonstrations
           suppose
           either
           that
           not
           the
           Water
           on
           the
           Earth
           ,
           but
           in
           the
           Fissures
           did
           contribute
           to
           raising
           the
           Fluid
           through
           them
           ;
           which
           I
           could
           not
           be
           so
           childish
           as
           to
           imagine
           .
           Or
           that
           the
           several
           Columns
           of
           Earth
           had
           free
           liberty
           ,
           and
           could
           subside
           as
           far
           as
           occasion
           should
           be
           ;
           which
           I
           have
           in
           my
           Book
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           here
           ,
           shew'd
           they
           could
           not
           .
           Or
           that
           a
           pressure
           from
           a
           Column
           specifically
           heavier
           than
           the
           Fluid
           is
           necessary
           to
           raise
           it
           upward
           ;
           when
           't
           is
           evidently
           all
           one
           ,
           though
           it
           be
           lighter
           .
           So
           that
           upon
           the
           whole
           ,
           I
           think
           Mr.
           Keill
           might
           have
           spar'd
           those
           peremptory
           words
           which
           he
           uses
           in
           this
           point
           .
           
             From
             all
             this
             it
             is
             demonstratively
             
             evident
             ,
             that
             by
             no
             sort
             of
             pressure
             of
             the
             Incumbent
             Fluid
             ,
             the
             Abyss
             could
             be
             forced
             upwards
             to
             spread
             it self
             on
             the
             Surface
             of
             the
             Earth
             .
          
           
           Which
           I
           hope
           on
           farther
           consideration
           he
           will
           think
           fit
           to
           retract
           .
        
         
           (
           10.
           )
           'T
           is
           Objected
           ,
           
           That
           whereas
           I
           derive
           at
           least
           half
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Deluge
           from
           the
           Bowels
           of
           the
           Earth
           ,
           this
           is
           impossible
           ;
           because
           there
           can
           be
           no
           Sphere
           or
           Collection
           of
           Waters
           between
           the
           Earth
           and
           the
           dense
           Fluid
           ,
           which
           is
           the
           only
           place
           besides
           ,
           in
           Mr.
           Keill's
           Opinion
           ,
           the
           Fissures
           themselves
           ,
           capable
           of
           containing
           the
           same
           .
        
         
           In
           Answer
           whereto
           I
           cannot
           but
           say
           't
           is
           strange
           Mr.
           Keill
           should
           look
           for
           Subterraneous
           Waters
           every
           where
           else
           but
           where
           I
           always
           plac'd
           'em
           ;
           in
           the
           pores
           and
           cavities
           of
           all
           the
           lower
           Earth
           .
           And
           I
           imagine
           Mr.
           Keill
           himself
           will
           not
           deny
           that
           60
           or
           70
           Miles
           together
           of
           the
           inward
           Earth
           ,
           satur'd
           and
           full
           with
           Water
           ,
           might
           afford
           much
           more
           than
           we
           have
           occasion
           for
           at
           the
           Deluge
           ;
           and
           so
           might
           easily
           supply
           the
           Fissures
           ,
           in
           a
           constant
           drein
           for
           5
           Months
           together
           ,
           with
           enough
           to
           go
           more
           than
           half
           way
           in
           the
           laying
           the
           Surface
           of
           the
           whole
           Earth
           under
           Water
           .
           However
           ,
           since
           we
           know
           not
           ,
           nor
           did
           I
           ever
           directly
           assign
           ,
           in
           what
           proportion
           the
           two
           several
           causes
           of
           the
           Deluge
           contributed
           their
           shares
           thereto
           ;
           my
           Theory
           is
           not
           concern'd
           ,
           though
           no
           more
           Water
           was
           thrown
           out
           upon
           the
           Earth
           than
           fill'd
           the
           Fissures
           ,
           as
           high
           as
           the
           Earth
           was
           satur'd
           with
           Water
           at
           the
           Mosaick
           Creation
           :
           which
           Quantity
           even
           Mr.
           Keill
           seems
           not
           unwilling
           to
           allow
           me
           .
           As
           to
           the
           Dense
           Fluid
           it self
           ,
           and
           whether
           the
           force
           were
           
           great
           enough
           any
           where
           to
           cast
           any
           quantity
           thereof
           out
           upon
           the
           Earth
           ,
           I
           know
           not
           how
           to
           determine
           .
           Though
           so
           far
           I
           am
           sure
           ,
           that
           vast
           quantities
           of
           it
           might
           have
           been
           on
           the
           Earth
           without
           any
           of
           its
           appearing
           now
           above
           ground
           ;
           which
           is
           Mr.
           Keill's
           Objection
           in
           this
           case
           .
           For
           unless
           there
           was
           more
           than
           Satur'd
           ,
           and
           perhaps
           Consolidated
           with
           ,
           the
           Sediment
           of
           the
           Waters
           (
           which
           now
           ,
           as
           Mr.
           Keill
           will
           grant
           ,
           composes
           at
           least
           two
           or
           three
           hundred
           Feet
           thickness
           of
           our
           present
           Earth
           :
           )
           I
           am
           sure
           we
           are
           not
           ,
           (
           on
           account
           of
           their
           mighty
           gravity
           bearing
           'em
           to
           the
           bottom
           of
           the
           whole
           Fluid
           ,
           )
           to
           expect
           any
           remains
           of
           it
           in
           the
           Seas
           or
           Ocean
           ,
           no
           nor
           in
           any
           Pits
           ,
           Holes
           ,
           or
           Valleys
           upon
           the
           present
           Earth
           .
        
         
           And
           here
           Mr.
           Keill
           is
           so
           kind
           as
           to
           afford
           me
           a
           breathing
           time
           ,
           and
           to
           grant
           so
           many
           of
           my
           solutions
           to
           be
           right
           at
           once
           ;
           namely
           all
           those
           relating
           to
           Dr.
           Woodward's
           Essay
           ,
           
           and
           the
           Sediment
           of
           the
           Deluge
           ;
           that
           I
           cannot
           but
           own
           my
           real
           Joy
           on
           this
           occasion
           :
           That
           the
           force
           of
           my
           reasoning
           should
           here
           prove
           so
           strong
           as
           to
           satisfy
           even
           Mr.
           Keill
           (
           who
           seems
           so
           little
           to
           acquiesce
           in
           many
           other
           of
           my
           Arguments
           )
           in
           that
           intire
           point
           ,
           of
           which
           I
           must
           grant
           my self
           ,
           from
           any
           enquiries
           of
           my
           own
           ,
           to
           be
           the
           least
           Master
           ,
           of
           all
           other
           in
           my
           Book
           .
           And
           truly
           I
           must
           say
           that
           I
           think
           Mr.
           Keill
           ,
           by
           confessing
           that
           I
           have
           convincingly
           enough
           prov'd
           that
           a
           Comet
           pass'd
           by
           the
           Earth
           at
           the
           Deluge
           ;
           and
           that
           All
           Dr.
           
             Woodward's
             Phaenomena
          
           are
           rightly
           accounted
           for
           by
           that
           easy
           Hypothesis
           I
           took
           concerning
           them
           ;
           By
           these
           concessions
           ,
           I
           say
           ,
           I
           believe
           Mr.
           Keill
           has
           done
           more
           to
           establish
           my
           Book
           ,
           than
           all
           his
           Objections
           will
           avail
           to
           
           reject
           it
           :
           And
           himself
           is
           therefore
           much
           more
           my
           Friend
           and
           Patron
           than
           he
           ever
           intended
           to
           have
           been
           by
           these
           Remarks
           on
           my
           Theory
           .
           But
           to
           leave
           this
           Digression
           ,
           and
           proceed
           to
           the.
           
        
         
           (
           11.
           )
           And
           Last
           Objection
           ;
           
           which
           is
           this
           ,
           That
           though
           I
           can
           easily
           fetch
           as
           much
           Water
           as
           I
           have
           occasion
           for
           upon
           the
           Earth
           to
           drown
           it
           ;
           yet
           I
           have
           no
           way
           to
           get
           handsomly
           rid
           of
           it
           again
           ;
           and
           consequently
           my
           solutions
           of
           the
           Phaenomena
           of
           the
           universal
           Deluge
           come
           to
           nothing
           ,
           and
           all
           at
           last
           must
           be
           resolv'd
           into
           Miracle
           .
        
         
           Now
           how
           it
           has
           come
           to
           pass
           that
           this
           draining
           off
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Deluge
           has
           been
           so
           much
           stuck
           at
           ,
           I
           cannot
           tell
           :
           The
           thing
           it self
           having
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           no
           difficulty
           in
           it
           .
           Certainly
           the
           pores
           and
           interstices
           of
           30
           or
           40.
           
           Miles
           of
           dry
           Earth
           are
           capable
           of
           receiving
           3
           or
           4
           Miles
           of
           Water
           into
           'em
           :
           and
           certainly
           the
           same
           Fissures
           which
           permitted
           the
           ascent
           of
           the
           Fluids
           from
           beneath
           before
           ,
           would
           after
           the
           ceasing
           of
           that
           force
           permit
           the
           descent
           of
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Deluge
           ;
           and
           by
           degrees
           in
           length
           of
           time
           draw
           them
           off
           ,
           and
           so
           leave
           the
           Earth
           as
           it
           now
           appears
           to
           us
           .
           For
           what
           is
           in
           the
           
             perpendicular
             Fissures
          
           will
           sideways
           run
           into
           ,
           and
           saturate
           ,
           by
           the
           
             Horizontal
             Fissures
          
           and
           other
           passages
           ,
           all
           the
           Neighbouring
           Earth
           :
           which
           if
           Mr.
           Keill
           doubts
           of
           ,
           let
           him
           but
           make
           a
           hole
           in
           the
           Earth
           ,
           and
           fill
           it
           with
           Water
           ,
           and
           see
           whether
           he
           do
           not
           perceive
           the
           Neighbouring
           parts
           to
           be
           moistened
           ,
           and
           the
           hole
           to
           be
           soon
           empty
           enough
           to
           require
           a
           new
           supply
           ;
           notwithstanding
           there
           be
           no
           subterraneous
           Cavern
           ready
           to
           receive
           it
           :
           which
           easy
           experiment
           may
           go
           a
           great
           way
           to
           
           convince
           Mr.
           Keill
           that
           the
           removing
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Deluge
           is
           no
           such
           insuperable
           Problem
           ,
           as
           he
           seems
           to
           suppose
           it
           .
        
         
           Thus
           I
           have
           gone
           through
           the
           whole
           Body
           of
           the
           Reflections
           made
           by
           Mr.
           Keill
           on
           my
           
             New
             Theory
          
           :
           and
           hope
           I
           have
           observ'd
           the
           Rules
           which
           at
           his
           desire
           I
           at
           first
           set
           my self
           in
           this
           Reply
           :
           And
           all
           that
           I
           ,
           in
           my
           turn
           ,
           shall
           claim
           of
           him
           ,
           in
           case
           he
           think
           sit
           to
           make
           any
           Rejoinder
           ,
           is
           this
           ,
           That
           he
           would
           be
           careful
           therein
           to
           observe
           the
           same
           Rules
           himself
           ,
           which
           he
           expected
           from
           me
           ;
           and
           be
           as
           ready
           to
           own
           any
           satisfaction
           I
           may
           have
           given
           him
           in
           any
           points
           ,
           as
           to
           reinforce
           those
           Objections
           he
           may
           perhaps
           not
           yet
           be
           satisfied
           about
           .
           And
           as
           I
           shall
           willingly
           correct
           any
           occasional
           mistakes
           whether
           in
           other
           points
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           Mathematicks
           of
           my
           Book
           (
           a
           few
           of
           which
           ,
           tho'
           of
           no
           ill
           consequence
           to
           the
           Theory
           it self
           ,
           I
           am
           conscious
           of
           )
           if
           it
           ever
           come
           to
           a
           Second
           Edition
           ;
           So
           in
           order
           thereto
           I
           shall
           heartily
           thank
           Mr.
           Keill
           ,
           or
           any
           body
           else
           ,
           who
           shall
           be
           so
           kind
           as
           by
           Letter
           to
           inform
           me
           of
           any
           of
           them
           .
        
         
           I
           have
           now
           done
           with
           Mr.
           
             Keill's
             Remarks
             on
             my
             Theory
          
           ,
           and
           before
           we
           part
           ,
           I
           shall
           only
           desire
           him
           to
           answer
           plainly
           to
           a
           question
           or
           two
           relating
           to
           the
           matter
           now
           in
           debate
           between
           us
           ,
           and
           shall
           then
           take
           my
           leave
           .
        
         
           (
           I.
           )
           Since
           Mr.
           Keill
           grants
           that
           a
           Comet
           pass'd
           by
           at
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           and
           yet
           contends
           that
           the
           Flood
           is
           not
           to
           be
           solv'd
           therefrom
           ,
           but
           is
           to
           be
           believ'd
           wholly
           miraculous
           ;
           To
           what
           purpose
           did
           the
           Comet
           so
           providentially
           pass
           
           by
           just
           at
           that
           time
           if
           it
           had
           no
           relation
           to
           the
           Deluge
           ?
           Does
           Mr.
           Keill
           imagine
           ,
           That
           the
           same
           miraculous
           power
           which
           caus'd
           the
           Deluge
           could
           not
           also
           ,
           without
           the
           attraction
           of
           a
           Comet
           ,
           make
           the
           Earth's
           Orbit
           Elliptical
           ?
           A
           strange
           ,
           unheard
           of
           ,
           and
           most
           surprizing
           Phaenomenon
           happens
           in
           the
           World
           !
           A
           Blazing
           Star
           ,
           which
           we
           but
           seldom
           discover
           at
           a
           vast
           distance
           in
           the
           Heavens
           ,
           descends
           hard
           by
           the
           body
           of
           our
           Earth
           :
           which
           without
           the
           greatest
           exactness
           in
           the
           Chain
           of
           Providence
           does
           not
           happen
           in
           thousands
           ,
           nay
           millions
           of
           years
           :
           and
           as
           soon
           as
           ever
           't
           is
           pass'd
           by
           ,
           a
           wonderful
           ,
           and
           incredible
           Deluge
           of
           Waters
           overflows
           the
           whole
           Earth
           ,
           and
           drowns
           all
           its
           Inhabitants
           without
           any
           other
           visible
           or
           imaginable
           occasion
           in
           the
           World
           :
           and
           yet
           ,
           as
           it
           seems
           ,
           the
           Comet
           only
           accidentally
           pass'd
           by
           ,
           and
           had
           no
           hand
           at
           all
           in
           the
           Deluge
           !
           —
           
             Credat
             Iudaeus
             Apella
          
           .
        
         
           (
           2.
           )
           How
           could
           those
           effects
           I
           have
           mention'd
           be
           avoided
           upon
           the
           passing
           by
           of
           the
           Comet
           ?
           We
           are
           not
           now
           in
           a
           
             Cartesian
             Vortex
          
           ,
           where
           fancy
           and
           contrivance
           can
           introduce
           or
           hinder
           any
           effect
           at
           pleasure
           :
           But
           we
           are
           in
           Mechanical
           and
           Experimental
           Philosophy
           ,
           which
           is
           an
           inflexible
           thing
           ,
           and
           not
           at
           all
           subject
           to
           our
           inclinations
           .
           When
           the
           Comet
           therefore
           was
           just
           pass'd
           by
           us
           ,
           I
           desire
           to
           know
           how
           the
           Earth
           could
           possibly
           avoid
           passing
           through
           its
           Atmosphere
           and
           Tail
           ?
           If
           it
           could
           not
           ,
           Pray
           what
           could
           prevent
           the
           acquiring
           that
           Column
           of
           Vapours
           I
           ,
           by
           computation
           ,
           find
           would
           fall
           on
           its
           Surface
           ?
           And
           if
           such
           a
           Column
           of
           Vapours
           was
           left
           on
           the
           Earth
           ,
           what
           could
           hinder
           
           their
           becoming
           Water
           ,
           and
           drowning
           the
           Earth
           ?
           I
           shall
           not
           ,
           though
           I
           easily
           might
           ,
           carry
           on
           the
           Chain
           of
           Queries
           any
           longer
           .
           But
           if
           Mr.
           Keill
           can
           fairly
           Answer
           me
           these
           few
           leading
           Questions
           ,
           I
           shall
           then
           believe
           him
           alike
           able
           to
           Answer
           the
           rest
           ,
           and
           so
           I
           shall
           not
           pursue
           this
           particular
           any
           farther
           ,
           but
           leave
           it
           and
           this
           whole
           matter
           to
           his
           and
           the
           Reader
           's
           leisure
           and
           consideration
           .
        
         
           
             Apr.
             1.
             1698.
             
          
        
      
       
         
           HAVING
           thus
           finished
           what
           I
           had
           to
           return
           to
           Mr.
           Keill
           ;
           I
           shall
           upon
           this
           occasion
           consider
           such
           other
           material
           Difficulties
           and
           Objections
           relating
           to
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           as
           have
           come
           to
           my
           knowledge
           any
           way
           ,
           either
           in
           Print
           ,
           or
           in
           private
           Letters
           ;
           concealing
           still
           the
           Names
           of
           those
           who
           have
           been
           so
           kind
           as
           to
           content
           themselves
           with
           the
           latter
           method
           ,
           tho'
           at
           the
           same
           time
           it
           will
           appear
           that
           in
           many
           cases
           the
           Authors
           need
           have
           been
           no
           more
           ashamed
           of
           their
           Arguments
           ,
           than
           any
           of
           those
           who
           have
           chosen
           the
           more
           publick
           method
           ,
           and
           appear'd
           from
           the
           Press
           against
           me
           .
           And
           I
           fear
           not
           to
           appeal
           to
           the
           Persons
           concern'd
           ,
           for
           the
           fairness
           and
           justness
           of
           my
           proposal
           of
           their
           Objections
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           returns
           I
           now
           make
           are
           generally
           for
           substance
           the
           same
           which
           my
           private
           Answers
           contain'd
           upon
           the
           several
           occasions
           .
           To
           go
           on
           therefore
           with
           the
           numbers
           .
        
         
         
           (
           12.
           )
           The
           next
           Objection
           is
           ,
           
           That
           I
           have
           omitted
           many
           
             insuperable
             difficulties
          
           which
           have
           been
           urg'd
           against
           the
           Forming
           of
           our
           present
           upper
           Earth
           from
           the
           Sediment
           of
           the
           D●luge
           .
        
         
           In
           answer
           whereto
           ;
           for
           (
           to
           say
           nothing
           that
           the
           non-appearance
           of
           any
           Towns
           ,
           Cities
           ,
           Buildings
           ,
           or
           other
           Remains
           of
           the
           Antediluvian
           World
           ,
           is
           
             next
             to
             a
             demonstration
          
           on
           my
           side
           ;
           )
           I
           must
           own
           that
           I
           was
           so
           incapable
           of
           overcoming
           those
           
             insuperable
             difficul●i●s
          
           ,
           that
           I
           knew
           nothing
           of
           them
           :
           and
           I
           did
           not
           in
           the
           least
           think
           ,
           that
           what
           I
           of
           my self
           suppos'd
           concerning
           the
           natural
           Subsiding
           of
           that
           Sediment
           ,
           and
           without
           any
           prior
           Dissolution
           of
           the
           Old
           Earth
           ,
           its
           composing
           a
           new
           Crust
           upon
           it
           ,
           had
           been
           once
           hit
           upon
           by
           any
           one
           else
           before
           me
           .
           Now
           whether
           there
           be
           such
           
             insuperable
             difficulties
          
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           main
           strokes
           of
           that
           Hypothesis
           ,
           I
           ought
           not
           to
           pretend
           Skill
           enough
           in
           the
           Phaenomena
           of
           the
           inner
           Earth
           positively
           to
           determin
           .
           Dr.
           Woodward's
           larger
           Work
           ought
           to
           be
           publish'd
           before
           one
           can
           venture
           to
           pronounce
           too
           dogmatically
           in
           that
           Point
           .
           As
           to
           my self
           ,
           I
           see
           hitherto
           no
           reason
           to
           change
           my
           Belief
           therein
           ,
           notwithstanding
           the
           confidence
           of
           this
           Author
           .
           Whatever
           difficulties
           may
           appear
           at
           the
           first
           sight
           ,
           (
           arising
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           ,
           from
           a
           misunderstanding
           of
           several
           particulars
           relating
           thereto
           ,
           and
           of
           several
           circumstances
           therein
           to
           be
           consider'd
           ,
           )
           yet
           those
           numerous
           Shells
           ,
           Bones
           ,
           Trees
           ,
           Plants
           ,
           and
           other
           Bodies
           found
           in
           so
           many
           places
           in
           the
           Bowels
           of
           our
           present
           Earth
           ,
           to
           say
           nothing
           of
           what
           was
           urg'd
           before
           ,
           or
           might
           be
           from
           other
           arguments
           ,
           are
           to
           me
           so
           convincing
           ,
           that
           't
           is
           
           not
           a
           few
           difficulties
           ,
           nay
           scarce
           less
           than
           a
           demonstration
           will
           persuade
           me
           to
           the
           contrary
           .
           If
           the
           non-observation
           sometimes
           of
           the
           Law
           of
           Specifick
           Gravity
           ,
           and
           the
           consequent
           irregular
           Position
           of
           the
           Strata
           ,
           be
           the
           main
           Objection
           in
           the
           case
           ,
           as
           it
           seems
           ,
           by
           this
           Author
           ,
           to
           be
           ,
           I
           had
           observ'd
           and
           accounted
           for
           the
           same
           already
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           .
           And
           certainly
           if
           the
           irregular
           disposition
           of
           Bodies
           in
           such
           a
           Chaotick
           Sediment
           ,
           
           with
           the
           as
           irregular
           Tempests
           and
           Commotions
           of
           the
           Waters
           ,
           and
           the
           consequent
           removal
           of
           several
           Masses
           either
           setled
           or
           setling
           down
           from
           one
           place
           to
           another
           ,
           by
           which
           the
           Order
           ,
           Crassitude
           ,
           and
           Position
           of
           the
           Strata
           must
           have
           been
           strangely
           diversified
           ,
           together
           with
           all
           the
           other
           circumstances
           of
           the
           Old
           Earth
           ,
           and
           of
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           be
           consider'd
           ,
           't
           will
           not
           be
           so
           strange
           ,
           that
           the
           irregular
           Position
           of
           the
           Strata
           ,
           subsiding
           all
           the
           while
           according
           to
           their
           several
           Specifick
           Gravities
           ,
           was
           disturb'd
           and
           interrupted
           without
           being
           oblig'd
           to
           reject
           such
           an
           intire
           Hypothesis
           on
           account
           hereof
           .
           It
           will
           however
           (
           that
           I
           say
           something
           to
           what
           is
           here
           observ'd
           from
           the
           Learned
           Dr.
           Lister
           )
           deserve
           to
           be
           consider'd
           ,
           whether
           some
           of
           those
           Subterranean
           places
           ,
           where
           such
           mighty
           sholes
           of
           Shells
           are
           heap'd
           together
           ,
           be
           as
           proper
           for
           their
           production
           as
           those
           Cavities
           in
           Animals
           where
           't
           is
           said
           some
           have
           been
           found
           ,
           (
           to
           say
           nothing
           of
           Knives
           ,
           Nails
           ,
           and
           other
           things
           sometimes
           found
           in
           the
           Bodies
           of
           Animals
           ,
           which
           Nobody
           imagins
           to
           have
           grown
           there
           ;
           )
           at
           least
           those
           Trees
           ,
           methinks
           ,
           which
           are
           found
           buried
           so
           deep
           in
           the
           Earth
           ,
           will
           give
           some
           foundation
           for
           that
           Hypothesis
           I
           here
           defend
           :
           there
           having
           been
           no
           instances
           of
           such
           productions
           ,
           I
           suppose
           ,
           
           in
           Animals
           ;
           
           and
           this
           Author
           himself
           ,
           or
           rather
           his
           Namesake
           ,
           in
           a
           good
           humour
           being
           willing
           to
           allow
           them
           as
           Reliques
           of
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           how
           much
           soever
           at
           another
           time
           he
           seems
           dissatisfied
           in
           that
           point
           .
        
         
           But
           however
           that
           matter
           shall
           be
           determin'd
           ,
           the
           main
           and
           principal
           Parts
           of
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           ,
           and
           those
           in
           which
           I
           look
           upon
           my self
           as
           most
           nearly
           concern'd
           ,
           are
           not
           very
           much
           interested
           therein
           .
           Those
           who
           ,
           with
           this
           Author
           here
           ,
           suppose
           the
           Subterranean
           Shell-Bones
           ,
           and
           Vegetables
           ,
           to
           have
           grown
           originally
           there
           where
           they
           are
           now
           found
           ,
           may
           suppose
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Deluge
           to
           have
           been
           indifferent
           pure
           ,
           and
           that
           their
           Sediment
           by
           consequence
           was
           less
           considerable
           ;
           and
           may
           then
           omit
           so
           many
           of
           the
           Phaenomena
           and
           their
           Solutions
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           as
           refer
           to
           the
           other
           Opinion
           ,
           and
           the
           rest
           will
           ,
           I
           hope
           ,
           afford
           them
           still
           all
           reasonable
           satisfaction
           .
           Nay
           farther
           ,
           Altho'
           any
           ,
           with
           Dr.
           Woodward
           ,
           should
           see
           reason
           to
           insist
           upon
           the
           Dissolution
           of
           the
           Old
           Earth
           ,
           and
           the
           Resettlement
           of
           the
           same
           again
           at
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           They
           will
           yet
           ,
           I
           am
           pretty
           sure
           ,
           be
           unable
           to
           account
           for
           the
           greatest
           Number
           ,
           and
           those
           the
           principal
           Phaenomena
           of
           that
           Deluge
           ,
           without
           that
           passing
           by
           of
           the
           Comet
           ,
           which
           if
           I
           mistake
           not
           ,
           I
           have
           next
           to
           demonstrated
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           ;
           and
           upon
           which
           the
           main
           Reasonings
           of
           that
           Book
           ,
           with
           relation
           to
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           are
           founded
           .
           And
           tho'
           what
           Arguments
           these
           may
           urge
           ,
           should
           make
           it
           reasonable
           to
           add
           somewhat
           to
           ,
           or
           alter
           somewhat
           in
           the
           particulars
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           relating
           to
           the
           Sediments
           of
           the
           Flood
           ,
           yet
           I
           think
           they
           must
           be
           far
           from
           affecting
           the
           principal
           parts
           of
           that
           Book
           .
           In
           
           case
           my
           Calculations
           and
           Deductions
           concerning
           the
           Commencing
           of
           the
           Earth's
           Diurnal
           Rotation
           at
           the
           Fall
           ,
           and
           the
           passage
           of
           the
           Comet
           at
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           with
           their
           Consequences
           ,
           hold
           true
           ,
           (
           and
           I
           have
           met
           with
           nothing
           hitherto
           to
           he
           opposed
           to
           'em
           ,
           )
           I
           shall
           go
           near
           to
           leave
           the
           other
           coincident
           Point
           of
           the
           Subterranean
           Bodies
           to
           such
           as
           are
           more
           capable
           Judges
           of
           those
           matters
           ,
           and
           freely
           give
           them
           leave
           to
           believe
           what
           they
           shall
           have
           good
           evidence
           for
           in
           that
           case
           ;
           tho'
           at
           the
           same
           time
           I
           must
           needs
           profess
           ,
           that
           the
           Arguments
           for
           what
           I
           have
           asserted
           ,
           even
           on
           that
           Head
           ,
           appear
           to
           me
           so
           cogent
           ,
           that
           as
           hitherto
           I
           have
           not
           ,
           so
           I
           do
           not
           hereafter
           much
           expect
           to
           meet
           with
           Reasons
           sufficient
           to
           alter
           my
           opinion
           therein
           .
        
         
           But
           here
           ,
           before
           I
           proceed
           ,
           give
           me
           leave
           to
           vindicate
           my self
           from
           an
           Aspersion
           thrown
           on
           me
           by
           the
           Author
           of
           this
           last
           Objection
           ;
           viz.
           The
           Quoting
           Dr.
           
             Woodward's
             Essay
          
           for
           several
           Observations
           ,
           which
           't
           is
           said
           he
           was
           not
           the
           primary
           Author
           of
           ,
           and
           depriving
           thereby
           the
           first
           discoverers
           of
           their
           deserved
           commendations
           .
           Now
           if
           this
           be
           so
           ,
           and
           those
           things
           which
           I
           have
           cited
           out
           of
           that
           Essay
           be
           owing
           to
           the
           Pains
           of
           others
           ,
           and
           not
           his
           own
           ,
           (
           tho'
           I
           am
           not
           satisfied
           how
           that
           matter
           stands
           ,
           nor
           am
           ready
           to
           believe
           the
           Doctor
           so
           great
           a
           Plagiary
           as
           some
           would
           make
           us
           believe
           ,
           )
           I
           sincerely
           profess
           that
           I
           was
           wholly
           ignorant
           of
           it
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           thing
           of
           that
           nature
           have
           been
           done
           ,
           the
           Author
           of
           that
           Essay
           ,
           not
           of
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           ,
           is
           accountable
           for
           it
           .
           I
           neither
           am
           ,
           nor
           pretend
           to
           be
           Master
           of
           much
           Skill
           in
           the
           History
           of
           Learning
           ,
           or
           the
           natural
           History
           of
           the
           Earth
           :
           
           and
           this
           Author
           very
           rightly
           takes
           notice
           ,
           that
           
             I
             have
             not
             shewn
             a
             profound
             or
             clear
             knowledge
             in
             those
             matters
          
           (
           which
           yet
           methinks
           might
           have
           been
           more
           easily
           excus'd
           in
           a
           young
           (
           however
           thoughtful
           )
           Divine
           ,
           as
           I
           am
           stil'd
           a
           little
           before
           .
           )
           My
           own
           Studies
           and
           Inclinations
           ,
           to
           say
           nothing
           of
           some
           other
           circumstances
           ,
           have
           lain
           somewhat
           another
           way
           :
           and
           I
           do
           not
           know
           any
           obligation
           upon
           me
           ,
           
             invitâ
             Minervâ
          
           ,
           to
           force
           my self
           into
           them
           .
           I
           did
           therefore
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           what
           Prudence
           dictated
           in
           the
           case
           ;
           where
           my
           own
           Stock
           fail'd
           ,
           I
           had
           recourse
           to
           the
           more
           Skilful
           ;
           particularly
           to
           Dr.
           Burnet's
           Enquiries
           as
           to
           the
           Ancient
           Traditions
           and
           Doctrines
           of
           the
           Philosophers
           ;
           and
           to
           Dr.
           
             Woodward's
             Essay
          
           ,
           just
           then
           made
           publick
           ,
           as
           to
           the
           present
           Phaenomena
           of
           the
           Earth
           .
           Both
           of
           them
           ,
           in
           their
           several
           kinds
           ,
           had
           methought
           extraordinarily
           perform'd
           their
           parts
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           I
           had
           occasion
           to
           make
           use
           of
           them
           ;
           and
           Both
           of
           them
           being
           Extant
           before
           any
           of
           my
           own
           Notions
           were
           known
           to
           others
           ,
           or
           almost
           discover'd
           by
           myself
           ,
           I
           thought
           ,
           whatever
           partiality
           they
           could
           possibly
           be
           suspected
           of
           ,
           with
           regard
           to
           
             their
             own
          
           several
           Hypotheses
           ;
           yet
           with
           regard
           to
           mine
           their
           attestation
           could
           not
           but
           be
           deem'd
           valid
           and
           unprejudic'd
           ,
           and
           so
           not
           unfit
           for
           me
           in
           those
           circumstances
           to
           rely
           upon
           .
           When
           therefore
           I
           observ'd
           that
           almost
           all
           which
           was
           matter
           of
           Ancient
           Tradition
           ,
           or
           of
           fact
           ;
           almost
           all
           that
           agreed
           with
           Scripture
           ,
           and
           requir'd
           nothing
           immechanical
           or
           miraculous
           in
           'em
           both
           ,
           did
           easily
           fall
           in
           with
           my
           own
           Notions
           ,
           and
           Calculations
           ;
           In
           particular
           ,
           when
           I
           observ'd
           that
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           and
           their
           contained
           Bodies
           ,
           would
           naturally
           arrive
           at
           that
           very
           state
           without
           ,
           which
           Dr.
           Woodward
           thought
           
           his
           Phaenomena
           forc'd
           him
           to
           bring
           'em
           to
           with
           his
           own
           strange
           Hypothesis
           of
           the
           Dissolution
           of
           the
           Old
           Earth
           :
           and
           that
           consequently
           what
           Evidence
           he
           had
           for
           
             his
             own
          
           ,
           would
           in
           all
           probability
           be
           stronger
           on
           the
           side
           of
           
             my
             Hypothesis
          
           ;
           I
           made
           no
           farther
           delay
           or
           enquiry
           ,
           but
           set
           down
           things
           from
           those
           Authors
           (
           whom
           I
           almost
           alone
           had
           opportunity
           to
           consult
           ,
           and
           whom
           accordingly
           I
           every-where
           quote
           in
           the
           Margin
           )
           as
           they
           now
           stand
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           .
           This
           is
           a
           true
           and
           fair
           account
           of
           the
           matter
           ,
           and
           such
           as
           I
           hope
           (
           whatever
           it
           do
           as
           to
           the
           weakening
           the
           Opinion
           of
           my
           abilities
           ,
           which
           I
           shall
           not
           endeavour
           to
           raise
           beyond
           the
           truth
           )
           will
           free
           me
           from
           any
           just
           Imputation
           of
           design
           ,
           or
           disrespect
           to
           any
           :
           of
           which
           I
           am
           not
           in
           the
           least
           conscious
           to
           my self
           ,
           and
           of
           which
           I
           think
           I
           have
           not
           given
           any
           Indications
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           .
        
         
           And
           truly
           ,
           as
           to
           what
           this
           Author
           in
           the
           last
           place
           is
           pleas'd
           to
           repeat
           again
           ,
           notwithstanding
           his
           
             discovery
             of
             a
             noble
             Genius
             in
             the
             Formation
             of
             my
             System
             ,
             and
             his
             unwillingness
             to
             accuse
             me
             of
             any
             ungenerous
             dealing
          
           concerning
           my
           ascribing
           the
           Observations
           of
           other
           Eminent
           Philosophers
           to
           
             one
             of
             my
             own
             Acquaintance
             ,
             who
             may
             do
             as
             much
             for
             me
             another
             time
          
           ;
           I
           think
           he
           is
           not
           just
           and
           ●air
           to
           me
           .
           I
           have
           never
           had
           the
           honour
           of
           any
           Acquaintance
           with
           the
           Person
           he
           means
           ;
           neither
           have
           I
           ,
           
           in
           my
           treating
           that
           Persons
           Hypothesis
           ,
           shew'd
           any
           such
           favour
           or
           partiality
           as
           should
           induce
           any
           one
           to
           pass
           so
           severe
           a
           censure
           upon
           me
           .
           But
           I
           suppose
           he
           has
           receiv'd
           some
           wrong
           information
           ,
           which
           has
           occasion'd
           this
           reflection
           ;
           which
           I
           have
           so
           much
           charity
           as
           heartily
           to
           forgive
           him
           ,
           tho'
           I
           am
           certain
           I
           have
           not
           deserved
           it
           at
           his
           hands
           .
        
         
         
           (
           13.
           )
           'T
           is
           alledg'd
           against
           me
           ,
           
           That
           my
           Mechanical
           Account
           of
           the
           Deluge
           implies
           it
           was
           no
           divine
           Iudgment
           for
           the
           World's
           Wickedness
           ;
           but
           from
           the
           Necessity
           of
           the
           Motion
           of
           the
           Comet
           and
           Earth
           ,
           must
           have
           happen'd
           whether
           Men
           had
           repented
           or
           not
           ;
           and
           so
           induces
           a
           
             rigid
             fatality
          
           :
           And
           withal
           't
           is
           said
           ,
           That
           tho'
           Miracles
           ,
           i.
           e.
           a
           violent
           perturbation
           of
           natural
           Laws
           ,
           be
           not
           usual
           ;
           yet
           a
           
             Providential
             Interposition
          
           in
           particular
           Events
           is
           ,
           and
           must
           be
           own'd
           to
           be
           so
           ;
           or
           else
           the
           Foundation
           of
           Devotion
           and
           Religion
           is
           gone
           .
        
         
           Now
           as
           to
           a
           
             rigid
             Fatality
          
           .
           'T
           is
           strange
           my
           Theory
           should
           be
           built
           on
           it
           ,
           when
           I
           'm
           sure
           I
           never
           imagin'd
           such
           a
           thing
           ,
           nor
           in
           my
           opinion
           or
           practice
           at
           all
           differ
           from
           other
           Christians
           in
           those
           things
           relating
           thereto
           .
           I
           believe
           the
           same
           as
           to
           the
           Success
           of
           Prayer
           ,
           the
           Interest
           of
           the
           Divine
           Providence
           ,
           and
           the
           Deluge's
           being
           a
           proper
           Effect
           thereof
           ,
           as
           any
           other
           Christian
           does
           :
           And
           were
           not
           this
           Objector
           so
           hot
           ,
           and
           engag'd
           in
           the
           Point
           ,
           methinks
           all
           this
           is
           visible
           in
           my
           Book
           .
           Now
           the
           Original
           of
           this
           Man's
           mistake
           is
           the
           same
           ,
           as
           is
           the
           Original
           of
           their
           mistake
           in
           the
           arguing
           against
           the
           Liberty
           of
           Will
           ,
           from
           the
           Certainty
           of
           the
           Divine
           Prescience
           ,
           and
           of
           Prophecy
           depending
           thereon
           :
           and
           when
           you
           have
           rightly
           consider'd
           the
           latter
           ,
           I
           imagin
           you
           will
           easily
           rectify
           your
           mistake
           in
           the
           former
           Case
           .
           You
           say
           the
           Flood
           would
           have
           happen'd
           whether
           Men
           had
           been
           Wicked
           or
           not
           ,
           because
           the
           Comet
           was
           approaching
           .
           Let
           me
           argue
           in
           the
           other
           case
           :
           The
           Flood
           would
           as
           certainly
           have
           happen'd
           however
           ,
           from
           the
           Certainty
           of
           the
           Divine
           Prescience
           which
           foresaw
           
           it
           .
           If
           you
           answer
           ,
           The
           Divine
           Prescience
           foresaw
           the
           Sins
           as
           well
           as
           the
           Punishment
           :
           So
           say
           I
           ,
           It
           foresaw
           the
           Sins
           ,
           and
           therefore
           Originally
           dispos'd
           the
           Comet
           's
           Course
           for
           the
           Punishment
           :
           which
           if
           Men
           had
           amended
           ,
           would
           have
           been
           foreseen
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           Comet
           otherwise
           dispos'd
           of
           at
           first
           .
           And
           certainly
           the
           same
           Answers
           every-where
           will
           serve
           in
           my
           Case
           ,
           which
           can
           be
           alledg'd
           in
           the
           other
           ,
           on
           which
           mine
           wholly
           depends
           .
           And
           truly
           I
           was
           so
           fully
           sati●●●ed
           in
           Dr.
           
           Barnet's
           Answer
           in
           this
           Case
           formerly
           (
           and
           observe
           Mr.
           Warren
           to
           have
           so
           little
           to
           say
           to
           it
           in
           his
           Geologia
           ,
           P.
           126.
           )
           that
           I
           usually
           thought
           those
           who
           could
           not
           clear
           this
           Point
           to
           their
           own
           Minds
           ,
           not
           capable
           of
           Philosophick
           Theories
           .
           This
           Objector
           does
           well
           distinguish
           the
           
             particular
             Interposition
          
           of
           Providence
           from
           a
           Miracle
           ,
           and
           says
           our
           Prayers
           depend
           on
           the
           former
           .
           It
           may
           be
           so
           ,
           for
           ought
           that
           I
           am
           sure
           of
           to
           the
           contrary
           ;
           and
           however
           ,
           't
           is
           best
           to
           suppose
           it
           in
           our
           Devotions
           ,
           as
           I
           always
           do
           ,
           and
           the
           Scripture
           always
           does
           .
           But
           seeing
           the
           other
           Notion
           is
           equally
           suitable
           to
           Religion
           ,
           comes
           to
           the
           very
           same
           at
           last
           ,
           and
           will
           be
           of
           vast
           use
           in
           case
           of
           the
           other
           parts
           of
           Nature
           yet
           to
           be
           discover'd
           ,
           be
           found
           reducible
           to
           as
           fixt
           Laws
           as
           those
           we
           already
           know
           ,
           certainly
           are
           ;
           as
           giving
           a
           clear
           account
           of
           the
           Consistency
           of
           a
           setled
           Course
           of
           Nature
           ,
           with
           the
           constant
           Interposition
           of
           Providence
           in
           the
           World.
           I
           confess
           I
           am
           pretty
           confident
           of
           the
           Truth
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           fully
           satisfied
           of
           the
           Use
           of
           my
           Account
           of
           these
           matters
           .
           My
           own
           Reputation
           may
           be
           blasted
           among
           some
           w●●n
           Persons
           (
           tho'
           I
           find
           few
           competent
           Judges
           slick
           at
           this
           point
           )
           by
           my
           maintaining
           this
           Opinion
           :
           But
           I
           fear
           Religion
           among
           the
           
           Deists
           will
           suffer
           more
           without
           it
           .
           Those
           who
           are
           angry
           at
           me
           ,
           believe
           the
           Bible
           ,
           and
           so
           will
           not
           be
           hurt
           ,
           but
           only
           displeas'd
           at
           my
           Notion
           .
           But
           those
           who
           finding
           Nature
           constant
           ,
           know
           not
           how
           to
           bring
           in
           ,
           or
           believe
           a
           Providence
           ,
           will
           be
           really
           hurt
           without
           such
           an
           account
           as
           I
           have
           given
           ;
           and
           where
           only
           my
           own
           Interest
           is
           on
           one
           side
           ,
           and
           that
           of
           Religion
           on
           the
           other
           ,
           I
           think
           I
           can
           cheerfully
           submit
           to
           some
           degrees
           of
           Popular
           Odium
           ,
           if
           it
           should
           be
           my
           hard
           fortune
           to
           incur
           it
           ,
           without
           any
           reason
           :
           which
           yet
           the
           reception
           I
           have
           generally
           met
           with
           ,
           gives
           me
           no
           reason
           to
           expect
           .
        
         
           (
           14.
           )
           'T
           is
           alledg'd
           ,
           
           That
           by
           turning
           the
           days
           of
           Creation
           into
           years
           ,
           I
           am
           too
           bold
           ,
           and
           not
           very
           consistent
           with
           my
           own
           Hypothesis
           ;
           that
           neither
           the
           sacred
           Stile
           ,
           where
           days
           are
           so
           often
           us'd
           for
           years
           ,
           implies
           any
           thing
           ;
           because
           those
           words
           of
           time
           are
           in
           all
           Languages
           us'd
           indifferently
           :
           nor
           the
           Profane
           Testimonies
           ,
           because
           they
           seem
           no
           more
           to
           countenance
           my
           Hypothesis
           than
           Dr.
           Burnet's
           ;
           and
           in
           truth
           were
           only
           unintelligible
           Paradoxes
           coin'd
           ,
           as
           usual
           ,
           in
           those
           Ages
           ;
           and
           of
           which
           many
           more
           might
           be
           brought
           to
           support
           other
           fancies
           ;
           or
           at
           best
           were
           but
           explications
           of
           the
           perpetual
           Spring
           ,
           which
           was
           a
           fancy
           of
           the
           Poets
           for
           the
           Golden
           Ages
           .
        
         
           But
           sure
           this
           is
           too
           loose
           arguing
           to
           be
           oppos'd
           to
           all
           the
           positive
           Evidence
           I
           have
           alledg'd
           in
           this
           case
           .
           I
           can
           demonstrate
           to
           none
           but
           such
           as
           grant
           all
           my
           Postulata
           ,
           the
           3d
           of
           which
           is
           here
           set
           aside
           ;
           and
           if
           any
           think
           'em
           precarious
           ,
           they
           must
           look
           for
           better
           satisfaction
           in
           other
           Authors
           .
           But
           however
           ,
           I
           do
           not
           turn
           days
           into
           years
           ;
           but
           deny
           their
           distinction
           before
           
           the
           Fall
           :
           And
           in
           truth
           the
           Vulgar
           Expositors
           ought
           as
           well
           to
           prove
           that
           their
           days
           then
           were
           of
           the
           present
           length
           ;
           as
           I
           that
           they
           were
           equal
           to
           years
           ;
           since
           there
           is
           no
           particular
           intimation
           in
           the
           Words
           how
           long
           they
           were
           ;
           nay
           ,
           whoever
           considers
           ,
           what
           will
           I
           hope
           e're
           long
           be
           demonstrated
           ,
           that
           days
           are
           only
           in
           two
           places
           of
           the
           Scripture
           denominated
           by
           
             Evening
             Mornings
          
           ,
           
           the
           one
           here
           ,
           and
           the
           other
           in
           Daniel
           ;
           and
           that
           't
           is
           evident
           in
           the
           latter
           they
           signify
           years
           ,
           
           will
           not
           be
           averse
           from
           believing
           the
           former
           to
           denote
           the
           same
           also
           .
           Besides
           ,
           I
           have
           already
           deny'd
           that
           all
           words
           of
           time
           are
           us'd
           wholly
           promiscuously
           in
           Scripture
           ;
           and
           am
           confident
           the
           contrary
           is
           not
           to
           be
           prov'd
           therefrom
           .
           But
           as
           to
           the
           prophane
           Testimonies
           ;
           those
           who
           can
           give
           a
           rational
           account
           of
           'em
           ,
           will
           never
           slight
           '
           em
           .
           And
           whatever
           is
           here
           in
           the
           general
           said
           ,
           I
           refer
           my self
           to
           the
           considering
           Reader
           whether
           I
           have
           not
           demonstrated
           those
           Ancient
           Philosophers
           to
           agree
           better
           to
           mine
           than
           to
           Dr.
           Burnet's
           Hypothesis
           .
           But
           instead
           of
           a
           farther
           Answer
           here
           ,
           I
           shall
           add
           another
           confirmation
           of
           the
           same
           nature
           ,
           which
           since
           my
           Book
           was
           publish'd
           was
           discover'd
           by
           a
           Friend
           ,
           and
           communicated
           to
           me
           :
           which
           I
           must
           own
           to
           be
           a
           much
           more
           remarkable
           Testimony
           than
           any
           of
           those
           I
           formerly
           insisted
           on
           ;
           which
           therefore
           I
           shall
           recommend
           to
           the
           Reader
           's
           consideration
           ;
           and
           't
           is
           this
           ;
           'T
           was
           the
           Assertion
           of
           Empedocles
           ,
           
           That
           in
           the
           Primitive
           Constitution
           of
           things
           ,
           the
           Day
           ,
           
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           slowness
           of
           the
           Sun's
           course
           ,
           
           was
           equal
           to
           
             Ten
             Months
          
           .
           
           
           Which
           if
           we
           allow
           either
           to
           refer
           to
           the
           time
           when
           the
           Civil
           year
           (
           as
           the
           Roman
           before
           
             Numa
             Pompilius
          
           )
           had
           but
           10
           Months
           ;
           
           or
           
           to
           the
           day
           time
           alone
           ,
           I
           mean
           the
           space
           of
           the
           Sun
           's
           being
           above
           the
           Horizon
           ,
           (
           which
           is
           a
           common
           acceptation
           of
           the
           Word
           Day
           ,
           )
           accords
           so
           exactly
           with
           my
           Hypothesis
           ,
           as
           it
           stands
           at
           present
           ,
           that
           nothing
           can
           do
           more
           so
           :
           and
           coming
           so
           late
           ,
           so
           unexpected
           ,
           and
           yet
           so
           intirely
           home
           to
           our
           point
           ,
           is
           justly
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           to
           be
           look'd
           on
           as
           decretory
           in
           the
           present
           case
           .
        
         
           (
           15.
           )
           'T
           is
           said
           I
           have
           not
           ground
           enough
           to
           suppose
           a
           double
           course
           of
           Rain
           at
           the
           Deluge
           .
           
        
         
           This
           is
           a
           matter
           of
           small
           consequence
           ;
           for
           as
           I
           with
           others
           think
           the
           double
           course
           much
           the
           most
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Sacred
           History
           ,
           and
           have
           accordingly
           accounted
           for
           it
           ;
           so
           in
           case
           it
           were
           not
           so
           ,
           no
           great
           harm
           would
           accrue
           to
           the
           rest
           of
           my
           Theory
           :
           for
           as
           ,
           if
           the
           Comet
           's
           Orb
           was
           exactly
           in
           the
           plain
           of
           the
           Ecliptick
           ,
           the
           Earth
           would
           fall
           a
           second
           time
           into
           it
           ,
           unless
           its
           Tail
           was
           very
           short
           ;
           so
           if
           either
           of
           those
           circumstances
           were
           otherwise
           ,
           which
           we
           can
           only
           determine
           from
           the
           effects
           ,
           there
           could
           be
           no
           second
           course
           of
           Rain
           upon
           my
           Hypothesis
           .
           All
           which
           is
           said
           more
           with
           regard
           to
           others
           notions
           than
           my
           own
           :
           for
           I
           confess
           I
           see
           no
           manner
           of
           reason
           to
           recede
           in
           this
           point
           from
           what
           I
           have
           said
           already
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           .
        
         
           (
           16.
           )
           'T
           is
           said
           that
           by
           supposing
           Seas
           without
           Clouds
           before
           the
           Flood
           I
           contradict
           the
           known
           Phaenomena
           of
           nature
           :
           
           for
           when
           Vapors
           and
           Steams
           are
           rais'd
           ,
           they
           must
           necessarily
           gather
           into
           Clouds
           ,
           as
           they
           do
           at
           present
           .
        
         
         
           But
           sure
           this
           is
           too
           hasty
           a
           Conclusion
           :
           and
           if
           the
           Moon
           has
           Seas
           ,
           as
           is
           generally
           allow'd
           ,
           't
           is
           contrary
           to
           the
           known
           appearances
           of
           that
           Planet
           :
           to
           say
           nothing
           of
           any
           of
           the
           others
           .
           And
           certainly
           the
           long
           spaces
           at
           some
           times
           ,
           and
           in
           some
           Regions
           ,
           which
           are
           without
           Clouds
           ,
           even
           in
           our
           present
           state
           of
           things
           ,
           when
           yet
           vast
           quantities
           of
           Vapors
           continue
           in
           the
           Air
           ,
           are
           sufficient
           Answers
           to
           this
           Argument
           .
           'T
           is
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           the
           Wind
           ,
           and
           the
           irregular
           Condensation
           and
           descent
           of
           the
           superior
           and
           inferior
           Vapors
           which
           occasion
           those
           thick
           Masses
           in
           the
           Air
           we
           call
           Clouds
           ,
           and
           those
           showers
           consequent
           thereupon
           ,
           and
           not
           any
           thing
           belonging
           to
           the
           Antediluvian
           Earth
           .
        
         
           (
           17.
           )
           'T
           is
           Objected
           ,
           with
           great
           shew
           of
           accuracy
           ,
           
           that
           in
           40
           days
           or
           96
           day
           ,
           but
           a
           very
           small
           quantity
           of
           Vapors
           4000
           times
           as
           rare
           as
           our
           Air
           could
           descend
           ;
           within
           which
           spaces
           yet
           the
           Rains
           at
           the
           Deluge
           must
           be
           confin'd
           :
           for
           as
           Vapors
           now
           condense
           and
           fall
           about
           a
           mile
           in
           six
           hours
           ,
           when
           they
           compose
           the
           dew
           ;
           so
           vapours
           4000
           times
           rarer
           would
           be
           4000
           times
           as
           long
           before
           they
           would
           descend
           ;
           so
           that
           every
           Mile
           of
           the
           Comet
           's
           Vapor
           (
           at
           least
           that
           of
           the
           Tail
           )
           must
           be
           1000
           days
           ,
           or
           almost
           3
           years
           in
           condensing
           into
           rain
           ;
           and
           so
           by
           consequence
           750000
           Miles
           of
           this
           Vapor
           must
           be
           almost
           three
           times
           750000
           years
           before
           it
           be
           all
           condens'd
           and
           fallen
           upon
           the
           Earth
           .
        
         
           Now
           in
           Answer
           to
           this
           I
           say
           ,
           Here
           is
           a
           gross
           mistake
           ,
           that
           every
           Mile
           of
           the
           Comet
           's
           Vapors
           must
           have
           a
           distinct
           time
           of
           condensing
           ,
           and
           descending
           .
           As
           they
           all
           fell
           at
           once
           upon
           the
           Earth
           at
           first
           ,
           so
           those
           of
           the
           same
           degree
           of
           
           rareness
           would
           generally
           be
           condens'd
           and
           descend
           at
           once
           upon
           the
           Earth
           in
           rain
           afterwards
           .
           And
           as
           the
           Vapors
           ,
           being
           of
           several
           degrees
           of
           rareness
           ,
           and
           subject
           to
           various
           chances
           ,
           would
           successively
           descend
           and
           cause
           continual
           Rains
           ;
           so
           I
           think
           the
           spaces
           of
           40
           and
           of
           96
           days
           ,
           sufficient
           to
           confine
           the
           last
           of
           'em
           respectively
           .
           The
           Altitude
           ,
           and
           where
           the
           Air
           is
           4000
           times
           as
           rare
           as
           with
           us
           ,
           and
           whence
           ,
           by
           consequence
           ,
           the
           highest
           would
           descend
           from
           ,
           is
           not
           so
           many
           Miles
           as
           one
           would
           imagine
           ,
           (
           as
           the
           
             Torricellian
             Tube
          
           ,
           by
           its
           different
           height
           ,
           at
           the
           foot
           and
           top
           of
           Mountains
           assures
           us
           )
           nor
           indeed
           any
           other
           than
           very
           well
           agrees
           with
           the
           40
           and
           96
           days
           of
           descent
           ,
           which
           are
           necessary
           in
           the
           present
           case
           ,
           as
           on
           a
           fair
           Calculation
           ,
           will
           ,
           I
           believe
           ,
           easily
           appear
           ;
           tho'
           't
           is
           so
           impossible
           to
           state
           all
           the
           points
           relating
           to
           this
           matter
           very
           nicely
           ,
           that
           I
           think
           it
           hardly
           worth
           while
           to
           set
           about
           it
           ,
           since
           the
           general
           consideration
           hereof
           does
           so
           wholly
           take
           off
           the
           force
           of
           the
           present
           Objection
           .
        
         
           (
           18.
           )
           'T
           is
           said
           that
           because
           the
           bodies
           of
           Comets
           appear
           much
           less
           in
           their
           Perihelia
           than
           before
           ,
           
           't
           is
           probable
           their
           Tales
           are
           Smoak
           ,
           and
           not
           Vapor
           ;
           and
           that
           the
           Earth
           of
           the
           Comets
           was
           by
           the
           Sun's
           heat
           evaporated
           ,
           and
           composed
           the
           Tail.
           
        
         
           Now
           truly
           this
           is
           to
           me
           News
           ,
           that
           the
           Central
           Body
           of
           a
           Comet
           grows
           much
           less
           at
           the
           Perihelion
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           the
           Atmosphere
           becomes
           somewhat
           less
           at
           that
           time
           ;
           which
           is
           a
           natural
           effect
           of
           the
           rarefaction
           of
           part
           of
           it
           into
           the
           Tail.
           But
           Smoak
           is
           an
           Earthly
           Substance
           ,
           not
           to
           be
           rarifi'd
           or
           elevated
           in
           any
           proportion
           with
           
           Vapors
           ;
           and
           indeed
           when
           I
           see
           showers
           of
           Dust
           or
           Smoak
           as
           common
           as
           those
           of
           Rain
           ,
           I
           may
           be
           tempted
           to
           doubt
           of
           this
           point
           ,
           but
           hardly
           before
           ;
           especially
           if
           we
           regard
           the
           Tail
           in
           its
           descent
           from
           the
           cold
           Regions
           ,
           which
           must
           certainly
           be
           Vapor
           ,
           till
           the
           violence
           of
           the
           heat
           in
           the
           Perihelion
           doth
           mix
           other
           Earthly
           Bodies
           therewith
           .
           Tho'
           if
           much
           Smoak
           were
           among
           the
           Vapors
           ,
           I
           see
           not
           what
           great
           harm
           would
           ensue
           to
           my
           Hypothesis
           thereby
           .
        
         
           (
           19.
           )
           'T
           is
           said
           Noah
           and
           the
           Ark
           must
           have
           been
           scorch'd
           or
           burnt
           by
           the
           heat
           of
           the
           Comet
           and
           its
           Atmosphere
           ,
           
           if
           they
           came
           as
           near
           as
           my
           Hypothesis
           requires
           .
        
         
           To
           omit
           here
           the
           place
           of
           Noah
           and
           the
           Ark
           ,
           (
           In
           that
           Hemisphere
           of
           the
           Earth
           which
           escap'd
           the
           primary
           descent
           of
           the
           Vapors
           ;
           and
           so
           let
           'em
           have
           been
           never
           so
           hot
           ,
           would
           be
           cool'd
           e're
           they
           became
           Rain
           :
           )
           I
           pray
           what
           harm
           could
           a
           Comet
           ,
           tho'
           10
           times
           as
           hot
           as
           the
           Earth
           (
           which
           yet
           is
           too
           great
           a
           heat
           in
           the
           descent
           to
           the
           Sun
           )
           at
           the
           distance
           of
           at
           least
           30000
           miles
           ,
           do
           to
           it
           ?
           For
           tho'
           the
           Comet
           which
           Mr.
           Newton
           mentions
           were
           heated
           prodigiously
           ,
           and
           would
           not
           cool
           in
           a
           very
           long
           time
           ;
           yet
           this
           revolving
           in
           such
           an
           Orbit
           as
           my
           Figure
           supposes
           ,
           sustaining
           but
           the
           60th
           part
           of
           the
           heat
           ,
           and
           revolving
           ,
           if
           the
           Trajectories
           were
           similar
           ,
           not
           under
           20
           times
           the
           period
           of
           the
           other
           ,
           is
           not
           liable
           to
           the
           same
           computations
           ;
           or
           ought
           to
           occasion
           the
           same
           difficulties
           ;
           which
           if
           the
           other
           had
           come
           by
           in
           its
           room
           might
           justly
           have
           been
           alledg'd
           against
           me
           .
        
         
         
           (
           20.
           )
           'T
           is
           Objected
           ,
           
           with
           great
           shew
           of
           strength
           ,
           that
           the
           different
           attractions
           of
           the
           Earth
           and
           Moon
           must
           separate
           'em
           farther
           than
           before
           ,
           and
           thereby
           at
           once
           alter
           the
           species
           of
           the
           Orbit
           of
           the
           Moon
           ,
           and
           its
           periodical
           time
           also
           ;
           on
           the
           continuance
           of
           which
           last
           so
           much
           depends
           ;
           for
           at
           the
           Comets
           approach
           it
           would
           ,
           before
           it
           came
           at
           either
           of
           'em
           ,
           draw
           'em
           asunder
           and
           accelerate
           'em
           differently
           ,
           and
           after
           it
           was
           past
           'em
           ,
           it
           would
           do
           the
           same
           ;
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           different
           distances
           of
           the
           one
           and
           the
           other
           to
           the
           Comet
           ;
           and
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           proportional
           attraction
           of
           the
           one
           commencing
           before
           that
           of
           the
           other
           .
        
         
           In
           Answer
           to
           this
           difficulty
           ,
           which
           deserves
           a
           careful
           consideration
           ,
           I
           deny
           that
           any
           such
           eccentricity
           ,
           or
           difference
           of
           periodical
           time
           in
           the
           Moon
           would
           follow
           :
           For
           as
           the
           acceleration
           of
           the
           Earth
           commenc'd
           before
           that
           of
           the
           Moon
           ,
           so
           also
           did
           its
           retardation
           ;
           and
           as
           while
           the
           Comet
           was
           above
           or
           below
           'em
           both
           ,
           it
           would
           separate
           them
           ;
           so
           while
           it
           was
           between
           'em
           it
           would
           draw
           'em
           together
           .
           Besides
           ,
           in
           general
           I
           demonstrate
           the
           whole
           thing
           thus
           :
           The
           Earth
           and
           the
           Moon
           had
           equal
           velocity
           ,
           and
           a
           right
           position
           before
           :
           And
           the
           velocity
           and
           position
           were
           equally
           increas'd
           ,
           or
           affected
           alike
           by
           the
           Comet
           ,
           (
           as
           from
           the
           like
           position
           of
           these
           two
           Bodies
           in
           a
           System
           revolving
           about
           their
           Common
           Center
           of
           Gravity
           ,
           and
           from
           the
           equal
           approach
           and
           acceleration
           of
           the
           Comet
           to
           'em
           both
           is
           plain
           .
           )
           And
           consequently
           their
           old
           Position
           and
           common
           Revolutions
           would
           still
           remain
           .
           So
           that
           when
           the
           Moon
           's
           Eccentricity
           could
           be
           no
           other
           way
           caus'd
           by
           
           the
           Comet
           than
           I
           conjectur'd
           ,
           
           in
           which
           the
           Period
           of
           the
           Moon
           would
           still
           be
           preserv'd
           ,
           all
           these
           fears
           may
           be
           at
           an
           end
           .
           Tho'
           I
           heartily
           thank
           this
           Objector
           for
           putting
           me
           upon
           clearing
           so
           substantial
           a
           point
           ;
           in
           which
           the
           main
           of
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           was
           so
           deeply
           concern'd
           .
        
         
           (
           21.
           )
           That
           our
           Earth
           should
           have
           been
           once
           a
           Comet
           seems
           not
           probable
           ,
           
           because
           in
           all
           past
           History
           no
           other
           Comet
           has
           been
           observ'd
           to
           stop
           and
           become
           a
           Planet
           ;
           which
           one
           would
           imagine
           should
           now
           and
           then
           have
           happen'd
           since
           the
           Mosaick
           Creation
           .
        
         
           For
           Answer
           to
           which
           I
           say
           ,
           That
           as
           the
           Earth
           is
           inconsiderable
           in
           comparison
           of
           the
           Universe
           or
           the
           Solar
           System
           ;
           so
           I
           believe
           is
           6000
           or
           7000
           years
           ,
           (
           the
           Period
           I
           suppose
           of
           its
           duration
           )
           [
           much
           more
           about
           2000
           years
           the
           reach
           of
           our
           Astronomical
           Histories
           ]
           to
           the
           Duration
           of
           the
           whole
           System
           .
           So
           that
           tho'
           we
           have
           no
           other
           Example
           of
           an
           Earth
           form'd
           from
           a
           Comet
           ,
           yet
           this
           is
           no
           great
           difficulty
           in
           the
           Case
           .
           I
           believe
           Worlds
           are
           not
           form'd
           every
           Age
           ,
           nor
           perhaps
           every
           thousandth
           Age
           neither
           .
        
         
           (
           22.
           )
           Why
           should
           not
           the
           Comet
           ,
           
           to
           which
           I
           ascribe
           the
           Deluge
           have
           been
           seen
           many
           days
           before
           it
           approach'd
           the
           Earth
           ,
           since
           't
           was
           in
           opposition
           to
           the
           Sun
           ?
        
         
           In
           Answer
           to
           which
           I
           say
           ,
           That
           if
           it
           were
           seen
           ,
           as
           perhaps
           it
           was
           ,
           and
           so
           the
           memory
           of
           the
           Flood
           's
           happening
           upon
           it
           preserv'd
           ;
           which
           
           one
           of
           my
           Solutions
           will
           easily
           permit
           any
           one
           to
           suppose
           ;
           
           yet
           because
           its
           nearest
           approach
           was
           indiscernible
           to
           those
           who
           Surviv'd
           ,
           
           and
           because
           withal
           't
           was
           not
           then
           imaginable
           ,
           that
           a
           blazing
           Star
           could
           drown
           the
           World
           ;
           or
           indeed
           could
           approach
           the
           Earth
           at
           all
           ,
           't
           is
           not
           to
           be
           expected
           that
           any
           Ancient
           History
           should
           ascribe
           the
           Flood
           to
           it
           .
        
         
           (
           23.
           )
           'T
           is
           Objected
           ,
           That
           whereas
           I
           assert
           that
           the
           point
           B.
           or
           place
           of
           the
           Comet
           's
           passing
           by
           the
           Earth
           ,
           
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           prevalence
           of
           the
           outward
           attraction
           over
           the
           inward
           ,
           
           must
           have
           been
           five
           ,
           six
           ,
           or
           seven
           degrees
           after
           the
           place
           of
           the
           Perihelion
           ;
           on
           the
           contrary
           ,
           by
           the
           nearness
           of
           the
           inward
           attraction
           downward
           ,
           immediately
           after
           the
           passing
           by
           of
           the
           Comet
           ,
           so
           far
           as
           to
           over-balance
           the
           longer
           time
           of
           the
           outward
           attraction
           ,
           the
           point
           B.
           ought
           rather
           to
           be
           as
           far
           before
           the
           Perihelion
           ;
           and
           that
           ,
           by
           consequence
           ,
           one
           of
           my
           greatest
           coincidences
           is
           gone
           ,
           and
           my
           superstructure
           all
           precarious
           and
           false
           .
        
         
           In
           Answer
           to
           which
           I
           must
           ingenuously
           own
           ,
           that
           this
           is
           so
           far
           true
           as
           to
           take
           away
           the
           distance
           between
           the
           point
           B
           ,
           and
           the
           Perihelion
           ;
           which
           I
           before
           assign'd
           ,
           upon
           a
           general
           view
           ,
           and
           before
           any
           trial
           by
           computation
           .
           Nay
           ,
           I
           must
           farther
           own
           that
           the
           above-mention'd
           inward
           attraction
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           its
           nearness
           ,
           does
           over-ballance
           the
           longer
           time
           of
           the
           outward
           ;
           and
           so
           the
           point
           B.
           must
           be
           rather
           on
           the
           other
           side
           of
           the
           Perihelion
           .
           But
           then
           I
           must
           say
           't
           is
           on
           Calculation
           so
           small
           ,
           as
           is
           wholly
           inconsiderable
           ;
           and
           the
           point
           B
           ,
           and
           the
           Perihelion
           coincident
           :
           which
           being
           thus
           granted
           ,
           unless
           we
           can
           find
           the
           motion
           of
           the
           Perihelion
           to
           have
           been
           slower
           
           than
           Mr.
           Flamstead's
           Table
           ,
           which
           I
           alone
           mention'd
           before
           ,
           allows
           ,
           this
           ,
           will
           be
           a
           shrew'd
           difficulty
           in
           the
           present
           case
           ,
           and
           destroy
           one
           of
           the
           best
           Foundations
           of
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           .
        
         
           Now
           in
           this
           Enquiry
           I
           find
           that
           Mr.
           Newton's
           computation
           
             à
             priori
          
           corrected
           ,
           
           allows
           but
           53⅓
           degrees
           to
           the
           motion
           of
           the
           Perihelion
           since
           the
           Deluge
           :
           That
           Mr.
           Street's
           Tables
           are
           very
           nearly
           for
           the
           same
           number
           ,
           viz.
           53
           10
           /
           11
           Nay
           ,
           that
           Tycho's
           Tables
           allow
           only
           50½
           ,
           so
           that
           if
           we
           take
           a
           mean
           51½
           this
           will
           bring
           the
           Perihelion
           at
           the
           Deluge
           to
           the
           very
           day
           the
           17th
           degree
           of
           Taurus
           ,
           and
           the
           17th
           day
           of
           the
           second
           Month.
           Which
           last
           computation
           of
           Tycho's
           as
           it
           was
           that
           I
           first
           observ'd
           ,
           so
           now
           I
           finding
           it
           so
           near
           the
           exactest
           computations
           of
           others
           I
           acquiesce
           in
           one
           very
           near
           it
           :
           and
           am
           not
           displeas●d
           that
           ,
           by
           means
           of
           this
           coincidence
           ,
           the
           very
           day
           of
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           Deluge
           may
           almost
           be
           assign'd
           already
           ;
           and
           when
           the
           Perihelion's
           motion
           is
           better
           fix'd
           ,
           may
           perhaps
           be
           Perfectly
           so
           ;
           to
           the
           still
           greater
           confirmation
           of
           all
           those
           coincidences
           ,
           which
           of
           themselves
           have
           appear'd
           so
           remarkable
           in
           the
           case
           .
        
      
       
         
         
           APPENDIX
           .
        
         
           UPON
           this
           Occasion
           I
           think
           't
           is
           proper
           to
           own
           and
           correct
           a
           mistake
           in
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           :
           
           where
           the
           Axis
           of
           a
           Cone
           is
           affirmed
           to
           pass
           through
           the
           Focus
           of
           the
           Ellipsis
           ,
           generated
           thereon
           :
           which
           mistake
           ,
           as
           I
           am
           now
           satisfy'd
           it
           is
           ,
           tho'
           it
           were
           an
           illustration
           only
           ,
           and
           of
           no
           farther
           consequence
           ,
           yet
           ought
           to
           be
           rectify'd
           :
           which
           therefore
           I
           hereby
           do
           ,
           as
           far
           as
           I
           am
           able
           ;
           and
           hope
           this
           free
           confession
           will
           procure
           as
           free
           a
           pardon
           from
           every
           one
           who
           considers
           that
           himself
           is
           not
           wholly
           free
           from
           Errors
           and
           Mistakes
           .
        
         
           It
           may
           not
           perhaps
           be
           here
           ,
           upon
           this
           occasion
           ,
           improper
           also
           to
           improve
           as
           well
           as
           correct
           the
           
             New
             Theory
          
           ,
           and
           make
           some
           few
           additions
           to
           it
           ,
           and
           where
           they
           ought
           to
           be
           inserted
           the
           Margin
           will
           direct
           the
           Reader
           .
        
         
           Coroll
           .
           Since
           the
           number
           of
           years
           from
           the
           Deluge
           till
           the
           fixing
           the
           present
           period
           of
           Human
           Life
           in
           the
           days
           of
           Moses
           ,
           
           is
           according
           to
           the
           Chronology
           of
           the
           Septuagint
           ,
           at
           least
           equal
           to
           that
           from
           the
           Creation
           to
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           according
           to
           the
           Hebrew
           ;
           (
           from
           which
           latter
           the
           Calculations
           of
           this
           33d
           Phaenomenon
           are
           made
           )
           and
           since
           withal
           the
           lives
           of
           Men
           at
           a
           Medium
           were
           during
           that
           space
           from
           the
           conjoint
           Testimonies
           of
           both
           the
           Hebrew
           and
           Septuagint
           about
           265
           
           years
           ;
           'T
           is
           easy
           on
           the
           grounds
           proceeded
           on
           there
           to
           prove
           ,
           that
           in
           Case
           the
           Septuagint's
           Chronology
           be
           receiv'd
           ,
           the
           World
           must
           have
           been
           much
           more
           populous
           in
           the
           days
           of
           Moses
           ,
           than
           it
           is
           at
           present
           ;
           and
           that
           by
           consequence
           Mankind
           has
           not
           increas'd
           but
           decreas'd
           in
           number
           since
           those
           ancient
           days
           ;
           contrary
           to
           the
           most
           undoubted
           matter
           of
           Fact
           in
           all
           the
           past
           and
           present
           Ages
           of
           the
           World.
           So
           that
           't
           is
           evident
           that
           not
           only
           some
           pretended
           vast
           Numbers
           of
           years
           of
           the
           
             Egyptian
             Dynasties
          
           or
           Chinese
           Reigns
           ,
           with
           any
           other
           extravagant
           computations
           of
           those
           kinds
           ,
           enlarging
           the
           time
           since
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           but
           also
           the
           additional
           years
           introduced
           by
           the
           Septuagint
           ,
           nay
           ,
           or
           the
           
             Samaritan
             Pentateuch
          
           are
           false
           ,
           and
           contrary
           to
           the
           certain
           account
           of
           the
           increase
           of
           Mankind
           in
           these
           latter
           Ages
           of
           the
           World.
           Upon
           the
           whole
           therefore
           no
           other
           accounts
           of
           the
           Ancient
           times
           ,
           whatever
           some
           have
           imagin'd
           ,
           have
           rational
           Evidence
           ,
           and
           the
           Phaenomena
           of
           Nature
           on
           their
           sides
           ;
           but
           those
           which
           the
           
             Hebrew
             Verity
          
           delivers
           to
           us
           .
        
         
           Corollary
           .
           
           It
           may
           here
           deserve
           our
           Notice
           that
           tho'
           the
           present
           Period
           of
           Human
           Life
           was
           generally
           sixt
           in
           the
           days
           of
           Moses
           ;
           
           yet
           seeing
           such
           things
           are
           gradual
           ,
           and
           sooner
           reduc'd
           to
           a
           Standard
           in
           some
           Families
           ,
           Countries
           ,
           and
           Situations
           than
           others
           ;
           it
           seems
           not
           necessary
           ,
           nay
           not
           probable
           that
           the
           Period
           was
           Universally
           reduc'd
           to
           the
           lowest
           at
           the
           time
           assigned
           .
           So
           that
           if
           in
           the
           next
           Period
           we
           find
           some
           instances
           of
           Longevity
           which
           are
           hardly
           to
           be
           parallell'd
           now
           ,
           it
           will
           be
           no
           more
           than
           may
           ,
           nay
           ,
           than
           ought
           in
           reason
           to
           be
           expected
           in
           such
           a
           case
           .
           Thus
           there
           is
           no
           reason
           to
           be
           surpriz'd
           that
           Moses
           
           himself
           reach'd
           120
           ,
           his
           Brother
           Aaron
           123
           ,
           and
           their
           Sister
           Miriam
           about
           130
           years
           of
           Age.
           And
           in
           like
           manner
           the
           Cases
           of
           
             Rahab
             ,
             Booz
             ,
             Obed
          
           ,
           and
           Iesse
           ,
           the
           Progenitors
           of
           King
           David
           (
           where
           four
           Generations
           reach'd
           about
           400
           years
           )
           which
           otherwise
           ,
           notwithstanding
           what
           the
           History
           notes
           particularly
           of
           the
           great
           Age
           of
           one
           or
           two
           of
           them
           ,
           
           if
           compar'd
           with
           later
           times
           ,
           
           would
           appear
           very
           strange
           ,
           and
           next
           to
           incredible
           ,
           are
           become
           hereby
           very
           easy
           ,
           and
           very
           agreeable
           to
           the
           state
           of
           things
           in
           those
           Ancient
           Ages
           of
           the
           World.
           
        
         
           [
           By
           way
           of
           Corollary
           at
           the
           End
           of
           the
           Postscript
           .
           ]
        
         
           Corollary
           .
           The
           main
           Body
           of
           the
           10
           Tribes
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           of
           those
           two
           of
           Iudah
           and
           Benjamin
           ,
           returned
           out
           of
           Captivity
           ,
           and
           resetled
           themselves
           in
           the
           Reign
           of
           Cyrus
           and
           his
           Successors
           in
           their
           own
           Land.
           This
           is
           ,
           I
           confess
           ,
           a
           new
           conjecture
           ,
           and
           contrary
           to
           what
           Iosephus
           really
           does
           ,
           and
           the
           Sacred
           History
           is
           suppos'd
           to
           deliver
           touching
           this
           matter
           .
           But
           when
           't
           is
           better
           consider'd
           ,
           I
           imagine
           both
           Iosephus
           will
           be
           found
           to
           deliver
           somewhat
           which
           will
           assist
           us
           to
           rectify
           his
           Assertion
           ,
           and
           the
           Sacred
           Books
           will
           be
           found
           every
           where
           to
           establish
           what
           is
           directly
           contrary
           to
           the
           common
           Opinion
           herein
           .
           It
           may
           be
           own'd
           that
           the
           Catalogues
           of
           particular
           Families
           mention'd
           by
           Ezra
           and
           Nehemiah
           do
           not
           concern
           the
           10
           Tribes
           ;
           nay
           ,
           it
           may
           be
           own'd
           ,
           that
           in
           the
           first
           of
           Cyrus
           those
           carried
           into
           Babylon
           ,
           or
           the
           two
           Tribes
           alone
           returned
           home
           ;
           (
           and
           the
           Catalogues
           belong
           expresly
           and
           singly
           to
           the
           first
           Return
           of
           all
           in
           the
           first
           of
           Cyrus
           ,
           
           and
           that
           out
           of
           Babylon
           only
           .
           
           )
           But
           
           that
           the
           Ten
           Tribes
           did
           not
           return
           either
           presently
           after
           ,
           or
           in
           the
           following
           Reigns
           ,
           particularly
           in
           the
           2d
           of
           Darius
           ,
           or
           the
           7th
           or
           20th
           of
           Artaxerxes
           is
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           improbable
           in
           it self
           ,
           and
           not
           agreeable
           to
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           nor
           to
           that
           Assertion
           of
           Iosephus
           on
           which
           I
           ground
           this
           Corollary
           ,
           and
           which
           I
           now
           come
           to
           explain
           .
           The
           intire
           Number
           of
           those
           who
           returned
           out
           of
           Captivity
           is
           not
           set
           down
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           but
           is
           by
           Iosephus
           ;
           and
           't
           is
           thus
           :
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           
           
             The
             total
             Summ
             of
             those
             who
             returned
             ,
             above
             the
             Age
             of
             twelve
             Years
             ,
             was
          
           4628000
           ,
           without
           including
           the
           Levites
           or
           their
           Families
           .
           Now
           if
           we
           suppose
           this
           Summ
           taken
           out
           of
           the
           Old
           Iewish
           Records
           ,
           and
           that
           they
           ,
           as
           in
           the
           Scriptures
           ,
           included
           only
           the
           Males
           ,
           as
           't
           is
           reasonable
           to
           do
           ,
           it
           will
           appear
           that
           so
           great
           a
           Number
           must
           relate
           to
           the
           whole
           twelve
           Tribes
           ,
           not
           to
           those
           of
           Iudah
           and
           Benjamin
           alone
           ,
           as
           Iosephus
           asserts
           .
           For
           seeing
           the
           Tribes
           of
           Iudah
           and
           Benjamin
           together
           ,
           
           in
           the
           former
           numbering
           of
           'em
           by
           David
           ,
           
           were
           of
           Males
           above
           twenty
           Years
           old
           ,
           or
           that
           drew
           the
           Sword
           ,
           about
           500000
           ,
           and
           that
           after
           the
           allowance
           for
           their
           increase
           at
           the
           rate
           of
           doubling
           in
           360
           Years
           ,
           consider'd
           with
           that
           mighty
           Diminution
           of
           'em
           by
           Pekah
           ,
           the
           King
           of
           
           Israel's
           slaying
           120000
           of
           'em
           in
           one
           Battle
           ,
           
           their
           Number
           at
           this
           their
           Return
           from
           Babylon
           could
           not
           be
           much
           above
           one
           Million
           ;
           as
           on
           Calculation
           will
           appear
           .
           This
           mighty
           Number
           in
           Iosephus
           may
           justly
           seem
           much
           too
           large
           for
           the
           two
           Tribes
           ,
           nay
           to
           the
           full
           large
           enough
           for
           the
           twelve
           together
           :
           as
           any
           one
           ,
           who
           from
           the
           intire
           Number
           
           in
           David's
           Time
           ,
           
           and
           the
           proportion
           of
           increase
           till
           the
           Return
           out
           of
           Captivity
           ,
           compar'd
           with
           the
           mighty
           Diminution
           of
           'em
           by
           Abiah
           ,
           
           the
           King
           of
           Iudah's
           slaying
           Five
           hundred
           thousand
           of
           'em
           in
           one
           Battel
           ,
           reduces
           this
           matter
           to
           Calculation
           ,
           may
           easily
           perceive
           .
           Which
           Observation
           methinks
           is
           of
           considerable
           force
           to
           prove
           that
           the
           ten
           Tribes
           are
           not
           lost
           ,
           nor
           still
           scatter'd
           abroad
           about
           Assyria
           alone
           ,
           as
           is
           so
           commonly
           suppos'd
           ,
           but
           return'd
           with
           their
           Brethren
           the
           Iews
           to
           their
           own
           Land
           ;
           and
           were
           with
           them
           subject
           to
           all
           the
           Accidents
           mention'd
           by
           Iosephus
           under
           the
           Persian
           and
           Grecian
           Empires
           ,
           the
           Asmonaean
           or
           Maccabaean
           ,
           and
           Herodian
           Races
           ,
           till
           their
           common
           and
           utter
           Excision
           ,
           and
           ultimate
           Dispersion
           by
           the
           Romans
           under
           
             Titus
             Vespasian
          
           .
           This
           Observation
           and
           Corollary
           might
           easily
           be
           confirmed
           from
           other
           Arguments
           .
           But
           that
           would
           be
           to
           digress
           too
           much
           from
           my
           Point
           .
           He
           who
           doubts
           may
           see
           some
           confirmation
           in
           what
           Archbishop
           Usher
           takes
           notice
           of
           (
           tho'
           without
           design
           to
           prove
           what
           I
           say
           )
           at
           the
           Year
           of
           the
           World
           3468.
           
           To
           which
           ,
           together
           with
           his
           own
           Observations
           hereafter
           ,
           I
           refer
           the
           Reader
           .
        
         
           'T
           is
           perhaps
           worth
           our
           Enquiry
           ,
           
           whether
           most
           mens
           Notions
           of
           the
           time
           for
           the
           abating
           of
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Deluge
           be
           not
           very
           precarious
           ,
           
           at
           least
           if
           not
           wholly
           mistaken
           .
           'T
           is
           the
           general
           Opinion
           ,
           taken
           from
           the
           Mosaick
           History
           of
           the
           Flood
           ,
           that
           the
           Waters
           were
           wholly
           subsided
           ,
           and
           the
           Earth
           laid
           as
           dry
           in
           a
           manner
           as
           't
           is
           at
           present
           ,
           by
           that
           time
           Noah
           came
           out
           of
           the
           Ark
           ;
           or
           in
           the
           Space
           of
           about
           a
           Year
           ,
           from
           the
           beginning
           of
           the
           Flood
           .
           'T
           is
           true
           ,
           
           Moses
           says
           ,
           
           that
           on
           the
           
             seventeenth
             Day
             of
             the
             seventh
             Month
             the
             Waters
             were
             abated
             ,
             and
             the
             Ark
             rested
             on
             the
             Mountains
             of
             Ararat
             :
          
           
           That
           on
           the
           
             first
             Day
             of
             the
             tenth
             Month
             the
             tops
             of
             the
             Mountains
             were
             seen
             :
          
           
           That
           on
           the
           
             first
             Day
             of
             the
             next
             Year
             the
             Waters
             were
             dried
             up
             from
             off
             the
             Earth
             .
          
           And
           then
           lastly
           ,
           
           That
           on
           the
           
             twenty-seventh
             Day
             of
             the
             second
             Month
             was
             the
             Earth
             dried
             ,
          
           and
           Noah
           call'd
           out
           of
           the
           Ark.
           But
           all
           this
           may
           be
           very
           true
           ,
           and
           yet
           vast
           quantities
           of
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Deluge
           might
           at
           the
           same
           time
           remain
           on
           the
           face
           of
           the
           Earth
           .
           And
           as
           the
           present
           Ocean
           may
           be
           still
           part
           of
           the
           same
           ,
           so
           the
           rest
           of
           them
           might
           require
           a
           hundred
           or
           two
           hundred
           Years
           before
           they
           arriv'd
           at
           or
           near
           to
           their
           present
           subsidence
           and
           condition
           .
           And
           this
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           is
           the
           truth
           of
           the
           case
           ,
           and
           is
           so
           far
           from
           contradicting
           the
           Sacred
           History
           ,
           that
           it
           may
           be
           establish'd
           by
           an
           Observation
           or
           two
           from
           thence
           ,
           as
           well
           as
           by
           the
           present
           Phaenomena
           of
           Nature
           .
           As
           to
           the
           Sacred
           History
           of
           Moses
           ,
           't
           is
           first
           evident
           ,
           that
           the
           Mountainous
           Regions
           about
           Ararat
           or
           Caucasus
           ,
           especially
           since
           they
           were
           ,
           from
           my
           Hypothesis
           ,
           particularly
           Elevated
           above
           the
           rest
           ,
           might
           be
           wholly
           clear
           of
           the
           Waters
           in
           a
           year's
           time
           ;
           and
           yet
           the
           lower
           Plains
           and
           Valleys
           in
           a
           very
           different
           Case
           ,
           and
           still
           to
           a
           great
           depth
           under
           the
           Water
           :
           And
           't
           is
           as
           evident
           ,
           2ly
           ,
           That
           we
           have
           no
           authentick
           Account
           of
           the
           lower
           Plains
           ,
           being
           become
           dry
           and
           habitable
           ,
           even
           in
           Regions
           more
           elevated
           than
           many
           others
           ,
           I
           mean
           about
           the
           middle
           Parts
           of
           our
           Continent
           ,
           till
           the
           Building
           of
           Babel
           ,
           the
           Confusion
           of
           Languages
           ,
           and
           the
           Dispersion
           of
           the
           Nations
           over
           the
           Earth
           ;
           none
           of
           which
           happen'd
           before
           the
           Second
           Century
           
           from
           the
           Deluge
           ,
           
           in
           the
           days
           of
           Peleg
           .
           And
           then
           as
           to
           the
           present
           Phaenomena
           of
           Nature
           ,
           I
           think
           they
           determin
           the
           Question
           before
           us
           ,
           and
           sufficiently
           demonstrate
           the
           longer
           abode
           of
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Deluge
           upon
           the
           Earth
           than
           is
           commonly
           allow'd
           .
           For
           as
           many
           Maritime
           Countreys
           (
           which
           I
           have
           already
           observ'd
           ,
           and
           others
           have
           noted
           the
           same
           )
           do
           by
           their
           remarkably
           even
           and
           smooth
           Surface
           ,
           
           shew
           they
           have
           been
           made
           so
           in
           length
           of
           time
           ,
           by
           the
           motion
           of
           the
           Sea
           ,
           which
           now
           lays
           the
           Sands
           in
           the
           same
           manner
           :
           So
           does
           the
           Consideration
           of
           the
           Nature
           and
           Position
           of
           the
           Strata
           of
           the
           Earth
           in
           some
           places
           now
           fully
           confirm
           the
           same
           Observation
           .
           Near
           my
           Habitation
           ,
           at
           present
           ,
           upon
           the
           Sea-coast
           ,
           there
           is
           a
           pretty
           high
           and
           remarkable
           Cliff
           ,
           at
           the
           least
           twenty
           Foot
           above
           the
           Surface
           of
           the
           Ocean
           adjoining
           :
           and
           yet
           't
           is
           to
           the
           very
           top
           Stratum
           of
           all
           almost
           as
           evidently
           the
           Product
           of
           the
           Waters
           ,
           laying
           Heaps
           ,
           Strata
           ,
           and
           Beds
           of
           Sand
           and
           Chingle
           ;
           as
           that
           very
           Shore
           on
           which
           we
           stand
           ,
           and
           which
           is
           daily
           made
           and
           remov'd
           by
           the
           Tides
           and
           Waves
           of
           the
           present
           Ocean
           .
           And
           as
           I
           do
           not
           doubt
           from
           the
           always
           equal
           height
           of
           the
           Ocean
           every-where
           ,
           that
           't
           is
           frequently
           thus
           in
           other
           places
           also
           ;
           so
           this
           is
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           a
           plain
           Evidence
           that
           the
           Ocean
           has
           been
           at
           least
           20
           Foot
           higher
           than
           't
           is
           now
           :
           and
           that
           for
           a
           long
           time
           together
           ,
           sufficient
           I
           mean
           to
           heap
           up
           such
           mighty
           Beds
           of
           Sand
           and
           Chingle
           as
           the
           present
           observation
           does
           require
           .
           Which
           of
           it self
           is
           at
           once
           a
           demonstration
           that
           all
           the
           lower
           Regions
           near
           the
           Sea
           have
           formerly
           been
           drown'd
           ,
           and
           layn
           under
           water
           :
           And
           at
           the
           same
           time
           does
           fully
           confirm
           that
           length
           of
           time
           which
           I
           assert
           
           was
           taken
           up
           in
           the
           intire
           subsidence
           of
           the
           Waters
           of
           the
           Deluge
           .
        
         
           In
           this
           place
           I
           cannot
           but
           propose
           a
           Conjecture
           I
           have
           for
           some
           time
           had
           in
           my
           mind
           about
           the
           Peopling
           of
           China
           ;
           
           which
           I
           think
           may
           deserve
           to
           be
           consider'd
           ;
           and
           't
           is
           This.
           That
           the
           Chinese
           are
           the
           Offspring
           of
           Noah
           himself
           after
           the
           Flood
           ,
           and
           not
           deriv'd
           from
           any
           of
           his
           other
           posterity
           
             Shem
             ,
             Ham
          
           ,
           or
           Iaphet
           ,
           as
           the
           inhabitants
           of
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           World
           are
           .
           This
           Conjecture
           depends
           on
           the
           following
           Reasons
           .
           (
           1.
           )
           The
           account
           of
           the
           Posterity
           of
           
             Shem
             ,
             Ham
          
           ,
           and
           Iaphet
           ,
           and
           of
           their
           dispersion
           ,
           gives
           no
           hint
           of
           any
           that
           went
           so
           far
           East
           as
           China
           ,
           as
           I
           think
           is
           plain
           from
           the
           best
           expositions
           of
           the
           10th
           of
           Genesis
           ,
           where
           that
           matter
           is
           chiefly
           treated
           of
           .
           (
           2.
           )
           Since
           the
           dispersion
           of
           the
           Posterity
           of
           
             Shem
             ,
             Ham
          
           ,
           and
           Iaphet
           appears
           to
           have
           begun
           about
           Babylon
           ,
           a
           Countrey
           so
           remote
           as
           China
           could
           not
           be
           so
           soon
           reach'd
           and
           peopled
           as
           the
           prodigious
           Numbers
           of
           its
           Inhabitants
           at
           present
           shew
           it
           to
           have
           been
           .
           The
           nearest
           regions
           must
           have
           been
           first
           and
           most
           fully
           peopled
           ;
           and
           the
           remoter
           not
           till
           Men
           were
           increas'd
           sufficiently
           to
           require
           new
           Habitations
           ;
           and
           accordingly
           it
           has
           happen'd
           in
           the
           Countries
           of
           
             Europe
             ,
             Africa
          
           ,
           and
           the
           Western
           parts
           of
           Asia
           ;
           to
           which
           I
           suppose
           the
           dispersion
           begun
           at
           Babel
           is
           confin'd
           .
           But
           this
           is
           a
           sufficient
           proof
           that
           so
           very
           large
           and
           prodigiously
           populous
           a
           Country
           as
           China
           could
           not
           be
           of
           so
           late
           an
           Original
           ,
           as
           it
           must
           be
           in
           case
           the
           Chinese
           are
           deriv'd
           from
           this
           dispersion
           .
           (
           3.
           )
           The
           Sacred
           History
           soon
           after
           the
           Flood
           confines
           it self
           within
           the
           then
           known
           World
           :
           (
           which
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           did
           not
           include
           China
           ,
           
           no
           more
           than
           America
           ,
           
           and
           which
           is
           stil'd
           the
           
             whole
             Earth
          
           very
           often
           in
           Scripture
           ,
           )
           and
           at
           the
           same
           time
           says
           not
           a
           word
           of
           the
           great
           Father
           of
           the
           whole
           Race
           of
           Mankind
           ,
           Noah
           :
           (
           excepting
           the
           number
           of
           years
           he
           Liv'd
           .
           )
           Now
           this
           is
           ,
           I
           think
           ,
           a
           kind
           of
           intimation
           that
           Noah
           had
           no
           share
           in
           the
           Actions
           related
           in
           the
           Sacred
           History
           :
           and
           so
           by
           a
           fair
           consequence
           was
           probably
           plac'd
           in
           China
           ,
           a
           region
           out
           of
           the
           compass
           of
           the
           then
           known
           World.
           (
           4.
           )
           'T
           is
           otherwise
           strange
           ,
           that
           whereas
           Caucasus
           ,
           the
           resting-place
           of
           the
           Ark
           ,
           was
           so
           near
           the
           middle
           of
           our
           Continent
           ,
           no
           footsteps
           should
           remain
           of
           any
           Colonies
           sent
           Eastward
           ;
           but
           all
           Mankind
           should
           take
           one
           course
           ,
           and
           place
           themselves
           in
           the
           Western
           Regions
           alone
           :
           and
           this
           at
           the
           same
           time
           ,
           that
           no
           reason
           can
           be
           given
           why
           the
           Western
           Countreys
           should
           be
           more
           inviting
           to
           them
           than
           the
           Eastern
           ,
           since
           the
           latter
           certainly
           have
           been
           as
           valuable
           and
           pleasant
           to
           the
           past
           and
           present
           Ages
           ,
           as
           the
           former
           .
           (
           5.
           )
           The
           Chinese
           Language
           and
           Writing
           are
           so
           intirely
           different
           from
           those
           with
           us
           which
           the
           confusion
           at
           Babel
           introduc'd
           ,
           and
           are
           at
           so
           vast
           a
           distance
           from
           them
           ,
           that
           I
           think
           they
           cannot
           well
           be
           deriv'd
           from
           thence
           ,
           nor
           from
           any
           of
           those
           Patriarchs
           whose
           Posterity
           was
           there
           divided
           into
           the
           several
           Parts
           of
           the
           World.
           All
           our
           Languages
           consist
           of
           Words
           and
           Syllables
           made
           by
           a
           few
           Letters
           :
           which
           is
           wholly
           different
           from
           the
           way
           of
           expressing
           intire
           Sounds
           ,
           and
           of
           varying
           the
           sense
           by
           Tones
           or
           Accents
           among
           the
           Chinese
           .
           All
           which
           persuade
           me
           ,
           that
           their
           Original
           is
           different
           from
           Ours
           :
           And
           that
           as
           we
           are
           the
           Off-spring
           of
           
             Shem
             ,
             Ham
          
           ,
           and
           Iaphet
           ,
           whose
           Sons
           were
           scattered
           from
           Babel
           ,
           so
           are
           they
           of
           Noah
           
           who
           was
           no
           way
           interested
           in
           that
           Dispersion
           ,
           or
           in
           those
           Languages
           which
           are
           deriv'd
           therefrom
           .
           (
           6.
           )
           The
           learned
           Sciences
           seem
           to
           have
           been
           anciently
           much
           better
           known
           in
           China
           than
           in
           these
           Parts
           of
           the
           World
           :
           Their
           Government
           and
           Constitution
           much
           firmer
           ,
           and
           more
           lasting
           than
           Ours
           :
           Their
           most
           Ancient
           Histories
           more
           Authentick
           and
           Certain
           than
           Ours
           ;
           (
           excepting
           those
           of
           more
           than
           humane
           Original
           .
           )
           All
           which
           things
           make
           one
           ready
           to
           imagin
           ,
           that
           as
           't
           is
           probable
           Noah
           might
           be
           much
           wiser
           and
           learneder
           than
           any
           of
           his
           Sons
           ;
           so
           all
           those
           Settlements
           ,
           Laws
           ,
           and
           Traditions
           ,
           which
           are
           deriv'd
           from
           him
           ,
           are
           remarkable
           Effects
           and
           Testimonies
           of
           the
           same
           :
           and
           therefore
           that
           in
           China
           (
           where
           these
           Effects
           and
           Testimonies
           chiefly
           appear
           )
           all
           those
           Prerogatives
           are
           owing
           to
           Noah
           ,
           their
           Original
           Founder
           ,
           and
           to
           no
           other
           .
           (
           7.
           )
           There
           are
           some
           Reasons
           to
           believe
           that
           the
           Chinese
           mean
           no
           other
           by
           their
           first
           Monarch
           Fohi
           ,
           than
           Noah
           himself
           :
           For
           as
           the
           beginning
           of
           their
           History
           ,
           with
           the
           Reign
           of
           Fohi
           ,
           will
           ,
           if
           their
           old
           years
           were
           Lunar
           ,
           fall
           ,
           even
           from
           the
           Hebrew
           Verity
           ,
           about
           the
           second
           Century
           of
           Noah's
           Life
           ;
           (
           as
           if
           they
           were
           Solar
           ,
           they
           will
           fall
           about
           the
           time
           of
           his
           Birth
           :
           )
           So
           what
           their
           History
           of
           King
           Fohi
           mentions
           about
           his
           Sacrificing
           ,
           and
           his
           Name
           of
           Sacrificer
           given
           him
           from
           thence
           ,
           seems
           plainly
           to
           refer
           to
           the
           Sacred
           History
           of
           Noah
           ,
           and
           of
           his
           Sacrifice
           after
           the
           Flood
           .
           From
           all
           which
           I
           think
           't
           is
           evident
           ,
           that
           we
           have
           good
           grounds
           to
           believe
           the
           Chinese
           the
           Off-spring
           of
           Noah
           ,
           by
           his
           Children
           born
           after
           the
           Deluge
           :
           and
           that
           from
           this
           difference
           of
           Original
           proceeds
           all
           that
           difference
           in
           other
           things
           ,
           which
           is
           so
           remarkable
           ,
           if
           compar'd
           
           with
           the
           rest
           of
           the
           World
           ,
           in
           that
           Ancient
           Numerous
           ,
           and
           Learned
           Nation
           .
        
         
           Let
           the
           Testimony
           out
           of
           Plutarch
           be
           thus
           inserted
           .
           
        
         
           
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
             〈◊〉
          
           .
           'T
           was
           the
           Doctrine
           of
           Empedocles
           ,
           that
           when
           Mankind
           sprang
           Originally
           from
           the
           Earth
           ,
           the
           length
           of
           the
           Day
           ,
           by
           reason
           of
           the
           slowness
           of
           the
           Sun's
           course
           ,
           was
           equal
           to
           ten
           of
           our
           present
           Months
           .
        
         
           FINIS
           .
        
      
       
         
           ERRATA
           .
        
         
           
             PAg.
             6.
             
             Line
             28.
             read
             
               Internal
               heat
            
             .
          
           
             7.
             22.
             read
             the.
             
          
           
             16.
             29.
             read
             pervious
             .
          
           
             17.
             16.
             read
             Waters
             .
          
           
             25.
             read
             
               to
               the
               raising
            
             .
          
           
             18.
             10
             ,
             11.
             read
             
               place
               ,
               in
               Mr.
            
             Keill's
             
               Opinion
               ,
               besides
            
             .
          
           
             24.
             5.
             dele
             for
             .
          
           
             26.
             11.
             read
             Shells
             .
          
           
             29.
             11.
             read
             this
             .
          
           
             31.
             24.
             dele
             of
             .
          
           
             34.
             19
             ,
             20.
             read
             
               Into
               its
               Tail
               ,
               unless
               it
               were
               very
               short
               .
            
          
           
             36.
             8.
             dele
             and.
             
          
           
             25.
             read
             tails
             .
          
        
         
      
    
     
       
         Notes, typically marginal, from the original text
         
           Notes for div A65674-e110
           
             Dr.
             Bentley
             ,
          
           
             Coroll
             .
             3
             ,
             &
             4.
             post
             Solut.
             59.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A65674-e1070
           
             Remarks
             ,
             Pag.
             ult
             .
          
           
             Pag.
             179
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             1.
             2.
             
          
           
             P.
             182
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Solut.
             2.
             
          
           
             Sect.
             4.
             
          
           
             Pag.
             184
             ,
             185.
             
          
           
             P.
             185
             ,
             &c
             :
          
           
             P.
             189.
             
          
           
             Pag.
             190
             ,
             191.
             
          
           
             P.
             191
             ,
             &c
             ,
          
           
             Solut.
             7.
             
          
           
             Corol.
             2.
             
          
           
             P.
             193
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             P.
             102.
             
          
           
             Fig.
             3.
             
          
           
             P.
             203
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             P.
             104
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             P
             207
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Remarks
             ,
             P.
             215.
             
          
           
             P.
             215
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             P.
             217.
             
          
           
             P.
             221
             ,
             &c.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A65674-e3180
           
             Dr.
             
               T.
               Robinson's
            
             Additional
             Remarks
             .
          
           
             Phaenom
             .
             83.
             
          
           
             Pag.
             85.
             
          
           
             N●
             .
             ●
             .
             Phaenom
             .
             71.
             
          
           
             
               Dr.
               Nichols
            
             2d
             Conference
             with
             a
             Theist
             .
          
           
             Dr.
             Nichols
             .
          
           
             Dan.
             8.
             14.
             26.
             
          
           
             N.
             T.
             P.
             84.
             
          
           
             Vid.
             Plut.
             de
             Plac.
             
          
           
             Philosoph
             .
          
           
             L.
             5.
             
             C.
             18.
             
          
           
             Censorin
             .
          
           
             De
             die
             Natali
             .
          
           
             C.
             20.
             
          
           
             Dr.
             Nichols
             .
          
           
             Dr.
             Nichols
             .
          
           
             Dr.
             Nichols
             ,
          
           
             Dr.
             Nichols
             .
          
           
             Dr.
             Nichols
             .
          
           
             Mr.
             B.
             
          
           
             P.
             1●●
             .
          
           
             Mr.
             B.
             
          
           
             Mr.
             B.
             
          
           
             Solut.
             93.
             
          
           
             P.
             314.
             
          
           
             Fig.
             3.
             
          
           
             Mr.
             S.
             
          
           
             P.
             473.
             
          
        
         
           Notes for div A65674-e5140
           
             Lem.
             p.
             19.
             
          
           
             Post.
             2
             Coroll
             .
             Solut.
             33.
             
          
           
             Coroll
             .
             5.
             
          
           
             Solut.
             7.
             
          
           
             Ruth
             3.
             10.
             
          
           
             1
             Sam.
             17.
             12.
             
          
           
             Ezra
             2.
             1.
             
          
           
             Neh.
             7.
             5
             ,
             6.
             
          
           
             Antiq.
             1.
             11.
             c.
             4.
             
          
           
             Vid.
             P.
             S.
             
          
           
             2
             Sam.
             24.
             9.
             
          
           
             2
             Chron.
             28.
             6.
             
          
           
             Vid.
             P.
             S.
             
          
           
             2
             Chron.
             13.
             17.
             
          
           
             Scholium
             post
             Corol.
             
          
           
             2
             Solut.
             61.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             8.
             3
             ,
             4.
             
          
           
             ver
             .
             5.
             
          
           
             ver
             .
             13.
             
          
           
             v.
             14
             ,
             &c.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             10.
             25.
             
             &
             11
             3
             ,
             2.
             
          
           
             Corol.
             2.
             post
             Solut.
             61.
             
             Mr.
             Ray's
             Physico
             Theolog
             .
             Discourses
             ,
             P.
             28
             ,
             29.
             2d
             Edit
             .
          
           
             Scholium
             post
             sect
             2.
             
             Hypoth
             .
             8.
             
          
           
             Gen.
             9.
             19.
             
          
           
             Pag.
             33.