ed up into the Air, thicken and cool it, and, by their Interpofition betwixt the Earth, and the Sun, fkreen and fence off the ardent Heat of it, which would be otherwife unfupportable and are at laft returned down again in copious and fruitful Showers to the fcorched Earth; which, were it not for this remarkably Providential Contrivance of Things, would have been there perfectly uninhabitable laboured under an eternal Drought and have been continualy parched and burnt.

To this former Section I fhall add, by way of Appendix,

A Differtation concerning the Flux and Reflux of the Sea and its other Natural Motions; with an Account of the Caufe of thofe Motions: as alfo of the End and Ufe of them: and an Enquiry touching the Caufe of the Ebbing and Flowing, and fome other uncommon Phanomena of certain Springs.

A Difcourfe concerning the Saltness of the Sea.

A Difcourfe concerning Wind: the Origin, and Ufe of it in the Natural World.

SECT.

I.

2.

3.

SECT. II.

Of the Univerfality of

the Deluge.

Of the Water

which effected it. Together with fome further Particulars concerning it.

N the precedent Section I confider the present and natural State of the Fluids of the Globe. I ranfack the feveral Caverns of the Earth: and fearch into the Storehouses of Water; and this principaly in order to find out where that mighty Mafs of Water, which overflow'd the whole Earth in the Days of Noah, is now beftow'd and conceal'd: as alfo which Way 'tis at this Time ufeful to the Earth and its Productions, and ferviceable to the prefent Purposes of Almighty Providence.

Such a Deluge as that which Mofes reprefents, whereby All the high

Hills that were under the whole Heaven were cover'd*, would require a portentous Quantity of Water: and Men of Curiofity, in all Ages, have been very much to feek what was become of it, or where it could every find a Refervatory capable of containing it. 'Tis true there have been feveral who have gone about to inform them, and fet them to rights in this Matter; but for want of that Knowledge of the prefent Syftem of Nature and that infight into the Structure and Conftitution of the Terraqueous Globe, which was necessary for fuch an Undertaking, they have not given the Satisfaction that was expected. So far from it that the greatest Part of these, seeing no where Water enough to effect a General Deluge, were forc'd at laft to mince the Matter, and make only a Partial one of it; reftraining it to one fingle Country: to Afia, or fome leffer Portion of Land than which, nothing can be more contrary to the Mofaick Narrative.

;

For the reft, they had Recourfe to Shifts which were not much better: and rather evaded than folved the

Difficulty;

* Gen. vii.

19.

Difficulty; fome of them imagining that a Quantity of Water, fufficient to make fuch a Deluge, was created upon that Occafion: and, when the Bufinefs was done, all difbanded again and annihilated. Others fuppofed a Converfion of the Air and Atmosphere into Water, to ferve the. turn. Many of them were for fetching down I know not what fuperceleftial Waters for the Purpose. Others conluded that the Deluge rofe only. fifteen Cubits above the Level of the Earth's ordinary Surface, covering the Valleys and Plains, but not the Mountains; all equaly wide of Truth, and of the Mind of the Sacred Writer.

One of the laft Undertakers of all, feeing this, began to think the Caufe defperate and therefore, in Effect, gives it up. For, confidering how unfuccefsful the Attempts of those who were gone before him had *Theory of proved and having himself * also the Earth, employ'd his laft and utmoft Endeavours to find out Waters for the vulgar Deluge: having mufter'd up all the Forces he could think of, and all too little the Clouds above, and the

1. I. c. 2.

the Deeps below, and in the Bowels of the Earth; and thefe, fays he, are all the Stores we have for Water, and Mofes directs us to no other for the Caufes of the Deluge, he prepares for a Surrender, afferting, from a mistaken and defective Computation, that all these will not come up to near the Quantity requifite: and that in any known Parts of the Univerfe, to find Water fufficient for this Effect, as it is generaly explained and underfood, is, he thinks, impoffible: that is, fufficient to caufe a Deluge, to ufe his own Words, overflowing the whole Earth, the whole Circuit, and whole Extent of it, burying all in Water, even the greatest Mountains, which is, in plain Terms, fuch a one as was explain'd and underflood by Mofes, and the Generality of Writers fince.

Having therefore thus over-haftily concluded that such a Deluge was impoffible and that all Nature could. not afford Water enough to drown the whole Globe, if of the Circuit and Extent that now it is; he flies to a new Expedient to folve the Mat ter, and fuppofes an Earth of a

Make