Imatges de pàgina
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PART V.

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Of the Alterations which the Terraqueous Globe hath undergone fince the Time of the Deluge.

T now remains that we take a View of the Poftdiluvian State of this our Globe: that we examine how it hath food for this laft four thousand Years: that we enquire what Accidents have befallen it, and what Alterations it hath fuffered fince that wonderful Change it underwent at the Deluge.

There have been fome who have made a mighty Outcry about Changes and Alterations in the Terraqueous Globe. The Pretences and Pleas of each I confider in the firft Part of this Effay; fhewing that they are without

without any juft Grounds: and that there are no Signs, or Footsteps, in the whole Globe, of fuch Alterations. And indeed 'tis well for the World that there are not; for the Alterations, which they have fancy'd, are fuch as turn all the wrong Way: fuch as are without Ufe, and have no End at all, or, which is worse than none, a bad one: and tend to the Damage and Detriment of the Earth and its Productions.

Notwithstanding, fome Alterations there are which it hath, and doth ftill undergo. This is what we may pronounce with Certainty: and there want not Inftances enough fufficiently to vouch and atteft it. But these Alterations are of a quite different Strain these are as amicable and beneficent to the Earth and Terreftrial Bodyes, as the others, were there realy fuch, would be pernicious and deftructive to both. I have already given fome Intimations of the Chan- Part IV. ges which happen in the interiour Confect. 4. Parts of the Earth, I mean the Tranfitions and Removes of Metalls and Minerals there: and fhewn of R 3 what

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what Ufe and Advantage those Changes are to the World

So that I Confect. 9. may now påfs freely on to confider thofe which befall the exteriour, or Surface of it. And the fe are brought about filently and infenfibly: and, which is the conftant Method of Nature, with all imaginable Benignity and Gentleness. Here is none of the Hurry and Precipitation, none of the Bluftering and Violence: no more than any of the direful and ruinous Effects, which muft needs have attended thofe Suppofititious Changes. And as thefe Alterations are not great, fo neither are they numerous. I have made careful Search on all Hands, and canvafs'd the Matter with all poffible Diligence and yet there are none that I can advance from my own Obfervations, but,

I.

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That the upper or outermoft Stratum of Earth, that Stratum whereon Men and other Animals tread, and Vegetables grow, is in a perpetual Flux, and Change; this being the common Fund and Promptuary that fupplyes and fends forth Matter for the Formation of Bodyes upon the Face of the Earth. That all

Animals,

Animals, and particularly Mankind, as well as all Vegetables, which have had Being fince the Creation of the World, derived all the conftituent Matter of their Bodyes fucceffively, in all Ages, out of this Fund.

That the Matter, which is thus drawn out of this Stratum for the Formation of thefe Bodies, is at length laid down again in it, and restored back unto it, upon the Diffolution of them; where it lies ready to be again affumed, and educed thence for the fitting forth of other like Bodyes, in a continual Succeffion.

That the conftituent Matter of any one Body being proper, and turning thus naturaly, when again refunded into this Stratum, to the Conftitution of another like Body, there is a kind of Revolution or Circulation of it ; fo that the Stock or Fund can never poffibly be exbaufted, nor the Flux and Alteration fenfible.

That as the Bodyes which arife out of this Fund are various, differing very much, not only from one another, but the Members, Organs, or Parts of each individual amongst themselves; fo likewife is the Mat

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ter of this Fund whereof they all confift. For though, when confufedly blended and mingled, as it is whilft lying in this Stratum, it may put on a Face never fo uniform and alike, yet it is in reality very different, and confifts of feveral Ranks, Sets, or Kinds of Corpufcles.

That all the Corpufcles that are of the fame Set, or Kind, agree in every Thing, and are most exactly like unto each other in all Refpects. But thofe that are of diverfe Kinds, differ from one another, as well in Matter or Subftance, in Specifick Gravity, in Hardness, in Flexibility, and feveral other Ways, as in Bignefs, and Figure. That from the various Compofures and Combinations of these Corpufcles together, happen all the Varieties of the Bodyes forined out of them all their Differences in Colour and outward Appearance, in Tafte, in Smell, in Hardness, in fpecifick Gravity, and all other Regards; in much the fame manner as that vaft Variety we fee of Words arifes from the various Order and Compofition of the twenty four Letters of the Alphabet. But of this Matter, and

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