continuous, and not interrupted, or broken and the whole Mafs of the Water lay then above them all, and conftituted a fluid Sphere environing the whole Globe.

That, after fome time, the Strata were broken, on all Sides of the Globe: that they were dislocated, and their Situation varyed, being elevated in fome Places, and deprefs'd in others.

6.

That the Agent, or Force, which 79 effected this Difruption, and Dislocation of the Strata, was feated within the Earth.

That the Irregularities and Inequa- 8, lities of the Terreftrial Globe were caufed by this Means: date their Original from this Difruption, and are intirely owing unto it. That the natural Grotto's in Rocks, and those Intervalls of the Strata, which, in my Obfervations, I call the Perpendicular Fiffures, are nothing but Confer thefe Interruptions or Breaches of the Pag. 11. fupra. Strata. That the more eminent Parts of the Earth, Mountains and Rocks, are only the Elevations of the Strata thefe, wherever they were folid, rearing against and supporting each

G.A

other

fupra.

other in the Pofture whereinto they were put by the Burfting or Break*Confer ing up of the Sphere of Earth*: Confect. 6. and not falling down again, nor returning to their former and more level Site, as did the Strata of Earth, and other Matter that was not folid, and had no Strata of Stone, or other confiftent Matter, interpos'd, amongst their Strata underneath, to uphold them in the Pofture they were then raifed into. For which Reafon 'tis, that Countryes which abound with Stone, Marble, or other folid Matter, are uneaven and mountainous : and that thofe which afford none of thefe, but confift of Clay, Gravel, and the like, without any Stone interpofed,are more champaign, plain, and level. That the lower Parts of the Earth, Vallyes, the Chanel of the Sea, and the reft, are nothing but Depreffions of the Strata. That Iflands were form'd and diftinguifh'd by the Depreffion or finking down of the Strata lying betwixt each of them, and betwixt them and the Continent. In one Word, that the whole Terraqueous Globe was, by this Means, at the Time of the Deluge,

put

put into the Condition that we now behold.

In

Here was, we fee, a mighty Revolution: and that too attended with Accidents very ftrange and amazing: the most horrible and portentous Catastrophe that Nature ever yet faw: an elegant, orderly, and habitable Earth quite unhinged, fhatter'd all to Pieces, and turned into an Heap of Ruins: Convulfions fo 'exorbi tant and unruly: a Change fo exceeding great and violent, that the very Reprefentation alone is enough to ftartle and fhock a Man. Truth the Thing, at firft, appear'd fo wonderful and furprizing to me, that I must confefs I was for fome Time at a Stand. Nor could I bring over my Reason to affent, untill, by a deliberate and careful Examination of all Circumstances of these Marine Bodyes, I was abundantly convinced that they could not have come into thofe Circumftances by any other Means than fuch a Diffolution of the Earth, and Confufion of Things. And were it not that the Obfervations, made in fo many, and those fo diftant Places, and repeated fo of

ten

ten with the moft fcrupulous and diffident Circumfpection, did fo establish and afcertain the Thing, as not to leave any Room for Contest or Doubt, I could fcarcely ever have credited it.

And though the whole Series of this extraordinary Turn may feem at first View to exhibit nothing but Tumult and Disorder: nothing but Hurry, Jarring, and Diftraction of Things: though it may carry along with it fome flight Shew that 'twas managed blindly and at random; yet if we draw fomewhat nearer, and take a closer Profpect of it: if we look into its retired Movements, and more fecret and latent Springs, we may there trace out a feady Hand; producing Good out of Evil: the moft confummate and abfolute Order and Beauty, out of the highest Confufion and Deformity: acting with the most exquifite Contrivance and Wisdom: attending vigilantly throughout the whole Courfe of this grand Affair, and directing all the feveral Steps and Periods of it to an End, and that a moft noble and excellent one; no less than the Happinefs of the whole

whole Race of Mankind: the Benefit, and univerfal Good, of all the many Generations of Men which were to come after: which were to inhabit this Earth, thus moduled anew, thus fuited to their prefent Condition and Neceffities.

But the Prefidence of that mighty Power in this Revolution: its particular Agency and Concern therein and its Purpose and Defign in the feveral Accidents of it, will more evidently appear, when I fhall have proved,

:

That, altho' one Intention of the Deluge was to inflict a deferved Punishment upon that Race of Men, yet it was not foley levell'd against Mankind, but principaly against the Earth that then was, with Defign to deftroy and alter that Conftitution of it, which was apparently calculated and contrived for a State of Innocence: to fashion it afresh, and give it a Conftitution more nearly accommodated to the prefent Frailties of its Inhabitants..

That the faid Earth, though not indifferently and alike fertil in all Parts of it; was yet generaly much

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