other Matters, because these Lines will come into the Hands of fome, to whom the Knowledge of them would be of no Ufe; and you are to understand that fome of thefe explanatory Declarations and Threats, at the times they are introduced, were only mental; and mentioned because all defigning Men refolve before they act; and fome brag what they will do; and becaufe the frongeft Evidence of some Men's Minds or Intentions are proved by Actions, which have come to pass afterwards; therefore 'till he please to tell us what induced him to do what he has done, which he has not fo much as hinted in Writing at the refpective Places; though the Reasons for each may be gathered from the Whole: And because I durft not introduce one doing fuch Acts, without af figning a Caufe, that we may have no Difpute about Words, I'll fuppofe, he only dreamed thus, or that I make these Apologies for him. After he had given. the Gentleman a Cut or two, and told him what Nations he had conquered; "Sir, do you difpute my Jurifdiction in thefe Affairs? I'll deter the reft by the Example I'll make of you: I'll treat you fo about denying that which is true, that I'll ftop your Mouth about the Laws of Gravity

Gravity with fuch Demonstrations, as are ufually given in that Cafe; that may be heard, but that neither you, nor I, can either fee, feel, or understand; and make that pafs with a Banter or two, and make them and you fwallow any thing. I have as much Right to determine these things as I have to difpofe of the faid Collection and Obfervations by Will, and leave them in Favour of Heathens, or Believers; and by Codicil, or new Will, to change at Pleafure. To fhew my Power, there is an old Story of a Chaos and Formation, which I have over and over allowed; and of fomething which I'm fure I cannot, and perhaps No-body can tell what, that put the Earth together at firft, divided the Waters, &c. I have confidered, if this fubfift,.my Discovery of the Diffolution is nothing but ftatu quo. And if ever that Agent be difcovered, of which I have received many Obfervations, which give very broad Hints,

it

may demolish Gravity; and that if the Parts of the Earth were once put together. by an Agent, withdrawing or altering the Actions of that Agent would be fufficient to diffolve it, without my inventing Means, fo to prove Mofes's Writings; though 'tis true, all Men, even the Heathens, had alH 2 lowed

lowed this Chaos, and had puzzled their Brains how to get it put together, without the Help of Mofes's God, and his Revelation; I, by my Nod, and as ufual, that I will at fome time add more fully; for the prefent, 'till I fee how Matters go, ftrike off that knotty Part of the Hiftory, and of the firft Formation; and I make it a Fiction of the Heathens; and all who have mentioned those Actions, idle Dreamers. And if any one oppofe this Decree, and offer to make ill Ufes of thofe Texts, I'll em ploy our greateft Hand to blaft thofe dangerous Tenets in the Bud; and all our Allies to undermine the Perfon, who shall presume to broach them by all practicable Ways and Means fecretly, or crush him openly; and where they fail, I'll do what I can. I did, to introduce myself, and to get this Poft, talk fomething of Observations being the only fure Grounds (without any Regard had to Revelation) and tho' I have fince been fufficiently convinced, that any one Obfervation, fairly made, will deftroy one or other of the chief Branches I have advanced, I must bring them in, though 'tis to prove other things which need no proving: I cannot forbear; I'H fhew you how I can use that Body called

་

Ludus

Ludus Helmontii, the only Body in that vast Collection, which ever was, or ever fhall be described; and which would have been playing Tricks with me, and offering ocular Demonstration, that my Syftem of the Formation of Nodules, of the Disruption, of the Formation of Metals, &c. was not true; and that thofe Actions were not performed by Gravity, nor Explosion, nor Fire, nor by any of my Agents, nor at any of my Times. Tis true, it furprifed me fo, that I, in a Fit of Vapours, when I thought I was going to die, writ under that I defcribed it, and would have done fo to all the reft, if I had lived; though 'tis also true, I never dreamed of it, and that was done by another in despight of all I could do to difprove it; and as I am come to myfelf again, I deny all Deductions, and I'll make it prove that Shells were in the Strata, and in Nodules before they were broken. I pretend to understand Hieroglyphicks, and to difcover all my Secrets there, and I have endeavoured to turn all Eyes that way; and the Fools fought for them there: no, there are fome to our Sorrow understand them bettor than us. We have agreed to ftile these, I had my Rife from, a Parcel of dull, ignorant, doltheaded Fellows; and it takes; so I am fure,

no body will ever fearch among them, to detect me. Do not tell me of your foul Draughts of Obfervations; I know, I altered them with my own Hand; fo that if they were produced, they can do me no Hurt. I'll take this Opportunity to clap in, in every twenty Sheets, two or three Lines, and make them mine. I'll apply them, though to no Purpose, so as they'll do no Hurt, though that is difficult. And fo as I hope, though I have the fair Draughts, every body will believe I had forgotten them: and those I cannot use myfelf, I'll difpofe of to others. I'll give you one other Inftance of my Power and Skill in managing the Evidence, upon which I found my Decree, by and by; you are not to expect that I fhould defcend to Particulars, or confider any thing about Confequences you are to wait for my great Work." But to return to the Text.

Ver. 2.

The Fountains alfo of the Deep and the Windows of Heaven were ftopp'd, and the Rain from Heaven was reftrained.