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and there are many things which he has. reveal'd, which neither they who faw and furviv'd the Flood, nor thofe fince, nor we, could have known, though feveral of them, as they are reveal'd, may be prov'd to be true by natural Evidence. And there were fome Alterations made foon after the firft Formation of the Earth, which, perhaps, would have fome different Effects in the fecond Formation of the Earth, during the Flood; which, 'tis likely, anfwer'd the End of diffolving the Earth. That there was a Flood which destroy'd all the Men and Animals, which are related to have been destroy'd, needs no proving; but what I take for granted, and what I have feen natural Evidence enough to prove, viz. that the Parts of the Earth, Stone, Metals, &c. were dif folv'd at the Flood, and that the Remains of Animals, &c. found in Stone, are really fuch, has lately been counted a Difcovery or two. Many Remains of Animals and Vegetables preferv'd in Stone, Clay, Sand, &c. have been collected, and produc'd, forted into Claffes, and a Lift of hard Names pick'd out for them: Collections have also been made of the Remains of Animals, which have lately liv'd, and of Vegetables which have lately grown,

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to those who never look'd into the Earth or Sea, that each Species of them are alike in all Respects. Others have discover'd, that there was no Diffolution, and account for the Shells other ways. The various Tranflations of feveral Words in Scripture, which relate to this, fome before, and fome after, and fome Heathen blind Evidence, have been cited to prove that there was. And every thing which has been discover'd, or fhall be discover'd in this Affair, or about puting it together again, is to be fuppress'd, or feiz'd, and apply'd to their Ufe and Purpofes, right or wrong; without any Account. And the one argues thus; "When Man, whom God created pure and upright, had fubjected himself to Death, and fo human Nature was fwallowed up in Sin, and being depraved by Lufts, juft Vengeance foon overtook this Licentioufnefs. And we all of us, prove by denying it, or tacitly acknowledge the Sentence of God the Creator and Judge inflicted on finful Man, and the Earth for Man's fake, and which is to laft, as long as the Earth is inhabited by Men; it's natural Infirmity is a Witnefs fufficient to convince the moft obftinate, tho' they should not believe the Scripture which is

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true and faithful. Moreover we have it on the Authority of the most credible Writers, that all Mankind was deftroyed, (a few only being preferved in an Ark, for their Faith, to renew the Race,) by the Sea which was let loose upon the Earth, and the invading Deluge; when the Globe being cover'd over, all was Air or Sea. And they affure us that there have been fome, who tho' ignorant of paft Times and of the Author of Times, [Temporum] have gueffed it from the Stones which we find in diftant Mountains, full of Shells, and often worn and hollowed out (r)". "When he says, the Fountains of the Abyfs and Cataracts of Air, he plainly fhews that the whole vifible Creation was furrounded with Water-fo the Earth was reduced to its original Chaotic Condition, [Barbariem] without Form and invifible. The Waters above and below becoming, as at firft, a dirty Sink, [Colluvies] brought all into that diforderly Confufion (s)". It may be demonftrated many Ways that an univerfal Flood has

(r) Max. Bibl. vet. Patrum. Vol. 6. p. 381. Paulí Orofii. Lib. 1. Ibid. Mag. Bibl. vet. Pat. Tom. 5. Pars I. p. 339.

(s) Procopii Gazæi Sophiftæ Comment. in Genef. cap. 7. p. 100.

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invaded the Earth, which will convince those that are unwilling to believe Mofes who has explained thefe Things: For there are yet to be feen in high Mountains and Places difficult of Accefs, various Sorts of Fish-fhells, left by the Sea, and fuch like, which I myself have feen (t)". "And the other thus. For even in our Times, they who dig Stone for Building, have found on the Top of Libanus, feveral forts of Sea-fish, which happen'd to stick faft to the Clay in those Hollows of the Mountains (u)". "For there is in fome Places fuch a mineral Power, that not only Waand other Things are turned into Stone, but even Animals, which happen'd into thofe Places have been turned into a Stone, inclining a little to Redness, whence he fays, we find in Stone Bodies like thofe of Men and Beasts.-But the Proof that they were real Animals is, that we not only find all the outward but the inward Lineaments, which are to be found in real Animals of the fame Species: for it is impoffible that this should be performed by human Skill, because the Workman might carve without, but could not carve them

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(t)-Ibid. Cap. 8. p. 101.

(u) Max. Bibl. vet. Patr. Tom. 27. De Eustatii in Hexam. Comment. p. 33.

within: Whence we have the strongest Argument that these were once real Animals, &c. (x)". "Vitruvius writes that Vegetables and Animals may, by a certain univerfal Virtue, be turned into Stone "(y). I know not that there was any great Neceffity for Mofes to reveal what affords plain Evidence to the Senfes ; nor did the other facred Writers mention it as a Discovery, but in enumerating the Acts wherein God had manifefted his Power over Matter. Mofes fpeaks plainly enough, and doubtless where his Cotemporaries thought there was any Need, explained his Writings by Words to the then Ifraelites; which would be handed down by Tradition, or, perhaps, by Writing; and he will speak still plainer to us than they have lately made him speak, when the things are a little better underftood; and alfo the other Writers, as well those which are facred, as thofe counted Apocryphal, allowing for the Hebrew Manner of expreffing their Tenfes, when speaking of the Works of God, as attempted to be explain'd, Synopfis Critic. Tom. I. p. 7.

(*) Alphonf. Toftati. Tom. I. p. 157. The ancient Philofophers cited by Albert. Magn. Lib. fuo De natura loci.

(y) Lodovici Celii Lectionum antiquarum Lib. 30. p. 1691.

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