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and for a fliort time, we may conclude from univerfal and 

 nearly an uniform experience. But that the great Being that 

 eftablifhed them, could not alfo interrupt their adlion, or 

 violate them on any occafion, I fee no reafon to fuppofe. Nay 

 Mr. Hume himfelf, in a note in the fecond part of this effay, 

 admits the poflibility of their alteration; for he tells us, " that 

 *' the decay, corruption and diffolution of nature is an event 

 *' rendered probable by many analogies." The truth of this 

 affertion, which Mr. Hume very unconfequentially admitted 

 on the teftimony of a few aftronomers, I need not examine ; but 

 I entertain no doubt but they were violated at the time of the 

 univerfal deluge, a fadl attefled, not only by the almoft unani- 

 mous traditions of the moll antient civilized nations, but by 

 the evident traces of that cataftrophe ftill apparent in many 

 parts of the globe. That the phyfical laws of nature have fince 

 been interrupted on various occafions, for the eftablifhment of 

 the Jewifli and Chriftian revelations, if any credit can be given 

 to fuch teftimony as Mr. Hume calls a full proof, feems to me 

 demonftrated. A caufe capable of interrupting thefe laws, aud 

 an occafion worthy of that interpofition, have been affigned, 

 the moft cogent teftimony that fuch interruption has adtually 

 taken place is produced, and the connexion of the prefent ftate of 

 mankind by innumerable links with the belief of fuch interruption, 

 in every age fince the commencement of our asra, is ftill ap- 

 parent. But a caufe capable of producing a moral miracle in 

 fupport of a falfehood, though anxioufly fought for by fome 



antient 



