GENERAL CONFLAGRATION. 



18S 



great (or the eyf; to bear ; and even a rod of iron 

 or steel is made to blaze under its energy. 



The modern infidel, like the scoffers of old, 

 BCouts the idea of the dissolution of the world, 

 and of the restitution of the universe, &quot; because 

 all things continue as they were from the begin 

 ning of the creation ; not knowing the Scrip 

 tures, nor the power of God ;&quot; and not consi 

 dering the principles and facts in the system of 

 nature, which indicate the possibility of auch an 

 event. But, from the fact now stated, we may 

 learn how easily this effect may be accom 

 plished, even in conformity with those laws 

 which now operate in the constitution of our 

 globe. For should the Creator issue forth his 

 almighty fiat &quot; Let the nitrogen of the atmos 

 phere be completely separated from the oxygen, 

 and let the oxygen exert its native energies 

 without control, wherever it extends ;&quot; from 

 what we know of its nature, we are warranted 

 to conclude, that instantly a universal conflagra 

 tion would commence throughout all the king 

 doms of nature not only wood, coals, sulphur, 

 bitumen, and other combustible substances, but 

 even the hardest rocks and stones, and all the 

 metals, fossils, and minerals, and water itself, 

 which is a compound of two inflammable sub 

 stances, would blaze with a rapidity which would 

 carry destruction through the whole expanse .of 

 the terraqueous globe, and change its present 

 aspect into that of a new world : at the same 

 time, all the other laws of nature might still 

 operate as they have hitherto done since the 

 creation of the world. 



I do not mean positively to assert, that this 

 is the agent which the Almighty will certainly 

 employ for accomplishing this terrible catas 

 trophe, (though we think it highly probable,) 

 since Infinite Power is possessed of numerous 

 resources for accomplishing its objects, which 

 lie beyond the sphere of our knowledge and 

 comprehension. But I have brought forward 

 this fact, to show with what infinite ease this 

 event may be accomplished, when Almighty 

 Power is interposed. By means of the know 

 ledge we have acquired of the constitution of 

 the atmosphere, and by the aid of chymical ap 

 paratus, we can perform experiments on a. small 

 scale, similar in kind, though infinitely inferior 

 in degree, to the awful event under considera 

 tion. And, therefore, we can easily conceive 

 that He who formed the expansive atmosphere 

 which surrounds us, and who knows the native 

 energy of its constituent principles, may, by a 

 simple volition, make that invisible fluid, in a 

 few moments, the cause of the destruction of the 

 present constitution of our world, and, at the 

 same time, the means of its subsequent, renova 

 tion. For, as fire does not annihilate, but only 

 changes, the forms of matfer, this globe on. which 

 we now tread, and which bears the marks of 



ruin and disruption in several parts of its struc 

 ture, may come forth from the flames of the- 

 general conflagration, purified from all its physi 

 cal evils, adorned with new beauties and subli* 

 mities, and rendered a fit habitation for pure in 

 telligences, either of our own species or of: 

 another order. For, though the &quot; heavens,&quot; or 

 the atmosphere, &quot; shall be dissolved, and the 

 elements melt with fervent heat ;&quot; &quot;yet,&quot; sayg 

 the Apostle Peter, &quot; we, according to his pro 

 mise, look for new heavens and a new earth, 

 wherein dwelleth righteousness.&quot; Whether, 

 after being thus renovated it shall be allotted as 

 the residence of the redeemed inhabitants of 

 our world, is beyond our province at present to 

 determine. But if not, it will, in all probability} 

 be allotted as the abode of other rational beings, 

 who may be transported from other regions, to 

 contemplate a new province of the divine em 

 pire, or who may be immediately created for the 

 purpose of taking possession of this renovated 

 v/orld. For we have reason to believe, that the 

 energies of creating power will be continually 

 exerted, in replenishing the boundless universe, 

 throughout all the ages of infinite duration, and 

 that no substances or worlds which God has 

 created, will ever be suffered to fall into annihi 

 lation at least, that the original atoms of matter 

 will never be destroyed, whatever new forms 

 they may assume, and however varied the com 

 binations into which they may enter. 



The above are only a few examples out of 

 many which were intended to be specified, of 

 the illustrations which the system of nature 

 affords of the doctrines and facts of revela 

 tion, but the narrow limits of this volume pre 

 vent further enlargement. 



It was also intended to follow up the pre 

 ceding discussions with particular illustrations 

 of the following topics: The views which sci 

 ence affords of the incessant energies of crea 

 ting power the changes and revolutions which 

 appear to have happened, and which are still 

 going on in the distant regions of the uni 

 verse, as tending to amplify our views of tht 

 grand and multifarious objects over which Di 

 vine Providence preside* the connexion of sci 

 ence with a future state the aids which the 

 discoveries of science afford, in enabling us to 

 form a conception of the scenes of future fe 

 licity of the employments of the heavenly 

 inhabitants, and of their perpetual advances in 

 knowledge and happiness, and in their views 

 of the perfections of Deity the morui relation* 

 of intelligent beings to their Creator, and to 

 each other ; and the physical grounds or reason 

 of those moral laws which the Deity has pro 

 mulgated for regulating the conduct, and for 

 promoting the harmony and order of intelligent 

 agents illustrations of the allusions of the sa 

 cred writers to the system of the material worU 



