( 236 ) 



jieareft the centre, this being the weakeft part 

 of the globe, would of neceflity give way 

 firft; and, of courfe, whatever fubftance was 

 at the bottom would form the fummits of the 

 mountains which were then raifed. And that 

 this converfion of the bed of the ocean into 

 the fummits of mountains has adlually taken 

 place, is abundantly proved by the relidls of 

 marine animals, which have been found on 

 mountains of the greatefl height. 



It is certain, that there is a fubterraneous 

 fire in every portion of the globe ; and that it 

 is owing to the goodnefs of God, it does not 

 break forth and confume the whole ; which 

 the divine records allure us will one day hap- 

 pen, perhaps fooner than the generality of 

 mankind imagine. 



Some objedt, that fire cannot burn with- 

 out air, which is a fa<5l. But when it is con- 

 fidered, that the whole globe is full of rents, 

 more particularly its rocky parts, a very finall 

 quantity of air will make a fire burn mode- 

 rately, and continue many ages without go- 

 ing into flame. The more any fire is con- 

 fined, fo much is the degree of heat increafed. 

 Our ideas of the degrees of heat in fubterra- 

 neous fires are at befl but very imperfedl. 



All 



