" But if the fucceffion of worlds is eftablifh- 



<c ed in the fyftem of nature, it is in vain to 



" look for any thing higher in the origin of 



' the earth. The refult, therefore, of our 



; prefent inquiry is, That we find no veftige 



c of a beginning, no profpecl of an end." 



From this coiiclufion I beg leave to diflent. 

 For it is exprefsly declared by divine Wifdom 

 which cannot err, That the world was cre- 

 ated by the almighty power of God in fix 

 days. The fcriptures alfo ailert, that this 

 earth will be wholly deflroyed by fire. 



Many of the Doctor's arguments, though 

 employed by him for a different ^purpofe, 

 may be brought with equal propriety to prove 

 that there has been an univerfal deluge, and 

 that the whole world was convulfed at that 

 period. And indeed, this fadl throws great 

 light on his theory. 



He often mentions the collection of mate- 

 rials from fea and land animals, as in p. 80. 

 " At a grofs computation, there may per- 

 " haps be a fourth part of our folid land, 

 " which is compofed from the matter that 

 * c had belonged to thefe animals." 



From the creation of the world to the de- 

 luge, about 1650 years elapfed; during which 



period, 



