Chap. 45-1 Weary of the Earth. 197 



But the arguments and obfervations of Mr. White - 

 hurft arc more ckferving attention, fmce he is almoft 



the 



o'f thofe earthy particles with which it once was intimately blended, 

 it foon began to defecate, and to depofe thefe particles upon the 

 oily furface already mentioned, which foon uniting, the earth and 

 oil formed that cruit, which foon became an habitable furface, 

 giving life to vegetation, and dwelling to animals. 



' This imaginary antideluvian abode was very different from 

 what we fee it at prefent. The earth was light and rich ; and 

 formed of a fubilance entirely adapted to the feeble ftate of inci- 

 pient vegetation : it was an uniform plain, every where covered 

 with verdure ; without mountains, without feas, or the fmallefc 

 inequalities. It had no difference of feafons, for its equator was 

 in the plain of ihe ecliptic, or, in other words, it turned direftly 

 oppofite ro the fun, fo that it enjoyed one perpetual and luxuriant 

 fpring. However, this delightful face of nature did not long 

 continue in the fame Rate, for, after a time, it began to crack and 

 open in fiifures : 'a circumftance which always fucceeds when the 

 fun exhales the moiflure from rich or marihy fituations. The 

 crimes of mankind had been for fome time preparing to draw 

 down the wrath of Heaven; and they, at length, induced the 

 Deity to defer repairing thefe breaches in nature. Thus the 

 jchafms of the earth every day became wider, and, at length, they 

 penetrated to the great abyfs of waters ; and the whole earth, in 

 a manner, fell in. Then enfued a total diforder in the uniform 

 beauty of the firlt creation, the -terrene furface of *he globe being 

 broken down : as it funk the waters gufhed out in its place ; the 

 deluge became univerfal ; all mankind, except eight perfons, 

 were deftroyed, and their poiterity condemned to toil upon 

 the ruins of deiolated nature. - 



It only remains to' mention the manner in which he relieves 

 the earth from this univerfal wreck, which would feem to be as 

 difficult as even its firlr, formation. " Thefe great mattes of earth 

 failing into the abyfs, drew down with -them vaft quantities a Ho- 

 of air; and by dalhing againft each other, and breaking into fmall 

 parts by the repeated violence of the'lhock, they, at length, left 

 between- them large cavities filL-d with nothing but air. Thefe 

 cavities naturally offered a bed to receive the influent waters ; 

 and in proportion as they filled, the face of the earth became 

 once more vifible. The higher parts of its broken furfac*, now 

 become the tops of mountains,, were 1 the firil that appeared ; the 



plains 



