300 Form of the Eartb. [Book VI. 



cumftance, however, which, though now fo univer- 

 fally known, remained undifcovered for many thou- 



' fand 



c But upon its orbit's being then changed, when it was more re- 

 gularly wheeled round the fun, every thing took its proper place ; 

 every part of the furrounding fluid then fell into a fituation, in 

 proportion as it "was light or heavy. The middle, or central part, 

 which always remained unchanged, ftill continued fo, retaining a 

 part of that heat which it received in its primeval approaches to- 

 wards the fun; which heat, he calculates, may continue for about 

 fix thoufand years. Next to this fell the heavier parts of the 

 chaotic afmofphere, which ferve to fuftain the lighter : but as in 

 descending they could not entirely be feparated from many : watery 

 parts, with which they were intimately mixed, they drew down a 

 part of thefe alfo with them , and thefe could not mount again 

 after the furface of the earth was confolidated : they, therefore, 

 furrounded the heavy fi^fl: defcending parts,'in the fame manner as 

 thefe furround the central globe. Thus the entire body" of the 

 earth is compofed internally of a great burning globe: next which 

 is placed an heavy terrene fub (lance, that encompafTes it; round 

 which alfo is circunlfufed a body of water. Upon' this body of 

 water, the cruft of earth on which we inhabit is placed: fo that, 

 according to him,' the globe is compofed of a number of coats, or 

 Ihells, one within the other, all of different denfuies. The body of 

 the earth being thus formed, the air, which is the lighteft fub- 

 fiance of all, furrounded its furface ; and the beams of the fun dart- 

 ing through, produced that light which, we are told, firft obeyed 

 the Creator's command. 



The whole ceconomy of the creation being thus adjufted, it 

 only remained to account for the rifings and depreffions on the 

 furface of the earth, wi'rh the other feeming irregularities of its 

 prefent appearance. The hills and vallies are considered by him 

 .as formed by thx-ir prefiing upon the internal' fluid, which fuftains 

 the outward ftell of earth, with greater of lefs weight: thofe parts 

 of the earth which are heavieft, fink into the fubj?. cent fluid more 

 deeply, and become vallies : thofe that are lighteft, rife higher 

 upon the earth's furface, and are called mountains. 



* Such was the face of nature before the deluge ; the earth was 

 then more fertile and populous than it is a't prefent ; the life of man 

 and animals were extended to ten times its prefent duration ; and 

 all thefe advantages arofe from the fuperior heat of the central 

 globe, which ever fince has been cooling. As its heat was then in 



full 



