were doubtless formed by the general deluge. TI;e ex- 

 terior parts of the earth were then dissolved, and mixed 

 with the waters in one common mass. Afterward they 

 sunk, nearly according to the laws of gravity, the heavi- 

 est first,* and the lighter in their order. So were these 

 strata formed, which hardening by degree?, have con- 

 tinued ever since. It is probable these lay more regu- 

 larly at first, bnt have been "much changed in process of 

 time, and their order disturbed by earthquakes, volcano*, 

 and -divers other causes. 



The earth is nearer the sun at Christmas than at W 

 summer, as appears both from the sun's apparent <ib. 

 ter being greater in December th;w June, and from i's 

 motion being then swifter. Hence it is that there .are 

 about eight days more in the jammer half ywr, from 

 March to September, tlum in the winter h 

 September to March, 



That the earth moves round its own axis, not the sun 

 and stars round the earth, may appear from this single 

 consideration. AH the planets revolve in more or less 

 time, as their orbits are greater or less, if then they mo- 

 red round the earth, they must revolve in unequal tiajes, 

 recording to their orbits ; not all in the same time, in 

 Four and twenty hours, as they seem to do. Therefore, 

 :hey do not move round the earth ; but the earth, as the 

 *est, round -its own axis. 



That it .moves also round the sun appears thus, All 

 Bodies which turn round each otker, must gravitate to- 

 varcl* each other : consequently if the sun gravitates to 

 he earth, so must the earth to the sun. Now it is de* 

 nonstrable, that when two bodies gravitate to each other, 

 vithout approaching each other in right lines, they both 

 urn round their common centre of gravity. But the 

 arth being no more than a point to the sun, the common 

 eatre of these two bodies will be within the body of 

 he sun itself and not far from the centre of it. The 

 arth therefore turns round a point which is in the sun : 

 onsequentlj round the sun. Indeed to suppose the 

 arth at rest, destroys all the order and harmony of tlie 

 , annuls its laws, and sets every part at 



JJLJ-. 



