337 



sons. How pleasant than is it, to have a light held s 

 out from heaven, to guide our steps, to direct us in our 

 course, and to point out to us how our time wears out. 



- Secondly, she raises our* tides twice in twenty-four 

 hours, which is absolutely necessary towards the subsist- 

 ence both of animals and vegetables. Every body 

 knows that a lake that has no fresh water running into* 

 it, will by the heat of the sun in a few months, and its 

 stagnation, turn into a stinking, rotten puddle, sending 

 forth nauseous and poisonous steams. And though 

 many thousand rivers daily run into the sea, yet 

 they are very inconsiderable in respect of the vast ocean 

 of salt water; and would by no means hinder its stag- 

 nation, and consequently its corruption and stinking. 

 Now suppose the ocean stagnated, the first effect would 

 be, all the places towards the shores, would be wrought 

 upon by the sun, and turned to a mephitis. Then it 

 would get farther till the whole were become more 

 baneful and poisonous than the lake of Sodom and Go- 

 morrah. Hereby the fishes would first be destroyed, 

 and afterwards the plants and animals ; but by this 

 action of the motfn, the waters are lifted up on a heap, 

 as it were, arid then let fall again, whereby the waters 

 near the shores are constantly secured from stagnation 

 and corruption, atid the beginning of malady stiiied. 

 This perpetual change of new water on the shores, keep- 

 ing any one portion thereof, from being exposed to the 

 sun long enough to have its mixture corrupted. Now 

 what a noble contrivance have we here. By appointing 

 an attendant to our earth, all the animals and vegetables 

 are preserved from certain destruction. Though indeed 

 to the full effect of this wise design, the salt of the sea 

 does very much contribute ; as there are many sarnie rocks 

 and mountains dispersed over the foundations of the 

 great ocean. Besides this, how many conveniences for 

 our navigation in rivers and harbours does this ebbing 

 and flowing of the sea afford ? Yet if our earth nad 

 more than one moon attending it, we should receive 

 more damage than advantage by it ; for though hereby 



