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which the surface of this globe presents, appear to many, as indi- 

 cating a very improper degree of confidence and presumption. 



To trace the operations of nature, in periods far behind all human 

 record ; to pronounce opinions respecting the structure and the in- 

 habitants of a former world ; and to endeavour to find out the ways 

 of God in forming, destroying, and reforming the earth ; do cer- 

 tainly appear to be tasks, to which the limited powers of man are 

 but little adapted. But since the world we inhabit is evidently 

 composed of the wrecks of a former world ; the materials of which 

 that world was composed are, of course, at hand for our examina- 

 tion. The remains too of its former inhabitants are frequently 

 found preserved, in such situations as teach us. something, not only 

 respecting the extent of the changes, which have taken place on the 

 surface of this globe ; but even the particular element which was 

 employed, as the chief instrument of destruction, and of renova- 

 tion. Scripture, likewise, corroborated by the collateral evidence 

 of all human tradition, supplies us with the grand leading facts ; 

 that after the complete formation and the peopling of this globe, it 

 was subjected to the destructive action of an immense deluge of 

 water ; all the fountains of the great deep were broken up ; the 

 high hills that were under the whole heaven were covered ; and 

 every living substance was destroyed, which was on the face of the 

 earth. Chemistry and mineralogy also furnish us with their aid, by 

 which we are taught the several changes, of which these substances, 

 under various circumstances, are susceptible. 



By these aids, we may sometimes be enabled to form, perhaps, a 

 tolerably correct judgment, respecting some of the grand changes 

 which took place, during the vast revolution which this planet has 

 experienced. But so very remote is the period, to which our minds 

 are to revert : so loose, and so light, are the grounds on which our 

 conjectures are to be built : and so great is the temptation to ima- 

 gination, to take the place of judgment, that, among the several 



