Parti. Z;^ //6^ Cr E ATioN. 89 



fhoLild refolve that Problem of diftilling frefh 

 Water out of Salt. That the Clouds fhould be 

 fo carried about by the Winds, as to be almofl 

 equally difperfed and diftributed, no Part of the 

 Earth wanting convenient Showers, unlefs when 

 it pleafeth God, for the Punifhment of a Nation, 

 to with-hold Rain by a fpecial Interpofition of 

 his Providence; or, if any Land wants Rain, they 

 ha\ie a Supply fome other way -, as the Land of 

 Egypfy tho' there feldom falls any Rain there, 

 yet hath abundant Recompence made it by the 

 annual overflowing of the River. This Diftri- 

 bution of the Clouds and Rain is to me (I fay) a 

 great Argument of Providence and divine Difpo- 

 fition ; for elfe I do not fee but why there might 

 be in fome Lands continual fucceflive Droughts 

 for many Years, till they were quite depopula- 

 ted ; in others as lafting Rains, till they were 

 overflown and drown'd 5 and thefe, if the Clouds 

 mov'd cafually, often happening ; whereas, iincc 

 the ancienteft Records of Hiftory, we do not 

 read or hear of any fuch Droughts or Liunda- 

 tions,' unlefs perhaps that of Cyprus, wherein 

 there fell no Rain there for Thirty-fix Years, till 

 the Ifland was almoft quite deferted, in the Reign 

 of Co?jJia?itine 5 which doubtlefs fell not out 

 without the wife Difpofition of Providence, for 

 great and weighty Reafons. 



Again, If we confider the manner of the Rain's 

 Defcent , . difl:illing down gradually , and by 

 Drops, which is moft convenient for the water- 

 ing of the Earth j whereas if it fhould fall down 

 • in 



