;^rt IL of fl^e Earth. f S 



ftprity, for a few Generations ; yet 

 the Fright was not lafting: 'twas not 

 long e're the Sting of it was worn out. 

 And though the Elder Ages knew full 

 well that there had been fuch a De- 

 luge: gind had fbme Tradition of the 

 cruel Delblation it made 5 yet by de- 

 grees the Particulars of it were drop'd, 

 and the nioft frightful PafTages bore the 

 leaft fhare in the Relation ; being pro- 

 bably fb ftrange as to be hardly credi* 

 ble 5 and carrying rather an appearance 

 of Figment and Indention ^ in thofe 

 that handed down the memory of it, 

 than of Truth and ReaHty. So that 

 upon the whole 'tis very plain that the 

 Deluge was not fent only as an Execu- 

 tioner to Mankind : but that its prime 

 Errand was to reform and new-mold the 

 Earth. 



That therefore as much Harfhnefs 

 and Cruelty as this great Deftrudion 

 of Mankind feemingly carries along 

 with it: as wild and extravagant a 

 thing as that Diffolution of the primi- 

 tive Earth appeared at firfl: fight, yet 

 all the Severity lay in the Punifliment 

 of that Generation, (which yet was 

 no more than what was Jbighly juft, 

 yea and neceffary too: ) and the whole 



