C 88 9 ) 
has to fay upon them. The Theory is divided into Two 
Parts. The. Fir ft treats of the Deluge and Diffolution of 
the Earth. The Second of the Primeval Earth and 
Paradije. 
As to the firft part of the Theory, the Author of thefe 
Confederations on it, firft lets forth, in oppofinon to k+ 
what he finds the Grounds and Reai'bns of the Ancients 
generally were, for admitting!^/^^ and Conftagrations,- 
and what their Learning was in General. Next, Where- 
as a Chaos is reprefented in the Theory (as the ground on 
which its Author propofes to build it} whence the World 
is faid to have rifen in time : He ihews that there is no 
material Reafcn, why a Chaos fhould be admitted, and 
that, as far as Humane Underftanding can reach, the 
World may have been in a perfed ftate from Eternity, 
according to the Opinion of Ariftotle, its Riie in time- 
being meerly a Point of faith. And admitting a Chaos, 
and a gradual Formation of the World from it, he con- 
ceives he has reprefented a more natural Explication of 
the Modus, than that which is propos'd in the Theory. 
And again, admitting the Original Formation of the. 
World, as the Theory has reprefented it, viz- By a firft 
Sediment of the Chaos, and an Orb of Waters or an- 
Abyft Orb over that, and an Orb of Earth over both ; 
which made the Primigenial or Antidikvian Earth, he 
thinks he has {hewn it irnpoffibie, that Noah's Deluge 
and the Formation of the prefent Earth fliould have been 
thence caus'd, and this both according to the Proportions 
oftfae Orbs of Earth and Waters, reprefented in the 
Schemes of the Theory, and according to other Proporti- 
ons which feem to be there intimated; and he conceives- 
no other Proportions whatfoever affignable to fuch 
Orbs, for producing the faid Effeds, but he. fhail be? 
able to (hew the fame impcffibility. 
