( iof4 )^ 
World could be made by chance, that they held an infinite 
. Wifdom, or mind direfting all things, that is, a God wholly 
neceflary for it, who from an inform and confus'd mat- 
ter, made and eftabliOit this wonderful order and ornament 
we fee. ^ 
He urges the excellency of the Mofiick ?hilof(9phy from 
its Antiquity, as having been derived By a continued 
Tradition from our firft Parents. That received it, 
and his Sons, efpecially Sem and Japheth, it i-, not to be 
doubted 5 who we may believe took care to convey it to 
Pgflenty. and tho mankind fell by degrees from Piety to 
a LicentioiiGiefs in a51 Vice ^ fo thatall, ink manner, neg- 
]e£ted, or vvhoily defpisy their Creator, whereby their 
; minds were blinded, as ro the notions they had imbib'd 
.concerning God .and Nature 5 fo ihat whatever Doftrines 
they fct up after vvard concerning beginnings, were very 
; obfcure and imperfeft, or trivial and falfc : Yet in the JFa- 
mily of Heher the true knowledge continued longer, who 
delivered it to the Hebrem defcended from him. And he 
- thinks no principles of Philofophy may be found, which 
more ?ptly agree both to Chemical and Mechanical expe- 
rience, or fo fitly quadrate to thofe things that now offer, 
. as thofe which may be form'd and drawn according to the 
.-feat of the Mofaick, Wifdom^ and then hQ lays down the 
four following propofitions as a foundation to build his 
.Dodrine upon. 
1. That the wifdom of the Mofaick, Cofmologj can fcarce 
ie underftood, unlefs we firft know thofe Principles of 
Philofophy which Mj/e?/ had regard to, when he apply'd 
>himfe]f to write of the origin of all things. 
2. Thofe principles can neither be difcerned by reafon, 
„nor be well xonjeftur'd at, unlefs we firft know what 
.principles .of Philofophy prevail'd in that Age. 
g. That the Philofophy of that Age was Corpufculary, 
,'hplding that whatfgevcr wascontain^d within the Heav ns 
and 
