[ 5 1 ] 
bottom of the then fea (the prefent continents), at 
once as high or higher than what was before ary land, 
mud in a very fhort time have drowned and over- 
whelmed the antediluvian earth,, by pouring out the 
waters upon it; and it is alfo evident, that foi feme 
time the bottom of the fea, fo raifed, would continue 
covered with the waters, which, till the vaft agitation 
into which they were flung fubfided, would continue 
flowing backwards and forwards. But, by degiees, 
and very eaflly within the time mentioned in Sciip- 
ture, the water would drain oft from all the higher 
parts, and leave the new land quite dry, and in the 
date we now find it, with flrata of fhehs, and land, 
and dones, and other bodies, lying juft as the iea had 
by accident many ages before placed them. Whereas,, 
were the deluge occafioned only by. an addition, of 
water fufdcient to raife the furface of the fea higher 
than the land and mountains, in that cafe, it is im- 
poflible to imagine any means, at all confident with 
the courfe and laws of nature, by which fuch an 
immenfe body of water could be. evaporated or con- 
veyed away in fo fhort a fpace of time. And benues, 
in that cafe, the.fhells, &c. flung upon the land by the 
concufiion of the waters, and fubfidihg there within fo 
fhort a fpace of time, would rather be iound lying 
according to their fpecific gravities : a fad which Dr. 
Woodward fupnofed certain, but which is by no 
means true. Nor indeed, according to the conjedures 
here advanced, is it at all necelTary that it fliould be fo. 
For, as I imagine the fhells and other marine bodies, 
which are now found on various parts of the dry land, 
to have been placed there gradually during a fuccefiion 
of ages, whilft it was the bottom of the iea ; it will 
H 2 follow, 
