Copy 1, Volume 1

The sacred theory of the earth. Containing an account of the original of the earth, and of all the general changes which it hath already undergone, or is to undergo, till the consummation of all things ... / [Thomas Burnet].

  • Burnet, Thomas, Sir, 1632?-1715?
Date:
1719
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The sacred theory of the earth. Containing an account of the original of the earth, and of all the general changes which it hath already undergone, or is to undergo, till the consummation of all things ... / [Thomas Burnet]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    able Change or Alteration, and why fh'ouid we believe (fay they) there will be any? What Appearance or what Foundation is there of fuch a Revolution, that all Nature will be diffolv’d, and the Heavens and the Earth eon- fum’d with Fire, as your Prophecies pretend ? So from the Permanency and Immutability of Nature hitherto, they argu’d its Permanency and Immutability for the future. To this the Apoflle anfwers, that they are willing to for¬ get that the Heavens and the Earth of old had a particular Form and Conftitution as to Wa¬ ter, by reafon whereof the World that then was, perifht by a Deluge. And the Heavens and the Earth that are now, or fince the De¬ luge, have a particular Conftitution in refe¬ rence to Fire, by reafon whereof they are ex¬ pos’d to another fort of Deftrudiion or Diffo- lution, namely by Fire, or by an univerfal Conflagration. The Words of the Apoftle, Chap* 3. verfe 5, 6, 7. are thefe ; For this they are willingly ignorant of that by the Word of God the Heavens were of old, and the Earthy confifxing of Water, and by Water, or (as we render it) /landing out of the Water, and in the Water: whereby the World that then was, be¬ ing overflow'd with Water, perifht. But the Heavens and the Earth that are now, by the fame Word are kept in ftore, refervd unto Fire againfl the Hay of Judgment. We lliall have occalion, it may be, hereafter to give a full II- luftration of thefe Words; but at prefent we Ihall only take notice of this in genera], that the Apoftle here doth plainly intimate fome difference
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