The 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. The two last books, concerning the burning of the world, and concerning the new heavens and new earth.

  • Burnet, Thomas, 1635?-1715. Telluris theoria sacra
Date:
1697
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The 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. The two last books, concerning the burning of the world, and concerning the new heavens and new earth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    יי - ... ,, -l ...»,.<1 ·».··,.; ft 1~ ·־ ;!״, ז׳»,·fit -Μ ήπ I j Γ[ Λ , i .'\.A ז ■J Sit 1 ־ ״ ■ * ״ ״* - *· · *· · ^ j — ■ ״* CHAP. II. , f ·I ^ * , - 4 A f , r<-־ ר - / j 77?e true ftate of the Queftion h Propose/. Tis the general doffrine of the Ancients, that the preferit World, or theprefent frame of Natureר Is mutable and perifhable: To which the Sacred Books agree: and Nd- tural Reafon can alledge nothing againft it. t ** ״v* * r \ i ' /-־׳·■'־ ί χ. · ~ ־ p . - i f ■ *4 ׳>· זן *t ; 7 · ך* ‘ , ’ ) 1! 1 111. ׳״־ * * ' י • ■ J κ ■. ■ 1'י* *· * * » ׳ ·־ I·״־י * ־׳ WHen we fpeak of the End or definition of the World, whe- ther by Fire or otherwife, Tis not to be imagin’d that we underhand this of the Great llnherfe 5 Sun, Moon, and Stars, and the Higheft Heavens: as if thefe were to perifh or be deftroy’d fome few years hence, whether by Fire or any other way. This Queftion is only to be underftood of the Sublunary World, of this Earth and its Furniture·, which had its original about fix thoufand years ago, according to the Hiftory of Mofes 3 and hath once a]״ ready been deftroy’d, when the Exteriour Region of it broke, and Gen.7. 1u the Abyfs ifluing forth, as out of a womb, overflow’d all the ha- bitable Earth. The next Deluge is that of Fire·, which will have the fame bounds, and overflow the Surface of the Earth much-what in the fame manner. But the celeftial Regions, where the Stars and Angels inhabit, are not concern’d in this fate: Thofe are not made of combuftible matter, nor* if they were, cou’d our flames reach them. Poffibly thofe Bodies may have changes and revolutions pe- culiar to themfelves, but in ways unknown to us, and after long and unknown periods of time. Therefore when we fpeak of the Conflagration of the World, Thefe have no concern in the queftion 3 nor any other part of the Univerfe, than the Earth and its depen- dances. As will evidently appear when we come to explain the Manner and Caufes of the Conflagration. And as this Conflagration can extend no further than to the Earth and its Elements, fo neither can it deftroy the matter of the Earth·, but only the form and fafhion of it, as it is art habitable World.: Neither Fire, nor any other Natural Agent can deftroy Matter, that is, reduce it to nothing: It may alter the modes and equalities of it, but the fubftance will always remain. And accord- ingly the Apoftle, when he fpeaks of the mutability of this World, j cor.11 .ך, fays only, the figure or fafhion of this World pafies away. This ftru&ure of the Earth and difpofition of the Elements: And all the a Έρΐβ. 3־ works of the Earth, as S. ־Peter fays 3 All its natural productions, and all the works of art or humane induftry ·, thefe will perifh, melted or torn in pieces by the Fire 3 but without an annihilation of the Matter, any more than in the former Deluge. And this will be further prov’d and illuftrated in the beginning of the following Book. The queftion being thus ftated, we are next to confider the fenfe of Antiquity upon thefe two Points:. Firft, Whether this Sublu- nary