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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    The Prophet Efafs teftimony is no lefs exprefs, to the fame pur״ pofe. Lift up your Eyes to the heavens, and loo f upon the Earth he- neath: for the heavens fhall vanifh air ay like fmoke, and the Earth (hall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein jhall die in like manner. Thefe ־texts are plain and explicate ל and in alluiion to this day of the Lord, and this deftruetion of the World, the fame Prophet often ufeth phrafes that relate to it. As theConcuffion of the Heavens and the Earth. The Shaking of the foundations of the World. The diffoluticn of the Hoft of Heaven. And our Sacred Writers have expreilions of the like force, and relating to the fame eflied. As the Hills melting like wax, at the prefence of the Lord: Pfal. 97.5. Shat- tering once more all the parts of the Creation: Hagg. 2. 6. Overturn■- ing the mountains, and making the pillars of the Earth to tremble: Job 9· 5-, 6· If you refled upon the explication given of the Deluge in the firfl part of this Theory, and attend to the manner of the Con- Bagration, as it will be explain’d in the fequel of this Difcourfe, you will fee the־juflnefs and fitnefs of thefe expreilions: That they are not Poetical Hyperboles, or random expreilions, of great and ter- rible things in general, but a true account of what hath been, or will be, at that great day of the Lord ’Tis true, the Prophets fame■ times ufe fuch-like expreilions figuratively, for commotions in States and Kingdoms, but that is only by way of Metaphor and accommo* dation ■, the tiue balls they hand upon, is that mine, overthrow, and diilblution 01 the Natural World, which was once at the De- luge, and will be again, after another manner, at the general Com flagratioh.- As to the New Teflament, our Saviour fays, Heaven and Earth Shall pafs away, hut his words ]hall not paj's away, Matth.2q.35. S.Paul fays, the Scheme of this World 3 the fafhion, form, and compofition of it, paffeth away, 1 Cor. 7.31. And when mention is made of New Heavens and a New Earth, which both the Prophet If at ah, and the Apoflles S. Peter and S.ffohn, mention, ’tis plainly imply’d that the old ones will be diffolv’d. The fame thing is alio imply’d, when our Saviour !peaks of a Renafcency or Regeneration, JYIatt. 19.28. and S. Peter, of a Reflitution of all things, A5l·. 3. 2 1. For what is now, mult be aboliih d, before any former order of things can be reftor'd or reduc’d. In a word, If there was nothing in Scripture concerning this fubjeCt, but that difcourfe of S. Peters, in his 2d. Epiftle and 3d Chapter, concerning the triple order and fucceflion 01 the Heavens and the Earth 3 part, prefent, and to come ·, that alone wou’d be a conviction and demonflxation to me, that this prefent World will be diifolv’d. You will fay, it may be, in the laft place, we want hill the tefti- mony of Natural Reafon and Philofophy to make the evidence com- pleat. I anfwer, ’tis enough, if They be filent, and have nothing to lay to the contrary. Here are witneflfes, Humane and Divine, and if none appear againft them, we have no reafon to refufe their teili- mony, or to diflruft it. Philofophy will very readily yield to this Do&ripe, that All material compoiitions are diflfolyable: and fhe will no! wonderto fee that die, which fhe had feen born·, I mean, this Terreflrial World. She flood upon the Chaos; and fee it row! 5riT it felf, Cb. y 1. 6. Ip■»! 3· 13 ׳2.4 *£י 34.4. Jfa. (?517 .׳ & 66.z1.Rev.11. 1. 1 Pet. 3.13.