Miscellaneous Discourses, Chapter 5 · Section 1 · Subsection 2
Of the Effects of the Deluge.
I Come now to the Third Particular propoſed, that is, To enquire concerning the Conſequents of the Deluge, What conſiderable effects it had upon the Earth and its Inhabitants.
It had doubtleſs very great, in▪ changing the Superficies of the dry Land: In ſome places adding to the Sea; in ſome taking from it; making Iſlands of Peninſulae, and joining others to the Continent; altering the Beds of Rivers, throwing up leſſer Hills, and waſhing away others, &c. The moſt remarkable effects it's likely were in the skirts of the Continents; becauſe the Motion of the Water was there moſt violent. Athanaſius Kircher *De Arca Noae, p. 192gives us a Map and Deſcription of the World after the Flood, ſhewing what Changes were made therein by it, or upon occaſion of it afterward, as he fanſies or conjectures. But becauſe I do not love to trouble the Reader with uncertain Conjectures, I ſhall content my ſelf to have ſaid in general, that it may rationally be ſuppo…ed, there were then great Mutations and Alterations made in the ſuperficial part of the Earth: but what they were, though we may gueſs, yet can we have no certain knowledge of: and for particulars, refer the curious to him.
One malignant effect it had upon Mankind, and probably upon other Animals too, in ſhortning their Age, or the duration of their lives; which I have touched before, and ſhewn, that this diminution of Age, is to be attributed either to the change of the Temperature of the Air, as to Salubrity, or Equality, (ſudden and frequent changes of Weather having a very bad influence upon the Age of Man in abbreviating of it, as I could eaſily prove) or elſe to the deteriority of the Diet; or to both theſe Cauſes. But how the Flood ſhould induce or occaſion ſuch a change in the Air and productions of the Earth, I do not comprehend.