Miscellaneous Discourses, Chapter 5 · Section 4
SECT. 4.
The Fourth Natural Cauſe of the World's Diſſolution, the Earth's Dryneſs and Inflammability.
4. The Dryneſs and Inflammability of the Earth under the Torrid Zone, with the Eruption of the Vulcano's to ſet it on fire. Thoſe that hold the Inclination of the Equator to the Ecliptick daily to diminiſh, ſo that after the Revolutions of ſome Ages they will …ump and conſent, tell us, that the Sun-beams lying perpendicularly and conſtantly on the parts under the Equator, the Ground thereabout muſt needs be extremely parch'd and rendred apt for Inflammation. But for my part I own no ſuch Decrement of Inclination. And the beſt Mathematicians of our Age deny that there hath been any ſince the eldeſt Obſervations that are come down to us. For tho indeed Ptolomy and Hipparchus do make it more than we find it by above twenty minutes, yet that Difference is not ſo conſiderable but that it may well be imputed to the Difference of Inſtruments or Obſervations in point of Exactneſs. So that not having decreaſed for eighteen hundred years paſt, there is not the leaſt ground for Conjecture, that it will alter in eighteen hundred years to come, ſhould the World laſt ſo long. And yet if there were ſuch a Diminution, it would not conduce much (ſo far as I can ſee) to the bringing on of a Conflagration. For tho the Earth would be extremely dried, and perchance thereby rendred more inflammable; yet the Air being by the ſame Heat as much rarified, would contain but few nitrous Particles, and ſo be inept to maintain the Fire, which, we ſee, cannot live without them. It being much deaded by the Sun ſhining upon it; and burning very remiſly in Summer time and hot Weather: For thi… …eaſon in Southern Countries, in extraordinary hot Seaſons, the Air ſcarce ſufficeth for Reſpiration. To the clearing up of this, let us a little conſider what Fire is. It ſeems to conſiſt of three different ſorts of parts. 1. An extremely thin and ſubtil Body, whoſe Particles are in a very vehement and rapid motion, 2. (A ſuppoſed) nitrous Pabulum or Fewel, which it receives from the Air. 3. A Sulphureous or unctuous Pabulum, which it acts and preys upon, paſſing generally by the Name of Fewel. This forementioned ſubtil Body agitating the (ſuppoſed) nitrous Particles it receives from the Air, doth by their help, as by Wedges, to uſe that rude ſimilitude, penetrate the unctuous Bodies, upon which it acts, and divide them into …heir immediate component Particles, and at length perchance into their firſt Principles: which Operation is called the Chymical Anatomy of mix'd Bodies. So we ſee Wood, for Example, divided by Fire into Spirit, Oil, Water, Salt, and Earth.
That Fire cannot live without thoſe Particles it receives from the Air is manifeſt, in that if you preclude the Acceſs of all Air, it is extinguiſhed immediately: and in that, where and when the Air is more charged with them, as in cold Countries, and cold Weather, the Fire rages moſt: That likewiſe it cannot be continued without an unctuous Pabulum or Fewel, I appeal to the experience of all Men.
Now then in the rarified Air in the Torrid Zone the nitrous Particles being proportionably ſcattered and thin ſet, the Fire that might be kindled there would burn but very languidly and remiſsly, as we ſaid juſt now: and ſo the Eruptions of Vulcano's, if any ſuch happened, would not be like to do half the Execution there that they would do in cold Countries. And yet I never read of any ſpreading Conflagration cauſed by the Eruptions of any Vulcano's, either in hot Countries, or in cold. They uſually caſt out abundance of thick Smoak like Clouds darkening the Air: and likewiſe Aſhes and Stones, ſometimes of a vaſt Bigneſs; and ſome of them, as Veſuvius, Floods of Water, others, (as Aetna) Rivers of melted Materials, running down many Miles: as for the Flames that iſſue out of their Mouths at ſuch times, they are but tranſient, and mounting upwards, ſeldom ſet any thing on Fire.
But not to inſiſt upon this, I do affirm, that there hath not as yet been, nor for the future can be any ſuch drying or parching of the Earth under the Torrid Zone, as ſome may imagine. That there hath not yet been I appeal to Experience, the Countries lying under the Courſe of the Sun, being at this day as fertile as ever they were, and wanting no more Moiſture now than of old they did; having as conſtant and plentiful Rains in their Seaſons as they then had. That they ſhall for the future ſuffer any more Drought than they have heretofore done, there is no reaſon to believe or imagine, the Face of the Earth being not altered, nor naturally alterable, as to the main, more at preſent than it was heretofore. I ſhall now add the Reaſon, why I think there can be no ſuch Exſiccation of the Earth in thoſe parts. It's true indeed, were there nothing to hinder them, the Vapours exhaled by the Sun-beams in thoſe hot Regions, would be caſt off to the North and to the South a great way, and not fall down in Rain there, but toward the Poles: But the long and continued Ridges or Chains of exceeding high Mountains are ſo diſpoſed by the great and wiſe Creator of the World, as, at leaſt in our Continent, to run Eaſt and Weſt, as Gaſſendus in the life of Peireskius well obſerves, ſuch are Atlas, Taurus, and the Alps, to name no more: They are, I ſay, thus diſpoſed as if it were on purpoſe to obviate and ſtop the Evagation of the Vapours Northward, and reflect them back again, ſo that they muſt needs be condenſed, and fall upon the Countries out of which they were elevated. And on the South Side, being near the Sea, it is likely that the Wind, blowing for the moſt part from thence, hinders their excurſion that way. This I ſpeak by preſumption, becauſe in our Countrey for at leaſt three quarters of the year the Wind blows from the great Atlantick Ocean: which was taken notice of by Julius Caeſar in the fifth of his Commentaries, De Bello Gallico. Corus ve… tus, qui magnam partem omnis temporis in his locis flare conſuevit.
As for any Deſiccation of the Sea, I hold that by mere natural Cauſes to be impoſſible, unleſs we could ſuppoſe a Tranſmutation of Principles or ſimple Bodies, which for Reaſons alledged in a former Diſcourſe I cannot allow. I was then and am ſtill of opinion, that God Almighty did at firſt create a certain and determinate number of Principles, or variouſly figured Corpuſcles, intranſmutable by the force of any natural Agent, even Fire it ſelf, (which can only ſeparate the parts of heterogeneous Bodies) yet not an equal number of each kind of theſe Principles, but of ſome abundantly more, as of Water, Earth, Air, Ether; and of others fewer, as of Oil, Salt, Metals, Minerals, &c. Now that there may be ſome Bodies indiviſible by Fire is, I think, demonſtrable. For how doth or can Fire be conceived to divide, one can hardly imagine any other way than by its ſmall parts, by reaſon of their violent Agitation inſinuating themſelves into compound Bodies, and ſeparating their parts; which allowing, yet ſtill there is a term of Magnitude, below which it cannot divide, viz. it cannot divide a Body into ſmaller parts than thoſe whereof it ſelf is compounded. For taking, ſuppoſe, one leaſt Part of Fire, 'tis clear that it cannot inſinuate it ſelf into a Body as little or leſs than it ſelf: and what is true of one is true of all: I ſay we can imagine no other way than this, unleſs perchance by a violent Stroke or Shock, the parts of the Body to be divided may be put into ſo impetuous a motion as to fall in ſunder of themſelves into leſſer Particles than thoſe of the impellent Body are, which I will not ſuppoſe at preſent. Now it is poſſible, that the Principles of ſome other ſimple Bodies may be as ſmall as the Particles of Fire. But however that be, it is enough, if the Principles of ſimple Bodies be by reaſon of their perfect Solidity naturally indiviſible, Such a ſimple Body, I ſuppoſe, Water ſeparated from all Heterogeneous Mixtures to be: and conſequently the ſame quantity thereof that was at firſt created doth ſtill remain, and will continue always, in deſpight of all natural Agents, unleſs it pleaſes the Omnipotent Creator to diſſolve it. And therefore there can be no Deſiccation of the Seas, unleſs by turning all its Water into Vapour, and ſuſpending it in the Air, which to do what an immenſe and long-continuing Fire would be requiſite? to the maintenance whereof all the inflammable Materials near the Superficies of the Earth would not afford Fewel enough. The Sun, we ſee, is ſo far from doing it, that it hath not made one ſtep towards it theſe four thouſand years, there being in all likelyhood as great a quantity of Water in the Ocean now as was immediately after the Flood: and conſequently there would probably remain as much in it, ſhould the World laſt four thouſand years longer.
This Fixedneſs and Intranſmutability of Principles ſecures the Univerſe from Diſſolution by the prevailing of one Element over another, and turning it into its own Nature; which otherwiſe it would be in continual danger of. It ſecures likewiſe the perpetuity of all the Species in the World, many of which, if their Principles were tranſmutable, might by ſuch a change be quite loſt: And laſtly bars the Production or Creation of any new Species; as in the forementioned Treatiſe I have ſhewn.
The Mention of theſe Principles or Primitive Simple Bodies gives me a fair opportunity of making a ſecond Digreſſion, to Diſcourſe a little concerning the Primaeve Chaos, and Creation of the World.
A Digreſſion concerning the Primitive Chaos and Creation of the World.
WHich yet I ſhould not have done, had I not been thereto requeſted. The mention of theſe Principles, I ſay, gives me an opportunity of making ſuch a Digreſſion, becauſe I take them to have been the Effects of the firſt Creation, ſpoken of in the firſt and ſecond Verſes of Geneſis. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form and void: and comprehended in the word Earth. By the word Chaos the Ancients underſtood a huge Maſs of Heterogeneous Bodies, or the Principles and Seeds of natural Bodies confuſedly and diſorderly mingled together in one lump: for ſo Ovid deſcribes it in the beginning of the firſt of his Metamorphoſis:
Quem dixere Chaos, rudis indigeſtáque moles,
Nec quicquam niſi pondus inors, congeſtáque côdem
Non bene junctarum diſcordia ſemina rerum.
I ſuppoſe therefore, that God Almighty did at firſt create this terreſtrial Globe (containing the Seeds and Principles of all natural, viſible, ſublunary Bodies, variouſly and confuſedly commixt together, which the Ancients called by the name of Chaos) partly of ſolid and more ponderous, partly of fluid and lighter parts; the ſolid and more ponderous naturally ſubſided, the fluid and watry, as being more light, got above them. That the Waters did at firſt cover the Earth ſeems to me clear from the teſtimony of the Scripture. For in the Hiſtory of the Creation in the firſt Chapter of Geneſis, Verſ. 2. It is ſaid, Darkneſs was upon the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters, intimating that the Waters were uppermoſt. And in Ver. 9. And God ſaid, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.
Whence, I think, it is manifeſt, that before that time the Land was covered with Water. And that this gathering together of Waters was not into any ſubterraneous Abyſs, is likewiſe clear from the Text: For it is ſaid, that God called this Collection of Waters Seas, as if it had been on purpoſe to prevent ſuch a Miſtake. So Pſalm 104.6. It is ſaid of the Earth at the Creation, Thou coveredſt it with the deep as with a garment; the waters ſtood above the mountains. And again Ver. 9. That they turn not again to cover the earth.
The more ſolid and ponderous parts, tho they were of various Figures, and perhaps Magnitudes, were all called by the common name of Earth, and the fluid by the name of Water.
This ſolid part of the Earth was made up of the Principles of many ſimple Bodies, variouſly commix'd, and irregularly diſperſt one among another; yet tho they ſeem to be thus diſorderly mingled, as tho they had been careleſly ſhaken and ſhuffled together, yet I do believe there was ſome Order obſerved by the moſt wiſe Creator in the Diſpoſition of them.
The fluid part of this Globe (as we ſaid, and as of its own nature it muſt needs do) covered the ſolid, till it pleaſed God to ſeparate them, and by providing great Receptacles for the Waters, to gather them together into one place. Whether this were done by the immediate Application and Agency of his Almighty Power, or by the Intervention and Inſtrumentality of ſecond Cauſes I cannot determine. It might poſſibly be effected by the ſame Cauſes that Earthquakes are, viz. Subterraneous Fires and Flatuses. We …e what incredible effects the Accenſion of Gunpowder hath: It rends Rocks, and blows up the moſt ponderous and ſolid Walls, Towers, and Edifices, ſo that its force is almoſt irreſiſtible. Why then might not ſuch a proportionable quantity of ſuch Materials ſet on fire together raiſe up the Mountains themſelves, how great and ponderous ſoever they be, yea the whole Superficies of the dry Land (for it muſt all be elevated) above the Waters? And truly to me the Pſalmiſt ſeems to intimate this Cauſe, Pſalm 104.7. For after he had ſaid, The waters ſtood above the mountains, he adds, At thy rebuke they fled, at the voice of thy thunder they haſted away. Now we know that an Earthquake is but a ſubterraneous Thunder, and then immediately follows, The mountains aſcend, the valleys deſcend, &c. If there might be a high Hill raiſed up near the City Troezen, out of a plain Field, by the force of a ſubterraneous Fire or Flatus, as Ovid tells us.
Ovid. Metamorph. lib. 15.Eſt prope Pitthaeam tumulus Troezena ſine ullis
Arduus arboribus, quondam planiſſima campi
Area, nunc tumulus: nam (res horrenda relatu)
Vis fera ventorum, coecis incluſa caverni… ▪
Expirare aliqua cupiens, luctatáque fruſtra
Liberiore frui coelo, cum carcere rima
Nulla fuit toto, nec pervia flatibus eſſet,
Extentam tumeſcit humum, ceu ſpiritus oris
Tendere veſicam ſolet, aut derepta bicor…
Terga capri; tumor ille loci permanſit & alti
Collis habet ſpeciem, longóque induruit a….
A Hill by Pitthaean Traezen mounts uncrown'd
With Sylvan Shades, which once was level ground,
For furious Winds (a ſtory to admire)
Pent in blind Caverns, ſtrugling to expire;
And vainly ſeeking to enjoy th' Extent
Of freer Air, the Priſon wanting vent,
Puffs up the hollow Earth extended ſo,
As when with ſwelling Breath we Bladders blow.
The humour of the place remained ſtill.
In time grown ſolid, like a lofty Hill.
A parallel Inſtance hereto we have of later date, of a Hill not far from Puzzuolo [Puteoli] beſide the Gulph of Baiae, which I my ſelf have view'd and been upon. It is by the Natives called Monte di cenere, and was raiſed by an Earthquake Sept. 29. 1538. of about one hundred foot perpendicular altitude; though ſome make it much higher: according to Stephanus Pighius it is a Mile Aſcent to the top, and four Miles round at the foot: We indeed judged it not near ſo great. The People ſay it bears nothing; nothing of any uſe or profit I ſuppoſe they mean: elſe I am ſure there grows Heath, Myrtle, Maſtick tree, and other Shrubs upon it. It is a ſpungy kind of Earth, and makes a great ſound under a Mans feet that ſtamps upon it. The ſame Earthquake threw up ſo much Earth, Stones and Aſhes as quite filled up the lacus Lucrinus, ſo that there is nothing left of it now, but a fenny Meadow. If ſuch Hills, I ſay, as theſe may be, and have been elevated by ſubterraneous Wild-fire; flatus or Earthquakes: Si parvis liceat componere magna, if we may compare great things with ſmall, why might not the greateſt and higheſt Mountains in the World be raiſed up in like manner by a ſubterraneous Flatus or Wild-fire, of quantity and force ſufficient to work ſuch an effect, that is, that bears as great a proportion to the ſuperincumbent weight and bulk to be elevated, as thoſe under theſe ſmaller Hills did to theirs?
But we cannot doubt this m…y be done, when we are well aſſured that the like hath been done. For the greateſt and higheſt Ridge of Mountains in the World, the Andes of Peru, have been for ſome hundreds of Leagues in length violently ſhaken, and many alterations made therein by an Earthquake that happened in the year 1646. mentioned by Kircher in his Arca Noae, from the Letters of the Jeſuits.
You will ſay, If the Mountains be thus heaved up by ſubterraneous Fires, the Earth muſt needs be hollow all underneath them, and there muſt be vaſt Dens and Caverns diſperſt throughout them.
I anſwer, 'Tis true indeed, ſo there are; as may undeniably be proved by inſtances. For the new Mountain we mentioned at Pute…li, that was thus raiſed, being of a Mile ſteep aſcent, and four Miles round at the foot, a proportionable Cavity muſt be left in the Earth underneath: And the Mountain Aetna at the laſt Eructation alone having diſgorged out of its bowels ſo great a flood of melted Materials, as if ſpread at the depth and breadth of three foot, might reach four times round the whole Circuit of the Terraqueous Globe, there muſt likewiſe an anſwerable Vault be left within. You will demand, How then comes it paſs, that they ſtand ſo firm, and do not founder and fall in after ſo many Ages? I anſwer, that they may ſtand, appears by the foreſaid new-raiſed Mountain. For notwithſtanding the Cavity in and under it, it hath ſtood firm and ſtaunch, without the leaſt ſinking or ſubſidency, for above an hundred and fifty years: neither is there any great ſinking or falling in at Aetna it ſelf; at leaſt in no degree anſwerable to its ejected matter. The reaſon is the ſtrength and firmneſs of their Vaulture and Pillars, ſufficient to ſupport the ſuperincumbent weight. And yet in ſome places there are ſinkings and fallings in▪ which have afterwards become Valleys or Pools of Water. But as for the Cavities that are lower than the Superficies of the Ocean, the Water, where it could inſinuate and make its way, hath filled them up to that height. I ſay where it could make its way, for that there are many empty Cavities even under the Sea it ſelf, appears by the ſhaking and heating too of the very Water of the Sea in ſome places in Earthquakes, and raiſing up the borders or skirts of it, ſo as to drive the Water a great way back; and the raiſing up new Iſlands in the middle of the Sea; as Delos of old, and Theraſia in the Aegean in Seneca's time, which was heaved up in the ſight of many Mariners then preſent and looking on.
Howbeit, I cannot poſitively aſſert the Mountains thus to have been raiſed. But yet whether without means, or by whatſoever means it were, a Receptacle for the Waters was prepared, and the dry Land and Mountains elevated, ſo as to caſt off the Waters, on the third day, and which is wonderful, the Cavities made to receive the Waters, and the whole terra firma, or dry Land with its Mountains were ſo proportioned one to the other, as that the one was as much depreſſed below the Shores, as the other was elevated above them. And, as if the one had been taken out of the other, The Sea with all its Creeks, and Bays, and In-lets, and other Appendants was made, and is very near equal to the whole dry Land with its Promontories and Mountains, if not in Superficies, yet in bulk or dimenſions, though ſome think in both. Which equality is ſtill conſtantly maintained, notwithſtanding all Inundations of Land, and Atterations of Sea; becauſe one of theſe doth always nearly ballance the other, according to the Vulgar Proverb we have before mention'd, What the Sea loſes in one place, it gains in another. If any ſhall demand, How the Sea comes to be gradually depreſſed, and deepeſt about the middle part; whereas the bottom of it was in all likelihood equal while the Waters covered the whole Earth? I anſwer, the ſame Cauſe that raiſed up the Earth, whether a ſubterraneous Fire or flatus, raiſed up alſo the skirts of the Sea, the aſcent gradually decreaſing to the middle part, where, by reaſon of the ſolidity of the Earth, or gravity of the incumbent Water, the bottom was not elevated at all. For the encloſed Fire in thoſe parts where its firſt accenſion or greateſt ſtrength was, raiſed up the Earth firſt, and caſt off the Waters, and thence ſpreading by degrees, ſtill elevated the Land, and drove the Waters further and further; till at length the weight of them was too great to be raiſed, and then the Fire brake forth at the tops of the Mountains, where it found leaſt reſiſtance, and diſperſt it ſelf in the open Air. The Waters alſo, where they found the bottom ſandy or yielding, made their way into all thoſe Cavities the Fire had made and left, filling them up as high as the level of the Ocean. Neither let any man imagine, that the Earth under the Water, was too ſoft and muddy to be in this manner raiſed by ſubterraneous Fire; for I have ſhewn before, that the bottom of the duplicate page duplicate page Sea is ſo ſaddened and hardened by the weight of the incumbent Water, that the High-ways, beaten continually by Horſes and Carriages, are not more firm and ſolid. But omitting this (which is only a conjecture) I ſhall diſcourſe a little more concerning the Equality of Sea and Land.
It hath been obſerved by ſome, That where there are high Cliffs or Downs along the Shore, there the Sea adjoining is deep; and where there are low and level Grounds, it is ſhallow: the depth of the Sea anſwering to the Elevation of the Earth above it: and as the Earth from the Shores is gradually higher and higher, to the middle and parts moſt remote from the Sea, as is evident by the deſcents of the Rivers, they requiring a conſtant declivity to carry them down; ſo the Sea likewiſe is proportionably deeper and deeper from the Shores to the Middle. So that the riſing of the Earth from the Shores to the Mid-land is anſwerable to the deſcent or declivity of the bottom of the Sea from the ſame Shores to the Mid-Sea. This riſing of the Earth from the Shores gradually to the Midland, is ſo conſiderable, that it is very likely the Altitude of the Earth in thoſe Mid land parts above the Superficies of the Sea, is greater than that of the Mountains above the level of the adjacent Lands. To the height of the Hills above the common Superficies of the Earth do anſwer in Brerewood's Opinion the extraordinary Depths or Whirl-pools that are found in the Sea, deſcending beneath the ordinary bottom of the Sea, as the Hills aſcend above the ordinary face of the Land. But this is but a conjecture of his, and to me it ſeems not very probable, becauſe it is not likely, there ſhould be in the Sea extraordinary Depths of that vaſt length and extenſion, as thoſe huge Ridges of Mountains that run almoſt quite through the Continents. And becauſe I have obſerved the Waters of Rivers that flow gently, but eſpecially of the Sea to level the bottoms of their Channels and Receptacles, as may be ſeen in thoſe parts of the Sea whoſe bottoms are uncovered at Low-water; and in Dry-lands that have been deſerted by the Sea, as the Fens in the Iſle of Ely, and the Craux in Provence in France, &c. which appear to be a perfect Level, as far as one can ken. Though poſſibly the motion of the Sea may not deſcend down ſo low as thoſe Depths, and ſo may not level the bottoms of them.
Again, It is conſonant to the beſt Obſervations of the height of the Earth and its Mountains above the Superficies of the Sea; and of the depth of the Sea, that the one is anſwerable to the other. So Varenius in his Geogr. p. 152. Caeterùm ex obſervata hactenus in pleríſque locis profunditate Oceani manifeſtum eſt, eam fere aequalem altitudini ſive elevationi montium & locorum Mediterraneorum ſupra littora, nimirum quantum haec elevantur & extant ſupra littorum horizontem, tantum alvei maris infra eum deprimuntur; ſive quantum aſſurgit terra à littoribus versùs mediterranea loca, tantundem paulatim magis magíſque deprimitur uſque ad medii Oceani loca, ubi plerùmque maxima eſt profunditas. That is, From the depth of the Ocean, as far as hath been hitherto obſerved in moſt places, it is manifeſt, that that [profundity] is near equal to the altitude or elevation of the Mediterraneous places above the Shores; that is to ſay, as much as theſe are elevated, and ſtand up above the Horizon of the Shores; ſo much are the Channels of the Seas depreſſed below it: or, as much as the Earth riſeth from the Shores towards the Mediterraneous places; ſo much is it by little and little more and more depreſſed to the middle parts of the Ocean, where the greateſt depth for the moſt part is.
And Brerewood in his Enquiries pertinently to our purpoſe, ſuppoſeth the depth of the Sea, to be a great deal more than the height of the Hills above the common ſurface of the Earth. —For that in making eſtimation of the depth of the Sea, we are not to reckon and conſider only the height of the Hills above the common Superficies of the Earth, but the advantage or height of all the dry Land above the Superficies of the Sea: Becauſe the whole Maſs of the Earth, that now appeareth above the Waters, being taken, as it were, out of the place which the Waters now poſſeſs, muſt be equal to the place out of which it was taken; and conſequently it ſeemeth, that the height or elevation of the one ſhould anſwer to the depth or deſcending of the other. And therefore, as I ſaid, in eſtimating the deepneſs of the Sea, we are not to conſider only the erection of the Hills above the ordinary Land, but the advantage of all the dry Land above the Sea. Which latter, I mean the height of the ordinary Main land, is in my opinion more in large Continents above the Sea, than that of the Hills is above the Land. For that the plain and common face of the dry Land, is not level or equally diſtant from the Center, but hath great declivity and deſcent towards the Sea, and acclivity or riſing toward the Mid-land part, although it appear not ſo to the common view of the Eye, is to reaſon notwitſtanding manifeſt. Becauſe, as it is found in that part of the Earth which the Sea covereth, that it deſcendeth lower and lower toward the midſt of the Sea; for the Sea which touching the upper face of it is known to be level by nature, and evenly diſtant from the Center, is withal obſerved to wax deeper and deeper the further one ſaileth from the Shore towards the Main) Even ſo in that part which is uncovered the courſings and ſtreamings of Rivers on all ſides from the Mid-land parts towards the Sea (whoſe property we know is to ſlide from the higher to the lower) evidently declare ſo much. *De fide Orthod. l. 2. c. 10.This Author with Damaſcen ſuppoſes, that the unevenneſs and irregularity, which is now ſeen in the Superficies of the Earth, was cauſed either by taking ſome parts out of the upper face of the Earth in ſundry places to make it more hollow, & laying them in other places to make it more convex: or elſe (which in effect is equivalent to that) by raiſing up ſome, and depreſſing others to make room and receipt for the Sea: that Mutation being wrought by the Power of that Word, Let the Waters be gathered into one place that the dry land may appear. This proportioning of the Cavities appointed to receive the Seas, to the protuberancy of the dry Land above the common Superficies of the Ocean, is to me a ſufficient Argument, to prove, that the gathering together of the Waters into one place, was a work of counſel and deſign; and if not effected by the immediate Finger of God, yet at leaſt governed and directed by him. So the Scripture affirms the place to receive the Sea, to have been prepared by God, Pſalm 104.8. Now in things of this nature, to the giving an account whereof whatever Hypotheſis we can poſſibly invent, can be but merely conjectural, thoſe are to be moſt approved that come neareſt to the Letter of Scripture, and thoſe that claſh with it to be rejected, how trim or conſiſtent ſoever with themſelves they may ſeem to be: this being as much, as when God tells how he did make the World, for us to tell him how he ſhould have made it.
But here it may be objected, That the preſent Earth looks like a heap of Rubbiſh and Ruines; And that there are no greater examples of confuſion in Nature than Mountains ſingly or jointly conſidered; and that there appear not the leaſt footſteps of any Art or Counſel either in the Figure and Shape, or Order and Diſpoſition of Mountains and Rocks. Wherefore it is not likely they came ſo out of Gods hands; who by the Ancient Philoſophers is ſaid foreign, and to make all things in number, weight and meaſure.
To which I anſwer, That the preſent face of the Earth with all its Mountains and Hills, its Promontories and Rocks, as rude and deformed as they appear, ſeems to me a very beautiful and pleaſant object, and with all that variety of Hills, and Valleys, and Inequalities far more grateful to behold, than a perfectly level Countrey without any riſing or protuberancy, to terminate the ſight: As any one that hath but ſeen the Iſle of Ely, or any the like Countrey muſt needs acknowledge. Neither is it only more pleaſant to behold, but more commodious for habitation, which is ſo plain, that I need not ſpend time to prove it.
2. A Land ſo diſtinguiſhed into Mountains, Valleys and Plains is alſo moſt convenient for the entertainment of the various ſorts of Animals, which God hath created, ſome whereof delight in cold, ſome in hot, ſome moiſt and watery, ſome in dry and upland places, and ſome of them could neither find nor gather their proper food in different Regions. Some Beaſts and Birds we find live upon the higheſt tops of the Alps, and that all the Winter too, while they are conſtantly covered with Snow, as the Ibex, and Rupicapra or Chamois among Quadrupeds, and Lagopus among Birds.
3. The Mountains are moſt proper for the putting forth of Plants; yielding the greateſt variety, and the moſt luxuriant ſort of Vegetables, for the maintenance of the Animals proper to thoſe places, and for Medicinal Uſes, partly alſo for the Exerciſe and delight of ſuch ingenious perſons as are addicted to ſearch out and collect thoſe Rarities, to contemplate and conſider their Forms and Natures, and to admire and celebrate the Wiſdom of their Creator.
4. All manner of Metals, Minerals and Foſſils if they could be generated in a level Earth, of which there is ſome queſtion, yet ſhould they be dug or mined for, the Delfs muſt neceſſarily be ſo flown with Water, (which to drive and rid away no Adits or Soughs could be made, and I much doubt whether Gins would ſuffice) that it would …e extremely difficult and chargeable, if poſ…ible to work them at all.
5. Neither are the very tops of the high…ſt Mountains barren of Graſs for the feed…ng and fattening of Beaſts. For on the …idges of the high Mountains of Jura and …aleve near Geneva, and thoſe of Rhoetia or …he Griſons Countrey, which are the higheſt …f all the Alps, excepting the Valleſian and …baudian, there are Multitudes of Kine fed … Summer time, as I my ſelf can witneſs, …aving in my Simpling Voyages on thoſe of …ra and Saleve obſerved Herds of Cattel here, and many Dairy Houſes built, where duplicate page duplicate page I have been more than once refreſhed by their Milk and Milk-Meats. Nay there are but very few, and thoſe of the higheſt Summits of the Alps that keep Snow all Summer: and I was told by the Inhabitants, that one time or other, in ſeven or eight years ſpace, for the moſt part there came a Summer that melted all the Snow that lay on them too.
6. Anorher great uſe and neceſſity of Mountains and Hills is for the Generation and Maintenance of Rivers and Fountains, which (in our Hypotheſis, that all proceed from Rain-Water) could not be without them, or but rarely. So we ſhould have only Torrents, which would fail in Summer-time, or any dry Seaſon, and nothing to truſt to, but ſtagnating Water reſerved in Pools and Ciſterns. Which how great an Inconvenience it would be, I need not take pains to ſhew. I ſay that Fountains and Rivers would be but rare were there no Mountains. For upon ſerious conſideration I find that I was too haſty in Obſervat. Phyſical, &c.concluding, becauſe I had obſerved no Fountains ſpringing up in Plains, therefore there were, o… could be abſolutely none; and do now gran… that there is reaſon to believe the Relations made of ſuch. For the whole dry Land being but one continued Mountain, and aſcending all along from the Sea to the Midland, as is undeniably proved by the Deſcent of Rivers even in plain Countries; the Water ſinking into the Earth, may run under ground, and according as the Vein leads it, break out in the ſide of this Mountain, tho the place as to outward appearance be a Plain.
But ſome may ſay, Granting there be ſome uſe and benefit of moderate Hills and Riſings; what neceſſity is there of ſuch extended Ridges of vaſt and towring Mountains, hiding their Heads among the Clouds, and ſeeming for Altitude to contend with the Skies? I anſwer there is very great uſe of them for repelling the Vapours exhaled by the Sun-beams in the hot Regions, and hindring their Evagations Northward, as we have already ſhewn, and ſhall not repeat. I might add hereto,
7. Thoſe long Series and Chains of Mountains are of great uſe for Boundaries and Limits to the Territories of Princes or Commonwealths, to ſecure them on thoſe parts from ſudden Incurſions of Enemies. As for the rudeneſs and confuſion of Mountains, their cragged and broken Rocks and Cliffs, and whatever other Diſorder there may be among them, it may be accounted for, from the manner of their firſt Generation, and thoſe other mutations they have been ſince obnoxious to, by Earth-quakes, Eruptions of Vulcano's, foundering and falling in of their Props and Foundations, and by time and weather too, by which not only the Earth is waſhed away, or blown off from the Stones, but the very Stones and Rocks themſelves corroded and diſſolved, as might eaſily be proved by Inſtances, could I ſpare time to do it.
I ſhould proceed now to ſay ſomething concerning the reſt of the Works of the Creation, but that would be too great a Task, and ſwell this Digreſſion into a Volume. I ſhall only add, that to me it ſeems, That the Almighty Creator did not only at firſt make the various Principles of all ſimple inanimate Bodies, and ſcattered them throughout the upper Region of the Earth; but alſo the Seminal Principles of Animate Ones too, and diſperſt them alſo all over the Earth and Water, and of theſe were the firſt Plants and Animals created by the Virtue of his Omnipotent Word; and after all theſe were ſpent, there remained no more Ability in thoſe Elements to produce any Individuals, but all ſince them owe their their Original to Generation, God having given each Species power to procreate their like.