Three Physico-Theological Discourses, Table of contents
The CONTENTS.
DISCOURSE I.
Of the Primitive CHAOS, and Creation of the WORLD.
CHAP. I. Testimonies of the Ancient Heathen Writers, Hesiod, Ovid, Aristophanes, Lucan, Euripides, concerning the Chaos, and what they meant by it.
Chap. II. That the Creation of the World out of a Chaos, is not repugnant to the Holy Scripture, if soberly understood, p, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Chap. III. Of the separating the Land and Water, and raising up the Mountains, p. 9, &c. By what means the Waters were gathered together into one place, and the dry Land made to appear, p. 10. That subterraneous Fires and Flatus's, might be of power sufficient to produce such an effect, proved from the force and effects of Gunpowder, and the raising up of new Mountains, p. 11, 12, 13. The shaking of the whole known World by an Earthquake, p. 13, 14. That the Mountains, Islands, and whole Continents were probably at first raised up by subterraneous Fires, proved by the Authority of Lydiate and Strabo, p. 15, 16, 17. Of subterraneous Caverns passing under the bottom of the Sea, p. 19, 20, 21, &c. A Discourse concerning the Equality of the Sea and Land, both as to the extent of each, and the height of one, to the depth of the other, taken from the Shores, p. 25, 26, 27, 31, 32, 33. That the motion of the Water levels the bottom of the Sea, p. 28, 29, 30. A Discourse concerning the Use of the Mountains, 35, 36, 37, &c. The Sum of what hath been said of the Division and Disposition of the Water and Earth, p. 44.
Chap. IV. Of the Creation of Animals: some Questions concerning them resolved, p. 46. That God Almighty did at first create either the Seeds of all Animate Bodies, and dispersed them all the Earth over: or else the first Sett of Animals themselves in their full state and perfection, giving each Species a power by Generation to propagate their like, p. 46, 47. Whether God at first created a great number of each Species, or only two, a Male and a Female, p. 47, 48. Whether all individual Animals which already have been, and hereafter shall be, were at first actually created by God, or only the first Sett of each Species, the rest proceeding from them by way of Generation, and being a new produced, p. 49, 50, 51, &c. Objections against the first part answered: 1. That it seems impossible, that the Ovaries of the first Animals should actually include the innumerable Myriads of those that may proceed from them in so many Generations as have been, and shall be to the end of the World: This shewn not to be so incredible from the multitude of parts, into which Matter may be, and is divided, in many Experiments, p. 51, 52, 53, 54. &c. 2. If all the Members of Animals already formed do pre exist in the Egg, how can the Imagination of the Mother change the shape, and that so notoriously sometimes, as to produce a Calve's-head, or Dog's-face, or the like monstrous Members. Several Answers to thus Objection offered, p. 57, 58, 59▪
DISCOURSE II.
Of the General DELUGE, in the Days of Noah, its Causes and Effects. p. 62.
CHAP. I. Testimonies of Ancient Heathen Writers, and some Ancient Coyns or Medals, verifying the Scripture-History of the Deluge, p. 63, 64, 65, 66. That the Ancient Poets and Mythologists, by Deucalion understood Noah, and by Deucalion's Flood the General Deluge proved, 66, 67, 68, 69.
Chap. II. Of the Causes of the General Deluge, 70: 1. A miraculous transmutation of Air into Water rejected, 70, 71, 72. That Noah's Flood was not Topical, 73. 2, & 3. The emotion of the Center of the Earth, or a violent depression of the Surface of the Ocean, the most probable partial Causes of the Deluge: but the immediate Causes assigned by the Scripture, are the breaking up of the Fountains of the Great Deep▪ and the opening of the Windows of Heaven, 73. That those Causes are sufficient to produce a Deluge, granting a change of the Centre of the Earth, to prevent the Waters running off, 73, 74, 75. That all the Vapours suspended in the Air might contribute much towards a Flood, ibid. Concerning the Expence of the Sea by Vapour, 76, 77, 78, &c. Of the Waters keeping its Level: An Objection concerning an Under-current at the Propon…is, The Streights of Gibralter, and the Baltick Sound, proposed and replied to, 81, 82, 83, 84. Concerning the breaking up of the Fountains of the Great Deep, and how the Waters might be made to …, 84, 15. The inferiour Circulation, and perpetual Motion of the Water disapproved, 86, &c. That the Continents and Islands are so equally dispersed all the World over, as to counterballance one another, so that the Centers of Motion, Gravity, and Magnitude, concur in one, 87, 88. An occasional Discourse concerning the Original of Fountains, 89, 90, &c. to 116. That the Preponderancy of the Earth, and the Waters lying on an heap in the opposite Hemisphere, cannot be the cause of the Waters ascent in Springs, proved 86, 88, 89. That Rains and Snow may suffice to feed the Springs, and do feed the ordinary ones, proved 89, 90, 91. That the Rain-water sinks down, and makes its way into the Earth, more than ten, or twenty, or forty, or even an hundred Foot, proved by many Arguments and Experiments 92. 93, 94, &c. Mr. Halley's Opinion, That Springs and Rivers owe their Original to Vapours condensed on the sides of the Mountains, and not unto Rain, propounded and approved in great part as to hot Countries, tho' Rains even there not wholly excluded, p. 98, 99, &c. but disallowed as to the more temperate and cold ones, yet even there the Vapours granted to have a good interest in their production, 101, 102, &c. to 116. Observations communicated by Dr. Tancr. Robinson, concerning the Original of Fountains, Dropping Trees, &c. in confirmation in part of Mr. Halley's Opinion 110, 111. An Experiment of mine own, in confirmation of the Histories of Dropping, or Fountain-trees, 113. Inferences upon the supposition of the Rivers pouring into the Sea half an Ocean of Water daily 117, 118, &c. The most probable Causes of the Deluge, viz. the emotion of the Center of the Earth, or an extraordinary depr…ssion of the Superficies of the Sea, 121, 122, 123.
Chap. III. Of the Effects of the Deluge in general, p. 125. 126.
Chap. IV. Of formed Stones, Sea-shells, and other Marine, or Marine-like Bodies found at great distance from the Shores, supposed to have been brought in by the Deluge, p. 127. Wherein is treated at large concerning the Nature and Original of these Bodies: and that great Question, Whether they were originally the real Shells and Bones of Fishes, or Stones cast in such Molds? or, Whether they be primitive Productions of Nature, in imitation only of such Shells and Bones, not owing their Figure to them? largely discussed, the Arguments on both sides produced and weighed, 127, 128, &c. to 162.
Chap. V. That there have been great Changes made in the superficial part of the Earth since the General Deluge, and by what means, 163, &c. As for instance, The Submersion of the great Island of Atlantis, 163. The breaking off Sicily from Italy: Ceylon from India: Sumatra from Malacca, 164: of Britain from France, proved out of Verstegan, 165: of Barbary from Spain: of Asia from Thrace, 166, 167. The raising up of new Islands, 167, 168. The atteration of the skirts of the Sea, instances whereof are, 1. The Dutch Netherlands, proved out of Verstegan, by sufficient Arguments, to have been anciently covered by the Sea. 2. The great level of the Fens running through Holland in Lincolnshire, the Isle of Ely in Cambridgeshire, and Marshland in Norfolk. 3. The Craux in Provence in France. 4. The whole Land of Aegypt. 5. Probably all China: with many others briefly mentioned, 168, 169, &c. to 174. The Submersion of the Land by the Irruptions and Inundations of the Sea: Several instances thereof, 175, 176, 177. Changes by the encroachments of the Sea undermining the Shores, and washing them away; and again letting the Earth so washed away, to settle not far from the Shores, and so raise up Islands, 178, 179. Changes by the depression and sinking of the Mountains, the Earth being washed down by shots of Rain, Rivers, and subterraneous Waters. These so great and considerable as to endanger in conclusion the submersion of the whole dry Land, unless some stop be put, p. 179, 180, 181. Changes made by Earth-quakes: of which many instances out of Strabo, Pliny, and others are produced, 181, 182, &c. A particular Narrative and Account of the late terrible Earthquake in Jamaica, with Remarks and Observations Natural and Moral upon it, 186, 187, &c. to 194. An occasional Discourse concerning the Nature, Causes, and Differences of Earthquakes, 194, 195, &c. to 206. A particular Account of the late remarkable, and farextended Earthquake, which happened here with us in England, and in other parts of Europe, upon Septemb. 8. 1692. 209, 210, &c. to 216. Of extraordinary Floods caused by long continuing Showers, or violent Storms and Shots of Rain, 221, 222, &c. Of boisterous and violent Winds and Hurricans, what Interest they have in the Changes wrought in the Earth, 225, 226, 227, 228. That the Earth doth not proceed so fast towards … general Inundation and Submersion by Water, as the force and agency of all these Causes seem to require, 229.
DISCOURSE III.
Of the Future Dissolution of the World, and the General Conslagration.
THE Introduction being a Discourse concerning Prophesie, 231, 232, &c.
Chap. I. The Division of the Words [2 Peter 3. 1.] and the Doctrine contained in them, with the Heads of the following Discourse, viz. I. Testimonies concerning the Dissolution. 1. Of the Holy Scriptures. 2. Of ancient Christian Writers. 3. Of Heathen Philosophers and Sages. II. Seven Questions concerning the Dissolution of the World proposed.
Chap. II. The Testimonies of Scripture concerning the Dissolution of the World. And Dr. Hammond's Expositions, referring the most of them to the Destruction of the City and Temple of Jerusalem, and the Period of the Jewish State and Polity considered, and pleaded for, 240, 241, &c. to 258.
Chap. III. Testimonies of the Ancient Fathers and Doctors of the Church, concerning the Dissolution of the World, 258, 259, &c. to 264.
Chap. IV. The Testimonies of some Heathen Philosophers, and other Writers, concerning the Dissolution; the Epicureans 264; the Stoicks 265, &c. who held certain Periods of In…olation and Conflagrations 267, 268. That this Opinion of a … Conflagration was of far greater Antiquity then that Sect proved 272.
Chap. V. The first Question concerning the World's Dissolution; Whether there be any thing in Nature that may probably cause or argue a Future Dissolution? Four probable means propounded and discussed 277.
Sect. 1. The first is the probability of the Waters naturally returning to overflow and cover the Earth 277. The old Argument from the World's Dissolution taken from us daily consenescency and decay rejected 278. The necessity of such a prevailing of the Waters daily upon the dry Land, till at last it proceed to a total submersion of it, in the course of Nature, as things now stand, unless some stop be put, proved▪ From the continual streightning of the Sea, and l…wering the Mountains and high Grounds by Rains, Floods and Rivers, washing away, and carrying down the Earth, and from the Seas encroaching upon the Shares 283, to 296. A large Qu…tation out of Josephus Blancanus, demonst…ating the same thing by many Arguments 296.
Sect. 2. The second probable Means or Cause of the World's Destruction in a Natural way, viz. the extinction of the Sun 314.
Sect. 3. The third possible Cause of the World's Destruction▪ The eruption of the Central Fire 316. That the being of such a Fire is no way repugnant either to Scripture or Reason 318, 320.
Sect. 4. The fourth possible Cause of the World's Dissolution, The Earth's Dryness and Inflammability in the Torrid Z…ne, and the concurrent eruptions of V…l…ane… 323. That the inclination of the Ecliptick to the Aequator doth not diminish 323. That tho' there were such a drying and parching of the Earth in the Torrid Zone, it would not probably infer a Conflagration 324, 325. That there hath not yet been, nor in the ordinary Course of Nature can be any such drying or parching of the Earth in the Torrid Zone 326. The possibility of the desic…ation of the Sea by natural means denied 328, 329. The fixedness and intransmutability of Principles, secures the Universe from Dissolution, Destruction of any present Species, or by Production of any new, 330.
Chap. VI. Containing an Answer to the second Question, Whether shall this Dissolution be effected by natural, or extraordinary means, and what they shall be? 331.
Chap. VII. The third Question answered, Whether shall the Dissolution be gradual and successive, or momentanouns and sudden? 334.
Chap. VIII. The fourth Question resolved, Whether shall there be any Signs or Fore-runners of the Dissolution of the World? 337.
Chap. IX. The fifth Question debated, At what Period of time shall the World be dissolved? and particularly, Whether at the end of Six thousand Years? 342.
Chap. X. How far shall this Dissolution, or Conflagration extend? Whether to the Aetherial Heavens, and all the Host of them, Sun, Moon, and Stars, or to the Aerial only? 349.
Chap. XI. The seventh and last Question, Whether shall the whole World be consumed and destroyed or annihilated, or only refined and purified 353. The Restitution and Continuance of the World proved by the Testimonies of Scripture and Antiquity, and also by Reason, 358. The Arguments for the Abolition and Annihilation answer'd, 360, 362.
Chap. XII. The Inference the Apostle makes from the precedent Doctrine: Of future Rewards and Punishments. The Eternity of future Punishments proved from the Authority of Scripture and Antiquity. How the Eternity of Punishments can consist with the Iustice and Goodness of God, from p. 364. to the end of the Book.