by false misrepresentations. For I can find no fuch thing in either the Latin or English Theory, as that the Axis of the Earth was ever parallel to the Axis of the Sun. It is faid indeed that the Axis of the Earth was parallel to the Axis of the Ecliptick, and perpendicular to its Plane, and this I must own is false; but were it true, yet what the Dofender advances upon it would be impoffible, viz. that the Axis of the Earth would also be parallel to the Axis of the Sun, for fince the Axis of the Sun is not perpendicular, but ftands at oblique Angles upon the Plane of the Ecliptick, as is evident from Gallileo in his Book de Macchie Solari, Scheiners Rofa Urfina, Kepler, Monf. Caffini, Mr. Flamstead, and most of the Aftronomers who have wrote upon this fubje&t: but even his own Master Des Cartes, (from whom he feems as induftrioufly to diffent when he is in the right, as he is always fure to transcribe him when he is in the wrong) tells us, that the Axis of the Sun makes an Angle of feven degrees with the Axis of the Ecliptick: If I fay what these Learned Men have obferv'd be true, then either the propofition advanced by the Defender, or the 8th. of the 11th. of Euclid muft be falfe. This Author alfo tells us, that before the Deluge (the Earth having a right pofition) the Heavens with the fixed Stars mov'd or feem'd to move concentrically with the Earth. I cannot fuppofe that he mean't by this, that all the fixed Stars feem'd

feem'd to turn round the Earth in Circles, that have the Axis of the Earth for their Axis, for they do fo now, and must do fo whatever pofition the Earth obtains, if the motions of the Stars be only apparent and caused by the real rotation of the Earth round its Axis.

I fancy therefore that by a concentrical motion he means, (if he means any thing) that which is perform'd in a Circle which has the fame Centre that the Earth has, (as the word implys) and I am confirm'd in the opinion, that this or fome other strange thing is mean't by this word, because the Theorist in his Archeolog. afferts, that in his Primitive Earth all its Inhabitants would be Afcii, that is, they would have no fhadow at twelve of the Clock, or they would have the Sun vertical to them at that time. This I dare venture to fay is impoffible in this or any other of the numberlefs Worlds, that the De fender dreams of among the fixed Stars, unlefs the Sun can be multiply'd or made to appear at many different places at the fame time. For every one that ever read any one Page about the first principles of Geography knows, that all thofe who live under the fame Meridian have twelve of the Clock at the fame time, and confequently if the Sun were at twelve of the Clock vertical to all those who live under it, he must be in every point of that Meridian at the fame time. I

leave

leave the Reader to judge if these men whofe notions in Aftronomy and Geography are fo diftinct and clear, are not very capable of making Theories and difcourfes about the pofture of the Primitive Earth, and the pofition of its Axis? They fhould be advis'd before ever they venture again to make another Theory, or defend this, to learn fomething of the common principles of the Sphere. Perhaps they think them too common and eafy, and fuch as every body may know that will be at the pains to ftudy, and therefore they defpife them, and go upon higher attempts to find out fomething that no body elfe can discover; as the method how the Earth was made, and what was the ftate and condition of the Antediluvian World. for my part I would rather be quite ignorant of the pofture of the Primitive Earth and the pofition of its Axis, than not know the common principles of Aftronomy and the doctrine of the Sphere. I am fure if this Author had fpent but half the time upon this fubject that he has done upon the Theory, he might have avoided many abfurdities, and would not have talk't of the Axis of the Earth being chang'd into a parallelifm with the Axis of the Equator, and the Heavens feeming to turn round upon an Axis different from that of the Earth. For it is well known, that the apparent motion of the Heavens is about the Axis of the Earth, and that the Axis of the Equa

But

tor

tor is the fame with the Earths Axis, and it is impoffible that they could ever have been diftin&t.

It seems this Defender's acquaintance is only with the Antediluvian World; for one would think by his way of Writing, that he knew nothing at all of this Worlds pofition or motions. His difcourfe and terms are fo odd and strange, that I fometimes believe they were terms that were used by the Antediluvian Fathers; for I am fure they cannot be accommodated to the prefent mode and manner of speaking.

The defign of the fifth Chapter of the Examination is, to confider the Theorist's method of forming Rivers in the Primitive Earth; which, according to him were furnished with Vapours drawn from the Abyss thro' the Cruft

the heat of the Sun. Against this I objected that from thence it would follow, that there could be no Rivers for a confiderable time after the firft Creation of the Earth. For one would think that it must neceffarily require fome time before the Suns heat could penetrate thro' a thick Cruft to raise vapours from the Abyss; all which time the Inhabitants of the Earth must be without Rivers. The Defender thinks this objection may be anfwered by faying, that the Earth was at firft foft and moift, and therefore could not but furnish ftore of vapours to fupply the Rivers. But this is nothing but a fhift; for

if

if we bring it to a Calculation, we shall find the cause no ways anfwerable to the effect.

I fhew'd in the Examination, that the quantity of water evacuated by all the Rivers every Year, was at least equal to 263080 Cubical Miles; now if we allow no more Rivers in the Primitive Earth than there are now in ours, (whereas in our proportion to the furface of the Land they ought to be double) fo many Cubical Miles of water will likewife be neceffary every Year to fupply the Primitive Rivers; and if we admit that the Sun had penetrated the thick Cruft in the fpace of ten Years (which is a time little enough in all reafon for fuch an effect) the quantity of water that would be neceffary to fupply the Rivers for fuch a time, muft not be lefs than 263080 Cubical Miles; which is fuch a quantity as would make the Earth very foft and moift indeed: But it would be much rather a Marsh and Mire than an habitable Earth.

I objected alfo that it was impoffible that the Rays of the Sun could ever reach thro' a vaft thick Cruft, fo as to be able to raise vapours from the Abyss. Or if we should fuppofe that it did raise them, yet it could not do it in fuch a quantity as would be requifite to furnish the Antediluvian Rivers. For who can imagine that the Sun could act as freely upon the Abyfs, as it does now upon the open Sea? Whofe furface is expos'd to the continal heat

of