thefes

That the world is from eternity

and, That it was the refult of chance. It likewise clearly defeats a third atheistical notion, That there is nothing but matter in the universe; as the Creator is here plainly distinguished from his creation; and as it will not be maintained, that matter can create itself: Much lefs, on the other hand, will that whimsical notion, which hath been started by fome late philofophers, concerning the non-entity of mat ter; which is founded in fcepticism, and, terminates in atheifm, be able to ftand before it. Laftly, the belief, that the whole univerfe was created by God, will by no means admit of another independent principle. So that all the atheistical and impious opinions, that ever were started in this refpect, vanifh before this fingle pofition, that in the beginning of time God created the heavens and the earth.

He first created only the matter of them, which, in order of time and nature, required to be created first; this being the

fubftratum

fubftratum of all the variety of forms, animate and inanimate, which were afterwards fuper-induced upon it.

To fuppofe any pre-exiftent, uncreated matter, is fuppofing two principles. It fuppofes what we have no manner of grounds to fuppofe in nature or reason; and what I apprehend contradicts the text itfelf. For after the account of the creation of the world in general, we are next informed in what condition the earth, which is the more immediate subject of this hiftory, then subsisted. It was without form and void. This must be underftood of it after it was created, becaufe before it was created, nothing could be predicated of it. After it became earth, it was without form and void. It was no more than bare naked matter, uninformed, and unfurnished with any pofitive qualities, but fuch as were efféntial to it merely as matter, and neceffarily included in the idea of it. It was likewife void of life and beauty, quite dead and inert, an undigefted confufed heap or chaos.

And

1

And darknefs, another negative quality, was upon the face of the deep. That must neceffarily have been the cafe of this hideous ábyfs, because light was not then created. It was in a horror of darkness.

And

This might well be called the deep; becaufe if the feveral conftituent particles of the chaotic mafs, folid and fluid, be allowed to have fubfided according to their specific gravities; the folid ones being the heavieft would fink, and the liquid, being the highest, muft needs occupy the uppermost place, and form the furface of the whole. though the liquid parts bore but a very fmall proportion to the folid ones in general, taking into confideration the whole bulk of the earth; yet fuppofing the folids to lie pretty even, the fluids, when collected all together upon the surface, would form fo confiderable a body in itfelf, that its depth would be very great, as the term deep implies; admitting only the fame quantity of water as there is at present,

Dr. Keil calculates that the fluids do not at prefent make above the hundred thoufandth part of the whole globe.

though

though it will appear hereafter that the folids and fluids bore a much nearer proportion to each other then than they do at this time. Thus was the whole earth hitherto but one great and horrid abyfs, and this abyfs in a state of ftagnation: When The Spirit of God moved upon the face of

the waters

The furface of the chaotic fluid was of course the thinneft part of it; and therefore properly called water: And the divine Agent now began to put it in motion, in order to difpofe it the more readily and effectually for its future tranfmutations; which will be found to proceed in a very regular and natural order.

The whole mafs confifted of four elements, when separated, which were now all blended together.-Earth, water, air, fire. To fit, and difpofe them for their feveral ufes, it was neceffary to feparate, and affign them their proper fpheres refpectively. The Spirit of God therefore, in the firft place, agitates this confused mass in quality of a € 2 ftrong

ftrong, wind, and by this means difunites its feveral conftituent parts, and difpatches each to the region proper for it to occupy.

The element that was firft called forth from the rest is, the moft fubtle and volatile of the whole; that is, fire, or light, which is an emanation from it; or rather is fire itself, refined and fublimated to the height of its capacity.

And God faid, Let there be light; and there was light.

This is the authoritative language of reative power. Let there be light; therefore it was not in being, before it was now called forth into existence; and if light be a body, as it is now, I think, generally agreed to be, here is a decifive proof of the creation of matter, to one who fubmits to the authority of revelation.

* Om includes both thefe fenfes, and may be tranflated either by the fpirit of God, or a frong wind. I have endeavoured to preserve both.

The materiality of light was proved by Mr. Boyle, and Boerhaave.