THE THEORY OF THE EARTH. BOOK I

We have now employ'd our last and utmost endeavours to find out waters for the vulgar Deluge, or for the Deluge as commonly understood, and you see with how little success; we have left no corner unsought, where there was any appearance or report of water to be found, and yet we have not been able to collect the eighth part of what was necessary upon a moderate account. May we not then with assurance conclude, that the World hath taken wrong measures hitherto in their notion and explication of the general Deluge? They make it impossible and unintelligible upon a double account, both in requiring more water than can be found, and more than can be dispos'd of, if it was found, or could any way be withdrawn from the Earth when the Deluge should cease. For if the Earth was encompass'd with eight Oceans of water heapt one upon another, how these should retire into any Chanels, or be drain'd off, or the Earth any way disengag'd from them, is not intelligible; and that in so short a time as some months: For the violence of the Deluge lasted but four or five months, and in as many months after the Earth was dry and habitable. So as upon the whole enquiry, we can neither find source nor issue, beginning nor ending, for such an excessive mass of waters as the Vulgar Deluge requir'd; neither where to have them, nor if we had them, how to get quit of them. And I think men cannot do a greater injury or injustice to Sacred History, than to give such representations of things recorded there, as to make them unintelligible and incredible; As on the other hand we cannot deserve better of Religion and Providence, than by giving such fair accounts of all things propos'd by them, or belonging to them, as may silence the Cavils of Atheists, satisfie the inquisitive, and recommend them to the belief and acceptance of all reasonable persons.