Earth, whose form and properties as they were different from this, so they were such as made it capable
of being truly Paradisiacal, both according to the
forementioned Characters, and all other qualities and
priviledges reasonably ascrib'd to Paradise.
CHAP. III.
The Original differences of the Primitive Earth
from the present or Post-diluvian. The three
Characters of Paradise and the Golden Age
found in the Primitive Earth. A particular
Explication of each Character.
WE have hitherto only perplext the Argument
and our selves, by showing how inexplicable
the state of Paradise is according to the present order
of things, and the present condition of the Earth.
We must now therefore bring into view that Original
and Ante-diluvian Earth where we pretend its seat
was, and show it capable of all those priviledges which
we have deny'd to the present; in vertue whereof,
and of the order of Nature establisht there, that
whole Earth might be truly Paradisiacal, as in the
Golden Age; and some Region of it peculiarly so,
according to the Idea of the Christian Paradise. And
this, I think, is all the knowledge and satisfaction that
we can expect, or that Providence hath allow'd us in
this Argument.
The Primigenial Earth, which in the first Book
(Chap. 5.) we rais'd from a Chaos, and set up in an
habitable form, we must now survey again with more
care, to observe its principal differences from the present Earth, and what influence they will have upon
the question in hand. These differences, as we have
said before, were chiefly three; The form of it, which
was smooth, even, and regular. The posture and situation of it to the Sun, which was direct, and not,
