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it is to understand Nature, if we would rightly understand those things in holy Writ that relate to the
Natural World. For without this knowledge, as we
are apt to think some things consistent and credible
that are really impossible in Nature; so on the other
hand, we are apt to look upon other things as incredible and impossible that are really founded in Nature. And seeing every one is willing so to expound
Scripture, as it may be to them good sence, and consistent with their Notions in other things, they are
forc'd many times to go against the easie and natural
importance of the words, and to invent other interpretations more compliant with their principles, and,
as they think, with the nature of things. We have, I
say, a great instance of this before us in the ScriptureHistory of the long lives of the Ante-diluvians, where
without any ground or shadow of ground in the
Narration, only to comply with a mistaken Philosophy, and their ignorance of the Primitive World.
many men would beat down the Scripture account of
years into months, and sink the lives of those first Fathers below the rate of the worst of Ages. Whereby
that great Monument, which Providence hath lest us
of the first World, and of its difference from the Second, would not only be desac'd, but wholly demolisht. And all this sprung only from the seeming incredibility of the thing; for they cannot show in any
part of Scripture, New or Old, that these Lunar years
are made use of, or that any computation, literal or
Prophetical, proceeds upon them: Nor that there is
any thing in the Text or Context of that place, that argues or intimates any such account. We have endeavour'd, upon this occasion, effectually to prevent this
misconstruction of Sacred History, for the future;
both by showing the incongruities that follow upon
it, and also that there is no necessity from Nature of
any such shift or evasion, as that is: But rather on the
contrary, that we have just and necessary reasons to
conclude, That as the Forms of all things would be far
more permanent and lasting in that Primitive state of
the Heavens and the Earth; so particularly the Lives
of Men, and of other Animals.
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