more incapable of new thoughts and new improvements, than those that have only the Talents of Nature. As Masters of exercise had rather take a Scholat that never learn'd before, than one that hath had
a bad Master; so generally one would rather chuse a
Reader without art, than one ill-instructed; with
learning but opinionative and without judgment: yet
it is not necessary they should want either, and Learning well plac't strengthens all the powers of the mind.
To conclude, just reasoning and a generous love of
Truth, whether with or without Erudition, is that
which makes us most competent Judges what is true;
and further than this, in the perusal and examination
of this Work, as to the Author as much candor as
you please, but as to the Theory we require nothing
but attention and impartiality.
CHAP. II.
A general account of Noahs Flood; A computation what quantity of Water would be necessary
for the making of it; that the common Opinion
and Explication of that Flood is not intelligible.
TIS now more than Five Thousand years since
our World was made, and though it would be
a great pleasure to the mind to recollect and view at
this distance those first Scenes of Nature, what the
face of the Earth was when fresh and new, and how
things differ'd from the state we now find them in,
the speculation is so remote, that it seems to be hopeless, and beyond the reach of Humane Wit. We are
almost the last Posterity of the first Men, and faln into the dying Age of the World; by what footsteps,
or by what guide can we trace back our way to those
first Ages, and the first order of things? And yet,
methinks, it is reasonable to believe that Divine Providence, which sees at once throughout all the Ages
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