The theory of the earth : containing an account of the original of the earth, and of all the general changes which it hath already undergone, or is to undergo till the consummation of all things. The two last books, concerning the burning of the world, and concerning the new heavens and new earth.

Burnet, Thomas, 1635?-1715.

Date:: 1697

Credit: The theory of the earth : containing an account of the original of the earth, and of all the general changes which it hath already undergone, or is to undergo till the consummation of all things. The two last books, concerning the burning of the world, and concerning the new heavens and new earth. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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$ז1 .'*ד· «*Λ ז ־י 1 Coy. 3.12,1 Matt, x 3.40·) 41,41. ג The(f. 2.7,8״ ch. 10. 27, 2'fT. 2<S, 27, 18, 27, from Scripture: What the voice of Nature is, we (hall hear all along in the following Treatife: Let us then examine at prefent, what teftimony the Prophets and Apoftles give to this ancient do- tfrine of the Conflagration of the World. The Prophets fee the World a-fire at a diftance and more imperfectly, as a brightness in the Heavens, rather than a burning flame: bdt S. Veter de- fcribes.it, as if he had been handing by, and feen the Heavens and Earth in a red fire : heard the cracking flames and the tumbling Mountains2 Pet. 3.10. In the day of the Lord, The Heavens {ball pa/s arc ay with a great wife, and the Elements (hall melt with fervent heat: The Earth alfo, and the works that are therein, (hall be burnt up. Then, after a pious Ejaculation, he adds, Ver. 12. Looking for and hajlening the coming of the day of God, wherein the Heavens, being on fire, (hall be dijfolved; and the Elements {hall melt with fervent heat. This is as lively, as a Man could exprefs it, if he had the dreadful fpectacle before his Eyes. S. Peter had before taught the fame do- ctrine (ver. 5· C7·) but in a more Philofophick way 3 defcribing the double fate of the World, by Water and Fire, with relation to the Nature and Conftitution of either World, paft or prefent. The Heavens and the Earth ivere of old, confifling of water and by water : whereby, the World that then was, being overflow’d with water, perijh’d. But the Heavens and the Earth which are now, by the fame Word are kept in {lore, referved unto fire againfl^ the day of Judgment, and perdition of ungodly, or Atheiflical men. This teftimony of S. Peter being full, di- red, and explicit, will give light and ftrength to feveral other pafla- ges of Scripture, where the fame thing is exprefl obfcurely or by alluflon. As when S.Paul fays, The fire (hall try every man s worfi in that day. And our Saviour fays, The tares (hall be burnt in the fire, at the end of the World. Accordingly it is faid, both by the Apoftles and Prophets, that God will come to judgment in Fire. S. Paul to the Theffalonians, promifeth the perfecuted Righteous, reft and eafe, When the Lord (hall be revealed from Heaven, with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire: taking vengeance on them that know not God,&c. And fo to the Hebrews S. Paul fays, that for wilful Apoftates there remain- eth no more Sacrifice for fin, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment, and fiery indignation, which {ball devour the adverfaries, or enem ies of God. And in the 12th. Chapter, he alludes to the fame thing, when after he had fpoken of (baking the Heavens and the Earth once more, he exhorteth, as S. Peter does upon the fame occafion, to reverence and godly fear, For our God is a confuming Eire״ In like manner the Prophets, when they fpeak of deftroying the wicked, and the Enemies of God and Chrift, at the end of the World, reprefent it as a deftru&ion by Eire. Plain! the nth. 6. Upon the wicked the Lord jhall rain coals, fire, and brimflone, and a burn- hig tempefi : This (hall be the portion of their Cup. And PfaL 50. 3״ Our God (hall come, and will not be flow: A fire (hall devour before him, and it Jhall be very tempeftuous round about him. And in the begin״ ning ofthofetwo triumphal Pfalms, the fixty-eighth, and ninety*fe- venth, we fee plain allulions to this coming of the Lord in fire. The other Prophets fpeak in the fame ftyle, of a fiery indignation againil the wicked, in the dav of the Lord: As in lfaiah 66. 15. ' ׳ .״ ' For$