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 first books, concerning the deluge and concerning paradise / [Thomas Burnet].

  • Burnet, Thomas, Sir, 1632?-1715?
Date:
1684
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

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 first books, concerning the deluge and concerning paradise / [Thomas Burnet]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    3f4 / vours, of his goodnefs, and of his Providence. But we will not mlarge upon this part of the opinion, left it fhould carry us too far from the fubjecft, and it will fall, of its own accord, with the former. Upon the whole we may conclude, that it was only the Sublu¬ nary World* that was made for the fake of Man, and not the Great Creation, either Material or Intellectu¬ al 3 and we cannot admit or affirm any more with¬ out a manifeft injury, deprefllon, and mifreprefenta- tion of Providence, as we may be eafily convinc'd from thefe four Heads 3 The meannefs of Man and of this Earth, The excellency of other Beings, The immenfity of the Univerfe, And The infinite perfecti¬ on of the Firft Caufe. Which I leave to your fur¬ ther meditation, and pafs on to the fecond rule, con¬ cerning Natural Providence. In the fecond place then, if we Would have a fair view and right apprehenlions of Natural Providence, we muft not cut the chains of it too fhort, by having recourfe, without neceflity, either to the Firft Caufe, in explaining the Origins of: things, or to Miracles, in explaining particular effects. This, I fay, breaks the chains of Natural Providence, when it is done with¬ out neceflity, that is, when things are otherwife in¬ telligible from fecond Caufes. Neither is any thing gain'd by it to God Almighty 3 for 'tis but, as the Proverb fays, to rob Peter to pay Paid, to take fo much from his ordinary Providence, and place it to his extraordinary. When a new Religion is brought into the World, 'tis very reafonable and decorous that it fhould be ufher'd in with Miracles, as both the Jewifh and Chriftian were 5 but afterwards things re¬ turn into their Chanel, and do not change or over¬ flow again, but upon extraordinary occafions or revo¬ lutions. The power Extraordinary of God is to be ac¬ counted very Sacred, not to be touch’d or expos'd for our pleafure or conveniency 3 but I am afraid we of¬ ten make ufeof it only to conceal our own ignorance, or to fave us the trouble of inquiring into Natural Caufes. Men are generally unwilling to appear igno¬ rant, efpecially thofe that make profeflion of know¬ ledge, and when they have not skill enough to ex¬ plain