An entire body of philosophy according to the principles of the famous Renate Des Cartes in three books, (I) the institution ... (II) the history of nature ... (III) a dissertation of the want of sense and knowledge in brute animals ... / written originally in Latin by the learned Anthony Le Grand ; now carefully translated from the last corrections, alterations, and large additions of the author, never yet published ... by Richard Blome.

CHAP. III. Of the End or Destruction of the World.

I. Whatso∣ver hath had a beginning, must of necessity have an End also. FRom what hath been said, it is evident that the World was Created, and that those things that had a Beginning, are subject to Corruption and Dissolution. For why may not we attribute a Principle of Destruction to that, which we own to have had one of Production; and suppose that that which once began to be, will meet with a time wherein it must cease to be? For is not the Matter, whereof the whole Universe doth consist, the Original and Cause of Dissolution? And do not all things that we see, decay daily, and hasten to their End?

For he seems to be but little acquainted with Natural Philosophy, who supposeth that to be Eter∣nal which hath had a Beginning, as VELLEJUS saith, according to the Opinion of PLATO, as CICERO sets it down in his 1st Book de Natura Deorum. For where can we find a thing put together, that is not subject to be taken in pieces again? Or, where is that thing which hath Beginning, and shall not have an End? And accordingly LUCRETIUS tells us, in his First Book.

As Beasts depriv'd of Food, so things must die, As soon as Matter fails of just supply.

II. The Opi∣nion of the Ancients, concerning the Dura∣tion of the World. But you will say, that there have not been wanting some Philosophers who have attributed Eternity to the World, and have conceived this Great Fabrick so admirably contriv'd and built, as not to be capable of Dissolution. Which Opinion hath been maintain'd by ZENO∣PHANES, MELISSUS, ARISTOTLE, and others, who accused those of Impiety, who maintain'd, that the World would perish. Neither were PLATO and PYTHAGORAS Enemies to this Opinion: For tho' they believed that the World would have an End; yet withal they sup∣posed, that GOD only was to be the Dissolver of it; as thinking it unbecoming him, to make a Work that should be dissolvable by any other Hand than his own. That it is the property of Parents, to desire the preservation of their Off∣spring, and by no means to desire their Destru∣ction.

III. The World is of its own nature Corrupti∣ble. But these are the Judgments of Blind-men, who without having a due regard to the Consti∣tution of the World, thought the parts thereof to be joyned together by such strong Ties, which no Ages could be able to dissolve. But to oppose Authority to Authority, were not the Epi∣cureans and Stoicks of another Opinion? The latter of whom supposed nothing to be Immortal, but Jupiter alone, and asserted that the Earth, Sea, Air and Heaven, were all to have an End, and to be changed into other Bodies; as the Tragical Poet seems to foretel, in Hercul. Oct.

The splendid Roof of Heaven shall fall, A certain Ruin doth it attend: Yea, Glorious gods themselves, and all, In Chaos and Dark-Night shall end.

But what need have we of the Testimonies of the Ancient Philosophers, to assert the Corruption of the World; seeing that the present decays of the VVorld do manifestly prove its declining, if not decrepit Age? Who doth not perceive, that all things are in a state of Decadence, and hastning on to their last end? Do not we see, that the Seasons of the year decline, and want much of their former force and vigour? Doth not the Heat of Summer grow less every year than other? And is not the VVinter Season changed from what it used to be? How late, cold, and wet are our Springs? And how few seasonable and fruitful Autumns do we enjoy? So that all things apparently fall short of their Primaeval virtue. If we descend into the Bowels of the Earth, what a small quantity of Gold and Silver do we meet with there? How few Veins of Metals are now-a-days discover'd, if we com∣pare them with those multitudes that were found of Old, and in the Times of our Fore∣fathers?

IV. The general Decadence and Decli∣nation of things, portends the ap∣proaching End of the World. This Failure and Decrease is also observable in other things; for who doth not find, that there are not so many Men in the VVorld as formerly, and that the Fields begin to want Husbandmen, the Camps, Souldiers; and the Sea, Seamen? And shall not we from this General defection con∣clude, that Old Age hath overtaken the VVorld, and that all Creatures are hastning to their Exit? This therefore is the unalterable Law and Decree of GOD, that oll things which have had a Beginning, must decrease, grow old, and die at last.

V. The short∣ness of the Life of Man is an Argu∣ment that the World grows Old. But what needs so many words to prove, that the VVorld is grown Old, since we s••e that mens Lives grow shorter every day, being now con∣tained within a narrow compass, as LUCRETIUS expresseth it in his First Book:

Man's Age declin'd in Ancient Homer's days; But now his Strength and Stature both decays.

Formerly Men lived 800 or 900 years, and upward; whereas now it is look'd upon as a Prodigy, to reach 100 only; and if any by great chance reach so far, then are they encumbred and tormented with so many Ails of Mind and Body, that they long for nothing more than Death. And shall we, after all this, suppose that the Eternity of this VVorld can be consistent with

the continual crumbling away thereof; the defe∣ction of the Seasons of the year, and the short∣ning of mens lives? Or that that can be perpetual, which is always changing and fleeting?

VI. The Ele∣ments con∣spire to the destruction of the World. Another Argument to prove the Dissolution of the World, may be fetched from those particular changes which antidate the total destruction of the World, and divers ways conspire to the Ruin there∣of: What vast desolations hath not the Fire caused in the World? How many Countries hath not the Sun, whom they call the Parent of Life, and the Soul of the World, laid waste and barren? How often hath Water been destructive to the World? How many Deluges have spoiled it, and renduced it to little better than its primaeval Chaos? And for us that are yet alive, tho' we may hope to live still longer; yet Reason, if we will not stop our Ears against her, doth assure us that Death follows us at the Heels, and will e're long trip us into our Graves. And tho' we never saw the Total Ruin of the World, or do not perceive any cer∣tain passages of its end, yet we have reason to conjecture it not to be far off, since we find it sick of the same Diseases, Old Age and other In∣firmities, which have led so many of her Off-spring to death.