Three physico-theological discourses ... wherein are largely discussed the production and use of mountains, the original of fountains, of formed stones, and sea-fishes bones and shells found in the earth, the effects of particular floods and inundations of the sea, the eruptions of vulcano's, the nature and causes of earthquakes : with an historical account of those two late remarkable ones in Jamaica and England ... / by John Ray ...

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Title
Three physico-theological discourses ... wherein are largely discussed the production and use of mountains, the original of fountains, of formed stones, and sea-fishes bones and shells found in the earth, the effects of particular floods and inundations of the sea, the eruptions of vulcano's, the nature and causes of earthquakes : with an historical account of those two late remarkable ones in Jamaica and England ... / by John Ray ...
Author
Ray, John, 1627-1705.
Publication
London :: Printed for Sam. Smith ...,
1693.
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Subject terms
Creation -- Early works to 1800.
Natural history -- Pre-Linnean works.
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"Three physico-theological discourses ... wherein are largely discussed the production and use of mountains, the original of fountains, of formed stones, and sea-fishes bones and shells found in the earth, the effects of particular floods and inundations of the sea, the eruptions of vulcano's, the nature and causes of earthquakes : with an historical account of those two late remarkable ones in Jamaica and England ... / by John Ray ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A58184.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 6, 2024.

Pages

Page 125

CHAP. III.

Of the Effects of the Deluge.

I Come now to the Third Particular pro∣posed, that is, To Enquire concerning the Consequents of the Deluge, What con∣siderable Effects it had upon the Earth and and its Inhabitants.

It had doubtless very great, in changing the Superficies of the dry Land: In some places adding to the Sea; in some taking from it; making Islands of Peninsulae, and joining others to the Continent; altering the Beds of Rivers, throwing up lesser Hills, and washing away others, &c. The most re∣markable Effects it's likely were in the skirts of the Continents; because the Motion of the Water was there most violent. Athana∣sius Kircher gives us a Map and Descripti∣on of the World after the Flood, shewing what Changes were made therein by it, or upon occasion of it afterward, as he fansies or conjectures. But because I do not love to trouble the Reader with uncertain Conje∣ctures, I shall content my self to have said

Page 126

in general, that it may rationally be suppo∣sed, there were then great Mutations and Alterations made in the superficial part of the Earth: but what they were, though we may guess, yet can we have no certain knowledge of: and for Particulars, refer the Curious to him.

One malignant effect it had upon Man∣kind, and probably upon other Animals too, in shortning their Age, or the duration of their lives; which I have touched before, and shewn, that this diminution of Age, is to be attributed either to the change of the Temperature of the Air, as to Salubrity, or Equality, (sudden and frequent changes of Weather having a very bad influence upon the Age of Man in abbreviating of it, as I could easily prove) or else to the deteriority of the Diet; or to both these Causes. But how the Flood should induce or occasion such a change in the Air and productions of the Earth, I do not comprehend.

Notes

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