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CHAP. V.
1. The Form of the Earth Excepted against, from the want of Rivers. 2. Notwithstanding the way devised to raise them, there would have been none in due time. 3. Whereupon Two great Inconveni∣ences must have ensued. 4. No Rivers could have been before the Flood.
1. THEa chief thing for Life is Water, said the Son of Sirach. It is necessary and use∣ful upon numberless accounts. So that that Hypo∣thesis which implies the Earth was without ••••rings and Rivers for many hundreds of Years, ma•• justly be rejected. And for this reason the supposed Form of the Earth cannot be maintained. For according to that, the Element of Water was fast shut up within the Exteriour Orb of the Earth; and how could it issue forth from thence, through so thick and solid a terrestrial Concretion? For that being made after the manner abovesaid, there could be no gaping chasms, nor indeed little clefts or chinks in it; whereat the imprison'd Waters might get out. Or if there had been never such plenty of lesser cracks or larger rists in it; yet the Water being settled in that place, which was proper to its Na∣ture, there it would have staid by the innate Law or Principle of its Gravity. Unless by Elastie Power, Protrusion, Rarefaction, or the like, it were forced thence; there it would have made its perpe∣tual aboad, had the Earth been never so open o•• pervious, by reason of fissures or holes in the same.