seems according to Leucippus, the Sun acted more ftrongly upon the Northern Hemisphere formerly, than it does now, and that it does not now come fo near the Zenith of those that live towards the North-Pole, as it did at firft; whereby the waters of these Northern parts are quite frozen and turn'd into Ice, while the parts toward the South, (being on the contrary expos'd to too great heat) are burnt and fcorch't: that is, the declination of the Ecliptick from the Equator (at least toward the North) was greater formerly

than now.

Thus, we fee how little favourable these Philofophers are to the Theorift's opinion; and that their fentiments are at least as capable of being brought as arguments against him as for him.

It is true, that Plato fpeaks of vapμosía » ἀνομωλία, a dilharmony or irregularity in the motions of the Heavens, that was not under the reign of Saturn. But this fignifies nothing to the Theorift's purpose; for if we fhould admit of his pofition, yet ftill there would be the fame apparent irregularities in the motions of the Heavens. For the Planets would not in that case move uniformly round the Earth, but would have their directions, ftations, and retrogradations, as they have at prefent; and none of them but the Sun would move precifely in the Equator. The other quotation the Theorift brings from Plato, is nothing to

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his purpose, and is alledg'd by another Theorift, to prove a quite contrary Hypothefis.

Thefe are the teftimonies the Theorist has produced from the old Philofophers, to prove the truth of his Hypothefis, which in my mind, if it were not for pomp and fhow, he might have as well let alone; for I think, they will prove any thing elfe juft as well as what he defign'd. If thefe Gentlemen had fpoke of a coincidence that was at first between the Equator and the Ecliptick, or of the Axis of the Earth or World, being perpendicular to the Ecliptick, or if they had faid, that the Sun at firft mov'd always in the Equator, or that the days and nights throughout the whole Year were equal, (which might have been cafily faid and much easier underftood, than what they have deliver'd) they had spoke fomething to his purpofe; but inftead of this, we have fome dark fentences, whofe real meaning it is hard to guefs at, and fome of which feem to be fo far from proving the Theorifts pofition, that they seem rather to infer the contrary, and that the Suns declination was greater formerly than now. Sure a man must be put to a hard fhift for ancient Traditions, that will bring fuch Teftimonies to prove his point.

But the Defender alledges, that thefe places will at least prove that there was fome change made in the state of nature formerly; and if I will not allow that which the Theorist has

affign'd,

affign'd, I muft fhew fome other which will have the fame effects. Why fo? I hope he does not fuppofe me to be like fome Philofophers, that think themselves oblig'd to give an account of every appearance, and fancy it a ftain in their reputation and honour, to be ignorant in any thing: If he fuppofes fuch a thing, I affure him he is much mistaken; for I am fenfible that there are more things which neither he nor I know than what we do. The Poets are the next witneffes the Theorift produces to prove the truth of his pofition: And these indeed talk of the continual fpring and verdure of the Earth that was under the reign of Saturn. We know the Fable of the four Ages, of which the Golden was the first and beft; in it they fancy'd every thing that was pleafant and delightful, and therefore they remov'd from it all extremities of heat and cold; and upon that account they would allow neither of Summer or Winter, but a perpetual Spring wherein every thing was fresh and blooming. But it is eafie to perceive that all this was a figment: For when they or other Writers were to defcribe any pleasant places, they continually endow'd them with fuch qualities. Thus Homer describes the Elyfian Fields as he is quoted by the Theorift, Archeol. pag. 263. and Virgil fuppofes that there were fine green Meadows there. This Poet alfo in fumming up the praises of Italy and prefering it before all other Coun

tries, among other excellent qualities he endows it with a perpetual Spring,

Hic ver affiduum atque alienis menfibus aftas. Virg. Georg. Lib. II. Thus Plutarch defcribes the fortunate Islands, and Pliny the Loca Hyperborea. From which we may clearly fee, that there was no other foundation for any fuch affertion, but the fancy of the contrivers, who were to set forth their places of happiness to the best advantage.

But the Defender thinks, that if none of thofe he has mention'd will pafs for fufficient witneffes of the matter of fact; yet I will certainly allow of the Teftimonies of fome ancient Aftronomers, who have faid something relating to this matter. Well, let us fee what they fay. He quotes Baptifta Mantuanus from the Archeolog. whose words are these. Erant illis (nempe Antediluvianis) ut Aftronomiâ & experimento conftat, Cali propitiores; volunt namque Aftronomi duos effe Zodiacos, unum in nona Jphæra, alterum in octava, quod firmamentum vocant; & initio rerum & temporum fic à Deo difpofitos ut Aries Arieti, Taurus Tauro, Gemini Geminis jungeretur, & amborum coeuntibus in unum viribus fortior fiebat in terris influxus, unde & herbas tunc falubriores, & fructus terra meliores. As alfo Petrus Aponenfis in his Conciliator Diff. has thefe words, Cum capita Zodiaci mobilis & immobilis ordinate & directe concurrebant, tum virtus perfectiori modo, à primo

principia

principio per medias caufas taliter ordinatas fortiori modo imprimebatur in ifta inferiora, cum caufæ tunc fibi invicem correfpondebant.

These Teftimonies I own do fufficiently convince me, not that the Thecrift's position of the Primitive Earth was the true one; but that the Defender who has alledg'd them to prove his point does not understand them. For he could not have quoted any thing that was lefs to his purpose than they are. I know not what skill this Author has in the new Aftronomy; but I am fure he does not underftand it if it be put into an old fashion'd drefs. No doubt he thought that these Authors mean't by fuch words that at first the Equator and Ecliptick were coincident; when they never dream't of any fuch thing.

They as their own words informs us, fuppofe with all the old Aftronomers two Zodiacks, the one of which is exactly placed under the other, and (the uppermoft being immoveable) the lowest in which the fixed Stars are placed moves exactly under it, and performs its courfe from Weft to Eaft, according to fome in the fpace of 25000 Years. At first these two Circles had the fame beginning, the Conftellation Aries being exactly in the fign of the Ecliptick of the fame name, and the Constellation Taurus was exactly in the fign Taurus; the Stars alfo that make up the figure of Gemini, were exactly under the fign Gemini of the immoveable Zodiack, and