Chapter V: Book III: Concerning the CONFLAGRATION (3)

So much for the Sun. As to the _Central Fire_, I am very well satisfied it is no imaginary Thing: All Antiquity hath preserv’d some sacred Monument of it: The _Vestal_ Fire of the _Romans_, which was so religiously attended: The _Prytoneia_ of the _Greeks_ were to the same purpose, and dedicated to _Vesta_: And the _Pyretheia_ of the _Persians_, where Fire was kept continually by the _Magi_. These all, in my Opinion, had the same Origin, and the same Signification. And tho’ I do not know any particular Observation, that does directly prove or demonstrate that there is such a Mass of Fire in the middle of the Earth; yet the best Accounts we have of the Generation of a Planet do suppose it; and ’tis agreeable to the whole Oeconomy of Nature: As a Fire in the Heart, which gives Life to her Motions and Productions. But, however, the Question is not at present, about the Existence of this Fire, but the Eruption of it, and the Effect of that Eruption; which cannot be, in my Judgment, such a _Conflagration_ as describ’d in Scripture.

This Central Fire must be enclos’d in a Shell of great Strength and Firmness; for being of itself the lightest, and most active of all Bodies, it would not be detained in the lowest Prison without a strong Guard upon it. ’Tis true, we can make no certain Judgment of what Thickness this Shell is; but if we suppose this Fire to have a twentieth Part of the Semidiameter of the Earth, on either side the Centre, for its Sphere, which seems to be a fair Allowance; there would still remain nineteen Parts for our Safeguard and Security: And these nineteen Parts of the Semidiameter of the Earth will make 3268 Miles, for a Partition-Wall betwixt us and this Central Fire. Who would be afraid of an Enemy lock’d up in so strong a Prison? But you’ll say, it may be, tho’ the Central Fire, at the Beginning of the World, might have no more Room or Space than what is mention’d; yet being of that Activity that it is, and corrosive Nature, it may, in the Space of some thousands of Years, have eaten deep into the Sides of its Prison; and so come nearer to the Surface of the Earth by some hundreds or thousands of Miles, than it was at first. This would be a material Exception, if it could be made out. But what Phænomenon is there in Nature that proves this? How does it appear by an Observation, that the Central Fire gains Ground upon us? Or is increased in Quantity, or come nearer to the Surface of the Earth? I know nothing that can be offer’d in Proof of this: and if there be no Appearance of a Change, nor any sensible Effect of it, ’tis an Argument there is none, or none considerable. If the Quantity of that Fire was considerably increas’d, it must needs, besides other Effects, have made the Body of the Earth considerably lighter. The Earth having, by this Conversion of its own Substance into Fire, lost so much of its heaviest Matter, and got so much of the lightest and most active Element instead of it: and in both these respects, its Gravity would be manifestly lessen’d. Which if it really was in any considerable Degree, it would discover it self by some Change, either as to the Motion of the Earth, or as to its Place or Station in the Heavens. But there being no external Change observable, in this or any other respect, ’tis reasonable to presume that there is no considerable inward Change, or no great Consumption of its inward Parts and Substance; and consequently no great Increase of the central Fire.

But if we should admit both an Increase and Eruption of this Fire, it would not have that Effect which is pretended. It might cause some Confusion and Disorder in those Parts of the Earth where it broke out, but it would not make an universal Conflagration, such as is represented to us in Scripture. Let us suppose the Earth to be open, or burst in any Place; under the Pole, for Instance, or under the _Æquator_; and let it gape as low as the Central Fire: At this Chasm or Rupture we suppose the Fire would gush out; and what then would be the Consequence of this when it came to the Surface of the Earth? It would either be dissipated and lost in the Air, or fly still higher towards the Heavens in a Mass of Flame. But what Execution in the mean time would it do upon the Body of the Earth? ’Tis but like a Flash of Lightning, or a Flame issuing out of a Pit, that dies presently. Besides, this Central Fire is of that Subtilty and Tenuity, that it is not able to inflame gross Bodies: no more than those Meteors we call _Lambent Fires_, inflame the Bodies to which they stick. Lastly, in explaining the Manner of the Conflagration, we must have regard principally to Scripture; for the Explications given there are more to the purpose, than all that the Philosophers have said upon that Subject. Now, as we noted before, ’tis manifest in Scripture, that after the _Conflagration_, there will be a _Restauration_, _new Heavens_, and a _new Earth_. ’Tis the express Doctrine of St. _Peter_, besides other Prophets: We must therefore suppose the Earth reduc’d to such a Chaos by this last Fire, as will lay the Foundation of a new World, _2 Pet. iii. 12, 13._ Which can never be, if the inward Frame of it be broke, the Central Fire exhausted, and the exterior Region suck’d into those central Vacuities. This must needs make it lose its former Poise and Libration, and it will thereupon be thrown into some other Part of the Universe, as the useless Shell of a broken Granado, or as a dead Carcass, and unprofitable Matter.

These Reasons may be sufficient why we should not depend upon those pretended Causes of the _Conflagration_, the Sun’s Advance towards the Earth, or such a Rupture of the Earth as will let out the Central Fire. These Causes, I hope, will appear superfluous, when we shall have given an Account of the _Conflagration_ without them. But young Philosophers, like young Soldiers, think they are never sufficiently armed; and often take more Weapons, than they can make use of, when they come to fight. Not that we altogether reject the Influence of the Sun, or of the Central Fire; especially the latter: For in that great Estuation of Nature, the Body of the Earth will be much open’d and relaxated; and when the Pores are enlarg’d, the Steams of that Fire will sweat out more plentifully into all its Parts; but still without any Rupture in the Vessels, or in the Skin. And whereas these Authors suppose the very Veins to burst, and the vital Blood to gush out, as at open Flood-Gates, we only allow a more copious Perspiration, and think that sufficient for all Purposes in this Case.

CHAP. VII.

_The true Bounds of the last Fire, and how far it is fatal. The
natural Causes and Materials of it, cast into three Ranks: First,
Such as are exterior and visible upon the Earth; where the Vulcano’s
of the Earth, and their Effects, are consider’d. Secondly, Such
Materials as are within the Earth. Thirdly, Such as are in the Air._

As we have, in the preceding Chapter, laid aside those Causes of the Conflagration which we thought too great and cumbersome; so now we must, in like manner, examine the Effect, and reduce that to its just Measures and Proportions, that there may be nothing left superfluous on either side; then, by comparing the real Powers with the Work they are to do, both being stated within their due Bounds, we may the better judge how they are proportion’d to one another.

We noted before, that the Conflagration had nothing to do with the Stars, and superior Heavens, but was wholly confin’d to this sublunary World. And this Deluge of Fire will have much what the same Bounds, that the Deluge of Water had formerly. This is according to St. _Peter_’s Doctrine, for he makes the same Parts of the Universe to be the Subject of both: Namely, the inferior Heavens and the Earth, _2 Pet. iii. 5, 6._ _The Heavens and the Earth which were then, perish’d in a Deluge of Water_: ver. 7. _But the Heavens and the Earth that are now, are reserv’d to Fire._ The present Heavens and Earth are substituted in the Place of those that perish’d at the Deluge, and these are to be over-run and destroy’d by Fire, as those were by Water. So that the Apostle takes the same Regions, and the same Space and Compass for the one, as for the other, and makes their Fate different according to their different Constitution, and the different Order of Providence. This is the Sense St. _Austin_ gives us of the Apostle’s Words, and these are the Bounds he sets to the last Fire; whereof a modern Commentator is so well assur’d, that he says, _Estius in loc. They neither understand Divinity, nor Philosophy, that would make the Conflagration reach above the elementary Heavens_.

Let these be then its Limits upwards, the Clouds, Air, and Atmosphere of the Earth. But the Question seems more doubtful, _How_ far it will extend downwards, into the Bowels of the Earth? I answer still, to the same Depth that the Waters of the Deluge reach’d: To the lowest Abysses, and the deepest Caverns within the Ground. And seeing no Caverns are deeper or lower, at least according to our Theory, than the Bottom of the great Ocean, to that Depth, I suppose, the Rage of this Fire will penetrate, and devour all before it. And therefore we must not imagine, that only the outward Turf and habitable Surface of the Earth will be put into a Flame and laid waste: the whole exterior Region of the Earth, to the Depth of the deepest Part of the Sea, will suffer in this Fire; and suffer to that Degree, as to be melted down, and the Frame of it dissolv’d. For we are not to conceive that the Earth will be only scorcht or charkt in the last Fire, there will be a Sort of Liquefaction and Dissolution; _Rev. xv. 2._ _2 Pet. iii. 10._ _Psal. xcvii. 5._ it will become a _molten Sea mingled with Fire_, according to the Expression of Scripture. And this Dissolution may reasonably be suppos’d to reach as low as the Earth hath any Hollownesses, or can give vent to Smoak and Flame.

Wherefore, taking these for the Bounds and Limits of the last great Fire, the next Thing to be enquired into, are the _Natural Causes_ of it: How this strange Fate will seize upon the sublunary World, and with an irresistible Fury subdue all Things to it self. But when I say _Natural Causes_, I would not be so understood, as if I thought the Conflagration was a pure _Natural Fatality_, as the _Stoicks_ seem to do. No, ’tis a _mix’d Fatality_; the Causes indeed are Natural, but the Administration of them is from an higher Hand. Fire is the Instrument, or the executive Power, and hath no more Force given it than what it hath naturally; but the Concurrence of these Causes, or of these fiery Powers, at such a Time, and in such a Manner, and the Conduct of them to carry on and complete the whole Work without Cessation or Interruption, that I look upon as more than what material Nature could effect of itself, or than could be brought to pass by such a Government of Matter, as is the bare Result of its own Laws and Determinations. When a Ship falls gently before the Wind, the Mariners may stand idle; but to guide her in a Storm, all Hands must be at Work. There are Rules and Measures to be observ’d, even in these Tumults and Desolations of Nature, in destroying a World, as well as in making one, and, therefore, in both it is reasonable to suppose a more than ordinary Providence to superintend the Work. Let us not, therefore, be too positive or presumptuous in our Conjectures about these Things; for if there be an invisible Hand, Divine or Angelical, that touches the Springs and Wheels; it will not be easy for us to determine, with Certainty, the Order of their Motions. However, ’tis our Duty to search into the Ways and Works of God, as far as we can: And we may, without Offence, look into the Magazines of Nature; see what Provisions are made, and what Preparations for this great Day; and in what Method ’tis most likely the Design will be executed.

But before we proceed to mark out Materials for this Fire, give me leave to observe one Condition or Property in the Form of this present Earth, that makes it capable of Inflammation. ’Tis the Manner of its Construction, in an hollow cavernous Form: By reason whereof, containing much Air in its Cavities, and having many Inlets and Outlets, ’tis in most Places capable of Ventilation, pervious and passable to the Winds, and consequently to the Fire. Those that have read the former Part of this Theory, _Book 1. ch. 6, 7._ know how the Earth came into this hollow and broken Form; from what Causes and at what Time; namely, at the universal Deluge; when there was a Disruption of the exterior Earth that fell into the Abyss, and so, for a Time was overflow’d with Water. These Ruins, recover’d from the Water, we inhabit, and these Ruins, only will be burnt up; for being not only unequal in their Surface, but also hollow, loose, and incompact within, as Ruins use to be, they are made thereby capable of a second Fate, by Inflammation. _Thereby_, I say, they are made combustible; for if the exterior Regions of this Earth were as close and compact in all their Parts, as we have Reason to believe the interior Regions of it to be, the Fire could have little Power over it, nor ever reduce it to such a State as is requir’d in a compleat Conflagration, such as ours is to be.

This being admitted, that the exterior Region of the Earth stands hollow, as a well set Fire, to receive Air freely into its Parts, and hath Issues for Smoke and Flame: It remains to enquire, what Fuel or Materials Nature hath fitted to kindle this Pile, and to continue it on Fire ’till it be consum’d; or, in plain Words, what are the _natural Causes and Preparatives for a Conflagration_. The first and most obvious Preparations that we see in Nature for this Effect, are the _burning Mountains_, or Volcano’s of the Earth. These are lesser Essays or Preludes to the general Fire: set on purpose by Providence to keep us awake, and to mind us continually, and forewarn us of what we are to expect at last. The Earth, you see, is already kindled, blow but the Coal, and propagate the Fire, and the Work will go on, _Isa._ xxx. 33. _Tophet is prepared of old_; and when the Day of Doom is come, and the Date of the World expir’d, _the Breath of the Lord_ shall make it burn.

But besides these burning Mountains, there are Lakes of Pitch and Brimstone, and oily Liquors dispers’d in several Parts of the Earth. These are to enrage the Fire as it goes, and to fortify it against any Resistance or Opposition. Then all the vegetable Productions upon the Surface of the Earth, as Trees, Shrubs, Grass, Corn, and such like; every thing that grows out of the Ground, is Fewel for the Fire; and tho’ they are now accommodated to our Use and Service, they will then turn all against us; and with a mighty Blaze, and rapid Course, make a Devastation of the outward Furniture of the Earth, whether natural or artificial. But these Things deserve some further Consideration, especially that strange Phænomenon of the _Volcano_’s or _burning Mountains_, which we will now consider more particularly.

There is nothing certainly more terrible in all Nature than fiery Mountains to those that live within the View or Noise of them; but it is not easy for us, who never see them, nor heard them, to represent them to ourselves with such just and lively Imaginations as shall excite in us the same Passions, and the same Horror as they would excite, if present to our Senses. The Time of their Eruption, and of their Raging, is, of all others, the most dreadful; but, many times, before their Eruption, the Symptoms of an approaching Fit are very frightful to the People. The Mountain begins to roar and bellow in its hollow Caverns; cries out, as it were, in Pain to be deliver’d of some Burthen too heavy to be born, and too big to be easily discharged. The Earth shakes and trembles, in Apprehension of the Pangs and Convulsions that are coming upon her; and the Sun often hides his Head, or appears with a discolour’d Face, pale, or dusky, or bloody, as if all Nature was to suffer in this Agony. After these Forerunners or Symptoms of an Eruption, the wide Jaws of the Mountain open: And first, Clouds of Smoke issue out, then Flames of Fire, and after that a Mixture of all Sorts of burning Matter; red hot Stones, Lumps of Metal, half-dissolv’d Minerals, with Coals and fiery Ashes. These fall in thick Showers round about the Mountain, and in all adjacent Parts; and not only so, but are carried, partly by the Force of the Expulsion, and partly by the Winds when they are aloft in the Air, into far distant Countries. As from _Italy_ to _Constantinople_, and cross the _Mediterranean_ Sea into _Africk_; as the best Historians, _Procopius_, _Ammianus Marcellinus_, and _Dion Cassius_, have attested.

These Vulcano’s are planted in several Regions of the Earth, and in both Continents, this of ours, and the other of _America_. For by Report of those that have view’d that new-found World, there are many Mountains in it that belch out Smoke and Fire; some constantly, and others by Fits, and Intervals. In our Continent, Providence hath variously dispers’d them, without any Rule known to us; but they are generally in Islands, or near the Sea. In the _Asiatick_ Oriental Islands they are in great Abundance, and Historians tell us of a Mountain in the Island _Java_, that in the Year 1586, at one Eruption, kill’d ten thousand People in the neighbouring Cities and Country: But we do not know so well the History of those remote Vulcano’s, as of such as are in _Europe_ and nearer Home. In _Iseland_, tho’ it lie within the polar Circle, and is scarce habitable by reason of the Extremity of Cold, and abundance of Ice and Snow, yet there are three burning Mountains in that Island; whereof the chief and most remarkable is _Hecla_. This hath its Head always cover’d with Snow, and its Belly always fill’d with Fire; and these are both so strong in their kind, and equally powerful, that they cannot destroy one another. It is said to cast out, when it rages, besides Earth, Stones, and Ashes, a Sort of flaming Water; as if all Contrarieties were to meet in this Mountain, to make it the more perfect Resemblance of Hell, as the credulous Inhabitants fancy it to be.

But there are no Vulcano’s, in my Opinion, that deserve our Observation so much, as those that are in and about the _Mediterranean Sea_; There is a Knot of them, called the _Vulcanian Islands_, from their fiery Eruptions, as if they were the Forges of _Vulcan_; as _Strombolo_, _Lapara_, and others, which are not so remarkable now, as they have been formerly. However, without dispute, there are none in the Christian World to be compared with _Ætna_ and _Vesuvius_; one in the Island of _Sicily_, and the other in _Campania_, overlooking the Port and City of _Naples_. These two, from all Memory of Man, and the most antient Records of History, have been fam’d for the Treasures of subterraneous Fires, which are not yet exhausted, nor diminsh’d, so far as is perceivable; for they rage still, upon Occasion, with as much Fierceness and Violence, as they ever did in former Ages; as if they had a continual Supply to answer their Expences, and were to stand till the last Fire, as a Type and Prefiguration of it, throughout all Generations.

Let us therefore take these two Volcano’s as a Pattern for the rest; seeing they are well known, and stand in the Heart of the Christian World, where, ’tis likely, the last Fire will make its first Assault. _Ætna_, of the two, is more spoken of by the Antients, both Poets and Historians; and we should scarce give Credit to their Relations concerning it, if some later Eruptions did not equal, or exceed the Fame of all that have been reported from former Ages: That it heated the Waters of the Sea, and cover’d them over with Ashes; crack’d, or dissolv’d the neighbouring Rocks; darken’d the Sun and the Air; and cast out, not only mighty Streams of Flame, but a Flood of melted Ore, and other Materials: These Things we can now believe, having had Experience of greater, or and Account of them from such, as have been Eye-Witnesses of these Fires, or of the fresh Ruins and sad Effects of them.

There are two Things especially, in these Eruptions of _Ætna_, that are most prodigious in themselves, and most remarkable for our Purpose: The Rivers of fiery Matter that break out of its Bowels, or are spew’d out of its Mouth; and the vast burning Stones which it flings into the Air, at a strange Height and Distance. As to these fiery Rivers, or Torrents, and the Matter whereof they are compounded, we have a full Account of them by _Alphonsus Borellus_, a learned Mathematician at _Pisa_; who, after the last great Eruption on the Year 1669, went into _Sicily_, while the Fact was fresh, to view and survey what _Ætna_ had done or suffer’d; and he says, the Quantity of Matter thrown out of the Mountain at that Time, upon Survey, amounted to ninety three Millions, eight Hundred thirty eight Thousand, seven Hundred and fifty cubical Paces. So that if it had been extended in Length upon the Surface of the Earth, it would reach further than ninety three Millions of Paces; which is more than four times the Circumference of the whole Earth, taking a thousand Paces to a Mile. This is strange to our Imagination, and almost incredible, that one Mountain should throw out so much fiery Matter, besides all the Ashes that were disperst through the Air, far and near, and could be brought to no Account.

’Tis true, all this Matter was not actually inflam’d or liquid Fire; but the rest, that was Sand, Stone, and Gravel, might have run into Glass, or some melted Liquor like to it, if it had not been thrown out before the Heat fully reach’d it: However, sixty Million Paces of this Matter, as the same Author computes, were liquid Fire, or came out of the Mouth of the Pit in that Form; this made a River of Fire, sometimes two Miles broad, according to his Computation; but, according to the Observation of others who also viewed it, the Torrent of Fire was six or seven Miles broad, and sometimes ten or fifteen Fathoms deep; and forc’d its Way into the Sea near a Mile, preserving it self alive in the midst of the Waters.

This is beyond all the infernal Lakes and Rivers _Acheron_, _Phlegeton_, _Cocytus_; all that the Poets have talk’d of: Their greatest Fictions about Hell have not come up to the Reality of one of our burning Mountains upon Earth. Imagine then, all our _Volcano_’s raging at once in this manner——But I will not pursue that Supposition yet: Give me leave only to add here, what I mentioned in the second Place, the vast _Burning Stones_ which this Mountain, in the time of its Rage and Æstuation, threw into the Air with an incredible Force. This same Author tells us of a Stone fifteen Foot long, that was flung out of the Mouth of the Pit, to a Mile’s Distance; and when it fell, it came from such an Height, and with such a Violence, that it buried it self in the Ground eight Foot deep. What Trifles are our Mortar-Pieces and Bombs, when compared with these Engines of Nature? When she flings, out of the wide Throat of a _Volcano_, a broken Rock, and twirls it in the Air like a little Bullet; then lets it fall, to do Execution here below, as Providence shall point and direct it! It would be hard to give an Account, how so great an Impulse can be given to a Body so ponderous: But there’s no disputing against Matter of Fact; and as the Thoughts of God are not like our Thoughts, so neither are his Works like our Works.

Thus much for _Ætna_. Let us now give an Instance in _Vesuvius_, another burning Mountain upon the Coast of the _Mediterranean_, which hath as frequent Eruptions, and some as terrible as those of _Ætna_. _Lib. 66. Dion. Cassius_ (one of the best Writers of the _Roman_ History) hath given us an Account of one that happened in the Time of _Titus Vespasian_; and tho’ he hath not set down Particulars, as the former Author did, of the Quantity of fiery Matter thrown out at that Time: yet supposing that proportionable to its Fierceness in other Respects, this seems to me as dreadful an Eruption as any we read of; and was accompanied with such Prodigies and Commotions in the Heavens and the Earth, as made it look like the Beginning of the last Conflagration. As a Prelude to this Tragedy, he says, there were strange Sights in the Air, and after that followed an extraordinary Drought: _Then the Earth begun to tremble and quake; and the Concussions were so great, that the Ground seem’d to rise and boil up in some Places, and in others the Tops of the Mountains sunk in, or tumbled down: At the same Time were great Noises and Sounds heard; some were subterraneous, like Thunder within the Earth; others above Ground, like Groans or Bellowings. The Sea roared, the Heavens ratled with a fearful Noise, and then came a sudden and mighty Crack, as if the Frame of Nature had broke, or all the Mountains of the Earth had fallen down at once. At length Vesuvius burst, and threw out of its Womb, first, huge Stones, then a vast Quantity of Fire and Smoke, so as the Air was all darkned, and the Sun was hid, as if he had been under a great Eclipse. The Day was turn’d into Night, and Light into Darkness; and the frighted People thought the Giants were making War against Heaven, and fansied they saw the Shapes and Images of Giants in the Smoke, and heard the Sound of their Trumpets: Others thought, the World was returning to its first Chaos, or going to be all consumed with Fire. In this general Confusion and Consternation, they knew not where to be safe; some run out of the Fields into the Houses, others out of the Houses into the Fields; those that were at Sea hastened to Land, and those that were at Land endeavoured to get to Sea; still thinking every Place safer than that where they were. Besides grosser Lumps of Matter, there was thrown out of the Mountain such a prodigious Quantity of Ashes, as cover’d the Land and Sea, and filled the Air, so as besides other Damages, the Birds, Beasts and Fishes, with Men, Women, and Children were destroy’d, within such a Compass; and two entire Cities, Herculanium and Pompeios, were overwhelm’d with a Shower of Ashes, as the People were sitting in the Theatre. Nay, these Ashes were carried, by the Winds, over the Mediterranean into Africk, and into Ægypt and Syria. And at Rome they choak’d the Air on a sudden, so as to hide the Face of the Sun; Whereupon the People not knowing the Cause, as not having yet got the News from Campania, of the Eruption of Vesuvius, could not imagine what the Reason should be; but thought the Heavens and the Earth were coming together, the Sun coming down, and the Earth going to take its Place above._ Thus far the Historian.

You see what Disorders in Nature, and what an Alarum, the Eruption of one fiery Mountain is capable to make. These Things, no doubt, would have made strong Impressions upon us, if we had been Eye-Witnesses of them; but I know, Representations made from dead History, and at a Distance, though the Testimony be never so credible, have a much less Effect upon us, than what we see ourselves, and what our Senses immediately inform us of. I have only given you an Account of two _Volcano’s_, and of a single Eruption in either of them: These Mountains are not very far distant from one another; let us suppose two such Eruptions, as I have mentioned, to happen at the same Time, and both these Mountains to be raging at once in this Manner; by that Violence you have seen in each of them singly, you will easily imagine what Terror and Desolation they would carry round about, by a Conjunction of their Fury, and all their Effects, in the Air, and on the Earth. Then, if to these two you should join two more, the Sphere of their Activity would still be enlarged, and the Scenes become more dreadful. But to compleat the Supposition, let us imagine all the Volcano’s of the whole Earth to be prepar’d, and set to a certain Time; which Time being come, and a Signal given by Providence, all these Mines begin to play at once; I mean, all these fiery Mountains burst out, and discharge themselves in Flames of Fire, tear up the Roots of the Earth, throw hot burning Stones, send out Streams of flowing Metals and Minerals, and all other Sorts of ardent Matter, which Nature hath lodg’d in those Treasuries: If all these Engines, I say, were to play at once, the Heavens and the Earth would seem to be in a Flame, and the World in an universal Combustion. But we may reasonably presume, that against that great Day of Vengeance and Execution, not only all these will be employ’d, but also new Volcano’s will be opened, and new Mountains in every Region will break out into Smoke and Flame; just as at the Deluge, the Abyss broke out from the Womb of the Earth, and from those hidden Stores sent an immense Quantity of Water, which, it may be the Inhabitants of that World never thought of before: So we must expect new Eruptions, and also new sulphureous Lakes, and Fountains of Oyl, to boyl out of the Ground: and these, all united with that Fewel that naturally grows upon the Surface of the Earth, will be sufficient to give the first Onset, and to lay waste all the habitable World, and the Furniture of it.

But we suppose the Conflagration will go lower, pierce under Ground, and dissolve the Substance of the Earth to some considerable Depth: Therefore, besides these outward and visible Preparations, we must consider all the hidden invisible Materials within the Veins of the Earth; Such are all Minerals, or mineral Juices and Concretions that are igniferous, or capable of Inflammation; and these cannot easily be reckoned up, or estimated; some of the most common are Sulphur, and all sulphureous Bodies, and Earths impregnated with Sulphur, Bitumen, and bituminous Concretions; inflammable Salts, Coal and other Fossils that are ardent; with innumerable Mixtures and Compositions of these Kinds, which, being open’d by Heat, are unctuous and inflammable, or by Attrition discover the latent Seeds of Fire. But besides consistent Bodies, there is also much volatile Fire within the Earth, in Fumes, Steams, and Exudations, which will all contribute to this Effect. From these Stores under Ground, all Plants and Vegetables are fed and supplied, as to their oily and sulphureous Parts, and all hot Waters in Baths or Fountains, must have their Original from some of these, some Mixture or Participation of them; and as to the _British_ Soil, there is so much Coal incorporated with it, that when the Earth shall burn, we have Reason to apprehend no small Danger from that subterraneous Enemy.

These Dispositions, and this Fewel we find, in and upon the Earth, towards the last Fire. The third Sort of Provision is in the Air; all fiery Meteors and Exhalations engender’d and form’d in those Regions above, and discharg’d upon the Earth in several Ways. I believe there were no fiery Meteors in the antedeluvian Heavens; which therefore Saint _Peter_ says, _were constituted of Water_, had nothing in them but what was watery; but he says _the Heavens that are now_, have Treasures of Fire, or are reserv’d for Fire, as Things laid up in a Store-House for that Purpose. We have Thunder and Lightning, and fiery Tempests, and there is nothing more vehement, impetuous, and irresistible, where their Force is directed. It seems to me very remarkable, that the Holy Writers describe the _Coming of the Lord_, and the Destruction of the Wicked, in the Nature of a Tempest, or a Storm of Fire, _Psalm xi. 6._ _Upon the Wicked the Lord shall rain Coals, Fire and Brimstone, and a burning Tempest; this shall be the Portion of their Cup_. And in the lofty Song of _David_, _Psal. xviii._ (which, in my Judgment, respects both the past Deluge and the future Conflagration) ’tis said, _Ver. 13, 14, 15_. _The Lord also thundered in the Heavens, and the Highest gave his Voice, Hail-stones and Coals of Fire. Yea, he sent forth his Arrows and scattered them, and he shot out Lightnings and discomfited them. Then the Channels of Waters were seen, and the Foundations of the World were discover’d; at thy Rebuke, O Lord, at the Blast of the Breath of thy Nostrils_. And a like fiery Coming is described in the _97th Psalm_, as also by _Isaiah_, _Isa. lxvi. 15._ _Daniel_, _Dan. vii. 9, 10._ and St. _Paul_, _2 Thess. i. 8._ And lastly, in the _Apocalypse_, when the World draws to a Conclusion, as in the seventh Trumpet (_Chap. xi. 19._) and the seventh Vial (_Chap. xvi. 18._) we have still mention made of this fiery Tempest of Lightnings and Thunderings.

We may therefore reasonably suppose, that, before the Conflagration, the Air will be surcharg’d every where (by a precedent Drought) with hot and fiery Exhalations: And as against the Deluge those Regions were burthen’d with Water and moist Vapours, which were pour’d upon the Earth, not in gentle Showers, but like Rivers and Cataracts from Heaven; so they will now be filled with hot Fumes and sulphureous Clouds, which will sometimes flow in Streams and fiery Impressions through the Air, sometimes make Thunder and Lightnings, and sometimes fall down upon the Earth in Floods of Fire. In general, there is a great Analogy to be observed betwixt the two Deluges of Water and of Fire, not only as to the Bounds of them, which were noted before; but as to the general Causes and Sources upon which they depend, from above and from below. At the Flood, the Windows of Heaven were open’d above, and the Abyss was open’d below; and the Waters of these two join’d together to overflow the World: In like manner, at the Conflagration, God will rain down Fire from Heaven, as he did once upon _Sodom_; and at the same time the subterraneous Store-houses of Fire will be broken open; which answers to the Disruption of the Abyss: And these two meeting and mingling together, will involve all the Heaven and Earth in Flames.

This is a short Account of the ordinary Stores of Nature, and the ordinary Preparations for a general Fire; and, in Contemplation of these, _Pliny_ the Naturalist said boldly, _It was one of the greatest Wonders of the World, that the World was not every Day set on Fire_. We will conclude this Chapter with his Words, in the second Book of his _Natural Hist._ ch. 106, 107. Having given an Account of some fiery Mountains and other Parts of the Earth that are the Seats and Sources of Fire, he makes this Reflection: _Seeing this Element is so fruitful, that it brings forth it self, and multiplies and encreases from the least Sparks; what art we to expect from so many Fires already kindled on the Earth? How does Nature feed and satisfy so devouring an Element, and such a great Voracity throughout all the World, without Loss or Diminution of herself? Add to these Fires we have mentioned, the Stars and the great Sun; then all the Fires made for human Uses; Fire in Stones, in Wood, in the Clouds, and in Thunder; IT EXCEEDS ALL MIRACLES, IN MY OPINION, THAT ONE DAY SHOULD PASS WITHOUT SETTING THE WORLD ALL ON FIRE._

CHAP. VIII.

_Some new Dispositions towards the Conflagration, as to the Matter,
Form, and Situation of the Earth. Concerning miraculous Causes, and
how far the Ministry of Angels may be engaged in this Work._

We have given an Account, in the preceding Chapter, of the ordinary Preparations of Nature for a general Fire; we now are to give an Account of the extraordinary, or of any new Dispositions, which, towards the End of the World, may be super-added to the ordinary State of Nature. I do not, by these, mean Things openly miraculous and supernatural; but such a Change wrought in Nature, as shall still have the Face of natural Causes, and yet have a greater Tendency to the Conflagration. As, for Example, suppose a great Drought, as we noted before, to precede this Fate, or a general Heat and Dryness of the Air, and of the Earth; because this happens sometimes in a Course of Nature, it will not be look’d upon as prodigious. ’Tis true, some of the Antients speak of a Drought of forty Years, that will be a Fore-runner of the Conflagration; so that there will not be a watery Cloud, nor Rainbow seen in the Heavens, for so long a Time. And this they impute to _Elias_, who at his Coming, will stop the Rain, and shut up the Heavens to make way for the last Fire. But these are excessive and ill-grounded Suppositions; for half forty Years Drought will bring an universal Sterility upon the Earth, and thereupon an universal Famine, with innumerable Diseases; so that all Mankind would be destroyed, before the Conflagration could overtake them.

But we will readily admit an extraordinary Drought and Desiccation of all Bodies to usher in this great Fatality. And therefore, whatsoever we read in natural History, concerning former Droughts, of their drying up Fountains and Rivers, parching the Earth, and making the outward Turf take Fire in several Places; filling the Air with fiery Impressions, making the Woods and Forests ready Fewel, and sometimes to kindle by the Heat of the Sun, or a Flash of Lightning: These and what other Effects have come to pass in former Droughts, may come to pass again; and that in an higher Measure, and so as to be of more general Extent. And we must also allow, that by this means, a great degree of Inflammability, or Easiness to be set on Fire, will be super-induc’d, both into the Body of the Earth, and of all Things that grow upon it. The Heat of the Sun will pierce deeper into its Bowels, when it gapes to receive his Beams, and by Chinks and widened Pores makes way for their Passage to its very Heart. And, on the other Hand, it is not improbable, but that upon this general Relaxation, and Incalescency of the Body of the Earth, the _Central Fire_ may have a freer Efflux, and diffuse itself in greater abundance every Way; so as to affect even these exterior Regions of the Earth, so far as to make them still more catching, and more combustible.

From this external and internal Heat acting upon the Body of the Earth, all Minerals, that have the Seeds of Fire in them, will be open’d, and exhale their Effluviums more copiously. As Spices, when warm’d are more odoriferous, and fill the Air with their Perfumes; so the Particles of Fire that are shut up in several Bodies, will easily fly abroad, when, by a further degree of Relaxation, you shake off their Chains, and open the Prison Doors. We cannot doubt, but there are many Sorts of Minerals, and many Sorts of Fire-stones, and of Trees and Vegetables of this Nature, which will sweat out their oily and sulphureous Atoms, when by a general Heat and Dryness their Parts are loosen’d and agitated.

We have no Experience that will reach so far, as to give us a full Account what the State of Nature will be at that Time; I mean, after this Drought, towards the End of the World; but we may help our Imagination, by comparing it with other Seasons and Temperaments of the Air. As therefore in the Spring the Earth is fragrant, and the Fields and Gardens are fill’d with the sweet Breathings of Herbs and Flowers; especially after a gentle Rain; when their Bodies are softened, and the Warmth of the Sun makes them evaporate more freely: So a greater degree of Heat acting upon all the Bodies of the Earth, like a stronger Fire in the Alembick, will extract another sort of Parts or Particles, more deeply incorporated, and more difficult to be disintangled; I mean oily Parts, and such undiscover’d Parcels of Fire, as lie fix’d and imprison’d in hard Bodies: These, I imagine, will be in a great measure set afloat, or drawn out into the Air, which will abound with hot and dry Exhalations, more than with Vapours and Moisture in a wet Season; and by this Means, all Elements and elementary Bodies will stand ready, and in a proximate Disposition to be inflamed.

Thus much concerning the last Drought, and the general Effects of it. In the next Place, we must consider the Earthquakes that will precede the Conflagration, and the Consequences of them. I noted before, that the cavernous and broken Construction of the present Earth, was that which made it obnoxious to be destroy’d by Fire; as its former Construction over the Abyss, made it obnoxious to be destroy’d with Water. This Hollowness of the Earth is most sensible in mountainous and hilly Countries, which therefore I look upon as most subject to burning; but the plain Countries may also be made hollow and hilly by Earthquakes, when the Vapours, not finding an easy Vent, raise the Ground, and make a forcible Eruption, as at the springing of a Mine. And tho’ plain Countries are not so subject to Earthquakes as mountainous, because they have not so many Cavities, and subterraneous Vaults, to lodge the Vapours in; yet every Region hath more or less of them: And after this Drought, the Vacuities of the Earth being every where enlarg’d, the Quantity of Exhalations much increas’d, and the Motion of them more strong and violent, they will have their Effects in many Places where they never had any before. Yet I do not suppose that this will raise new Ridges of Mountains, like the _Alps_, or _Pyreneans_, in those Countries that are now plain, but that they will break and loosen the Ground, make greater Inequalities in the Surface, and greater Cavities within, than what are at present in those Places: and by this means the Fire will creep under them, and find a Passage thorough them, with more Ease than if they were compact, and every where continu’d and unbroken.

But you will say, it may be, How does it appear that there will be more frequent Earthquakes towards the End of the World? If this precedent Drought be admitted, ’tis plain that fiery Exhalation will abound every where within the Earth, and will have a greater Agitation than ordinary; and these being the Causes of Earthquakes, when they are rarified and inflamed, ’tis reasonable to suppose, that in such a State of Nature, they will more frequently happen, than at other Times. Besides, Earthquakes are taken Notice of in Scripture, as Signs and Fore-runners of the last Day, as they usually are of all great Changes and Calamities. The Destruction of _Jerusalem_ was a Type of the Destruction of the World, and the Evangelists always mention Earthquakes amongst the ominous Prodigies that were to attend it. But these Earthquakes we are speaking of at present are but the Beginnings of Sorrow, and not to be compar’d with those that will follow afterwards, when Nature is convuls’d in her last Agony, just as the Flames are seizing on her. Of which we shall have Occasion to speak hereafter.

These Changes will happen as to the _Matter_ and _Form_ of the Earth, before it is attack’d by the last Fire: There will be also another Change as to the _Situation_ of it; for that will be rectified, and the Earth restor’d to the Posture it had at first, namely, of a right Aspect, and Conversion to the Sun. But because I cannot determine at what Time this Restitution will be, whether at the Beginning, Middle, or End of the Conflagration, I will not presume to lay any Stress upon it. _Plato_ seems to have imputed the Conflagration to this only; which is so far true, that the Revolution, call’d _the Great Year_, is this very Revolution, or the Return of the Earth, and the Heavens to their first Posture. But tho’ this may be contemporary with the last Fire, or some way concomitant; yet it does not follow that it is the Cause of it, much less the only Cause. It may be an Occasion of making the Fire reach more easily towards the Poles, when by this Change of Situation their long Nights, and long Winters shall be taken away.

The new Dispositions in our Earth which we expect before that great Day, may be look’d upon as extraordinary, but not as miraculous, because they may proceed from natural Causes. But now in the last Place, we are to consider _miraculous Causes_: What Influence they may have, or what Part they may bear, in this great Revolution of Nature. By _miraculous Causes_ we understand either God’s immediate Omnipotency, or the Ministry of Angels; and what may be perform’d by the latter, is very improperly and undecently thrown upon the former. ’Tis a great Step to Omnipotency: and ’tis hard to define what Miracles, on this side Creation, require an infinite Power. We are sure that the Angels are Ministring Spirits, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand about the Throne of the Almighty, to receive his Commands and execute his Judgments. That perfect Knowledge they have of the Powers of Nature, and of conducting those Powers to the best Advantage, by adjusting Causes in a fit Subordination one to another, makes them capable of performing, not only things far above our Force, but even above our Imagination: Besides, they have a radical inherent Power, belonging to the Excellency of their Nature, of determining the Motions of Matter, within a far greater Sphere than human Souls can pretend to. We can only command our Spirits, and determine their Motions within the Compass of our own Bodies; but their Activity and Empire is of far greater Extent, and the outward World is much more subject to their Dominion than to ours. From these Considerations it is reasonable to conclude, that the generality of Miracles may be, and are perform’d by Angels; it being less decorous to employ a sovereign Power, where a subaltern is sufficient; and when we hastily cast Things upon God, for quick Dispatch, we consult our own Ease more than the Honour of our Maker.

I take it for granted here, that what is done by an angelical Hand, is truly providential, and of divine Administration; and also justly bears the Character of a Miracle. Whatsoever may be done by pure material Causes, or human Strength, we account natural; and whatsoever is above these, we call supernatural and miraculous. Now what is supernatural and miraculous, is either the Effect of an angelical Power, or of a sovereign and infinite Power; and we ought not to confound these two, no more than natural and supernatural; for there is a greater Difference betwixt the highest angelical Power and Omnipotency, than betwixt an human Power, and angelical. Therefore, as the first Rule concerning Miracles is this, that we must not fly to Miracles, where Man and Nature are sufficient; so the second Rule is this, that we must not fly to a sovereign infinite Power, where an angelical is sufficient. And the Reason in both Rules is the same, namely, because it argues a Defect of Wisdom in all Oeconomies to employ more and greater Means than are sufficient.

Now to make Application of this to our present Purpose, I think it reasonable, and also sufficient, to admit the Ministry of Angels in the future Conflagration of the World. If Nature will not lay violent Hands upon her self, or is not sufficient to work her own Destruction, let us allow _Destroying Angels_ to interest themselves in the Work, as the Executioners of the Divine Justice and Vengeance upon a degenerate World. We have Examples of this so frequently in sacred History, how the Angels have executed God’s Judgments upon a Nation or a People, that it cannot seem new or strange, that in this last Judgment, which by all the Prophets is represented as the _Great Day of the Lord_, the Day of his Wrath, and of his Fury, the same Angels should bear their Parts, and conclude the last Scene of that Tragedy which they had acted in all along. We read of the _Destroying Angel in Ægypt_, _Gen._ xii. 23. of Angels that presided at the Destruction of _Sodom_, _Gen. xix. 13._ which was a Type of the future Destruction of the World, (_Jude vii._) _2. Thess. i. 7, 8._ and of Angels that will accompany our Saviour when he comes in Flames of Fire; not, we suppose, to be Spectators only, but Actors and Superintendants in this great Catastrophe.

This Ministry of Angels may be either in ordering and conducting such natural Causes as we have already given an Account of, or in adding new ones, if Occasion be; I mean, increasing the Quantity of Fire, or of fiery Materials, in and about the Earth; so as that Element shall be more abundant and more predominant, and overbear all Opposition that either Water, or any other Body, can make against it. It is not material whether of these two Suppositions we follow, provided we allow that the Conflagration is a Work of Providence, and not a pure natural Fatality. If it be necessary that there should be an Augmentation made of fiery Matter, ’tis not hard to conceive how that may be done, either from the Heavens, or from the Earth, _Isa. xxx. 26._ The Prophets sometimes speak of multiplying or strengthening the Light of the Sun, and it may as easily be conceiv’d of his Heat as of his Light; as if the Vial that was to be pour’d upon it, _Rev. xxvi. 8._ and _gave it a Power to scorch Men with Fire_, had something of a natural Sense as well as moral. But there is another Stream of ethereal Matter that flows from the Heavens, and recruits the _Central Fire_ with continual Supplies; this may be encreas’d and strengthened, and its Effects convey’d throughout the whole Body of the Earth.