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 exteriour
and visible upon the Earth; where the Volcano'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 superiour 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 inferiour Heavens and the Earth. The
Heavens and the Earth which were then,
perish'd in a
