AN EXAMINATION OF Dr. BURNET'S Theory of the Earth.

Chap. II.

That the Earth was formed from a Chaos, must be unquestionably own'd by all, who acknowledge the truth of the Holy Scriptures, for they tell us, that in the beginning the Earth was without form and void, and darkness was upon the face of the deep: which is a most excellent description of that Chaos, from which the world arose. From it therefore the Theorist begins to frame his Antediluvian earth by the sole help of Natural and Mechanical causes. He supposes the Chaos to be the matter of the earth and heavens, without form or regularity, reduc'd into a fluid Masse, wherein are the materials and ingredients of all Bodies mingled in confusion one with another, without any order of higher or lower, heavier or lighter, solid or volatile. The first change he imagins that did happen to this Masse, was, that the heaviest and grossest parts sunk down towards the middle of it (for there he supposes the Center of its