Year, by the Stars which rife and appear at those Seasons. Thus in Job xxxviii. 31, 32. we read of the Seafon of Mazzaroth; and of the fweet Influences of Pleiades, meaning, I fuppofe, the Spring Season, when that Conftellation rifes and appears above the Horizon and also of the Bands of Orion, by which I understand the Winter Season, when the Earth and Waters are often bound up, as it were, by the Froft. But whether by thofe two Hebrew Names, Chimah and Chefil, were meant both the fame Conftellations, which we now call Pleiades and Orion, may admit of a Doubt. However, it is certain, that the fucceffive appearing of the fixed Stars, fome at one Seafon of the Year, and fome at another, is occafioned by that Motion of the Earth, which our Hypothefis fuppofes it received on the fourth Day. Ver. 17th and 18th are nothing but a Repetition of what was faid before, such as is very common in the Hebrew Writings; and of which fort a Multitude of Inftances might be readily produced from the several Books of the Old Teftament. Thus will the Motions of the Earth and Moon, in their proper Orbits, completely anfwer all the Phænomena of the fourth Day's Work of Creation; and we eafily perceive how God, by giving the Earth and the Moon their orbicular Motions on that 5 that Day, made the two great Lights, viz. the Sun and Moon, to ferve all the Pur pofes which are there mentioned. Probably, therefore, that was the very Work of the fourth Day. This Hypothefis perfectly reconciles the Mofaic Account of the Creation with true Philofophy; and without putting any harsh or unnatural Senfe on any of the Words and Phrafes. If it fhould be objected, that the true Motions of the Earth and Moon, which we fuppofe are referred to in this Account of the Creation, were not known fo early as Mofes's Time, nor till feveral Ages after; it may be fufficient to anfwer, That Mofes wrote this Account by Infpiration of the Spirit of God, who was perfectly acquainted with thefe Things: And it does not. follow, that because Mofes wrote it, he therefore understood it himself; for the Prophets did not always understand the meaning of their own Prophefies; as appears from 1 Pet. i. 11. The Prophetsfearching what, or what manner of Time the Spirit of Chrift which was in them did fignify, &c. One cannot fure fuppofe, that this Account of the Creation was defigned to teach the Ifraelites (who were a poor labouring People, but lately come from working at the Brick-kilns) fuch deep Points of Phi lofophy, lofophy, as the true Motions of the Earth and Moon; but rather it was defigned to teach them to reverence the great Creator of all Things; and alfo to preferve them from the Idolatry of the Heathen Nations around them, who worshipped the Sun and Moon, and other Creatures which God had made. But yet, as this Account was wrote by Inspiration, we must fuppofe it is all agreeable to Truth, and to the Nature of Things. And the Skill of the Divine Author is in this truly admirable, that the Account of the Creation is here given, for the Ufe of the People, in fuch Words and Phrases as were fuited to the Vulgar Conceptions; and yet it is at the fame Time perfectly confiftent with true Philofophy. Upon the Whole then, according to this Hypothefis, it may appear that the first Chapter of Genefis, instead of meriting that Contempt which some Men have caft upon it, deferves rather to be efteemed, not only as the most antient, but as the most truly philofophical and beautiful Account of the Creation, that ever was published in the World. AN AN INDEX ΤΟ The PRINCIPAL MATTERS; A A. Page Chronical rifing and setting of the Stars 21 Almicantars Altitude of the Sun or Stars Amplitude 147 18 ibid 17 Aphelion Apparent Diameter of the Sun Apparent Place of the Sun or Planet Apparent Time Apogeon, or Apogee 4 n 74 9 12 13 57 n 51 114 105 65 21 Afterifms, or Conftellations Aftronomers, the Certainty of their Knowledge 78 Atmosphere of the Earth, its Height Rays of Light refracted in paffing Autumnal Equinox Axis of the Earth Its Inclination Azimuth 49 49, 77 55 2 48 17 C. Comets, their Courfe in the Heavens their Tails Complement of an Arch, or Angle Conjunction of the Sun and Moon of the Planets fuperior and inferior Conftellations -- Conical Shadows of the Earth and Moon 48 19 13 16 99 100 4 n 66 98 n 87 21 75 Co |