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make no queftion, but if the reft of the Works of Nature were well obferved, we should find feveral advantages which accrue to us by their prefent Conftitution, which are far beyond the ufes of them that are yet difcovered; by which it will plainly appear, that God hath chofen better for us than we could have done for our felves.

If any Man fhould object and fay, It would be more convenient for the Inhabitants of the Earth, if the Tropicks ftood at a greater diftance, and the Sun moved further Northward and Southward, for fo the North and South Parts would be relieved, and not expofed. to fo extreme Cold, and thereby rendred uninhabitable as now they are.

To this I anfwer, That this would be more inconvenient to the Inhabitants of the Earth in general, and yet would afford the North and South Parts but little more comfort. For then as much as the distances between the Tropicks were enlarg'd, fo much would alfo the Artick and Antartick Circles be enlarg'd too; and fo we here in England, and fo on Northerly should not have that grateful and useful Succeffion of Day and Night, but proportionably to the Sun's coming towards us, fo would our Days be of more than Twenty-four hours length, and according to his recefs in Winter our Nights proportionable, which how great an inconvenience it would be, is easily feen. Whereas now the whole Latitude of the Earth, which hath at any time above Twenty-four hours Day, and Twen

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ty-four Hours Night, is little and inconfiderable in comparison of the whole Bulk, as lying near the Poles. And yet neither is that Part altogether unufeful, for in the Waters there live Filhes, which otherwhere are not obvious; fo we know the chief Whale-fifbing is in Greenland: Yea, not only Fifh, but great variety of Water-fowl, both whole and cloven-footed, frequent the Waters and feed there, breeding alfo on the Cliffs by the Sea-fide, as they do with us. The Figures and Defcriptions of a great many whereof are given us by Martin in his Voyage to Spitzberg, or Greenland. And on the Land Bears, and Foxes, and Deer, in the moft, Northerly Country that was ever yet touched, and doubtlefs, if we shall discover further to the very North-Pole, we fhall find all that Tract not to be vain, useless, or unoccupied.

Thirdly, The third and laft thing I propofed, was the Conftitution and Confiftency of the Parts of the Earth. And first, Admirable it is, that the Waters fhould be gathered together into fuch great Conceptacula, and the dry Land appear, and though we he had not been affured thereof by divine Revelation, we could not in Reafon but have thought fuch a Divifion and Separation, to have been the Work of Omnipotency, and infinite Wisdom and Goodnefs. For in this condition the Water nourishes and maintains innumerable Multitudes of various kinds of Fifhes; and the dry Land supports and feeds as

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great variety of Plants and Animals, which have their firm Footing and Habitation. Whereas had all been Earth, all the Species of Fishes had been loft, and all thofe Commodities which the Water affords us ; or all Water, there had been no living for Plants, or Terreftrial Animals, or Man himself, and all the Beauty, Glory, and Variety of this Inferiour World had been gone, nothing being to be feen, but one unifom dark Body of Water: or had all been mixt and made up of Water and Earth into one Body of Mud or Mire, as one would think should be moft natural for why fuch a feparation, as at prefent we find, fhould be made, no account can be given, but Providence. I fay, had all this Globe been Mire or Mud, then could there have been no poffibility for any Animals at all to have lived, excepting fome few, and thofe ve

ry dull and inferiour ones too. That therefore the Earth fhould be made thus, and not only fo, but with fo great variety of Parts, as Mountains, Plains, Vallies, Sand, Gravel, Lime, Stone, Clay, Marble, Argilla, &c. which are fo delectable and pleafant, and likewife fo useful and convenient for the breeding, and living of various Plants and Animals; fome affecting Mountains, fome Plains, fome Valleys, fome Watery Places, fome Shade, fome Sun, fome Clay, fome Sand, fome Gravel, &c. That the Earth should be fo figured as to have Mountains in the Midland Parts; abounding with Springs of Water pouring down Streams and

Rivers

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Rivers for the Neceffities and Conveniencies of the Inhabitants of the lower Countries and that the Levels and Plains fhould be formed with fo eafie a declivity as to caft off the Water, and yet not render Travelling or Tillage very difficult or laborious. These things, I fay, muft needs be the refult of Counfel, Wisdom, and Defign. Especially when (as I faid before) not that way which feems more facile and obvious to Chance is chofen, but that which is more difficult and hard to be traced, when it is moft convenient and proper for those nobler Ends and Defigns, which were intended by its Wife Creator and Governour. Add to all this, that the whole dry Land is, for the moft part, covered over with a lovely Carpet of Green Grafs, and other Herbs, of a colour not only moft grateful and agreeable, but most useful and falutary to the Eye; and this alfo decked and adorned with great variety of Flowers of beautiful Colours and Figures, and of moft pleasant and fragrant Odours for the refreshment of our Spirits, and our innocent Delight. As alfo with beautiful Shrubs, and ftately Trees, affording us not only pleafant and nourishing Fruits, many. Liquors, Drugs, and good Medicines, but Timber, and Utenfils for all forts of Trades, and the Conveniences of Man. Out of many thousands of which we will only juft name a few, left we should be tedious and too bulky.

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First, The Coco, or Coker-Nut-Tree, that fupplies the Indians with almoft whatever they ftand in need of, as Bread, Water, Wine, Vinegar, Brandy, Milk, Oyl, Honey, Sugar, Needles, Thred, Linen, Cloaths, Cups, Spoons, Beefoms, Baskets, Paper, Mafts for Ships, Sails, Cordage, Nails, Coverings for their Houses,

c. Which may be feen at large in the many printed Relations of Voyages and Travels to the Eaft-Indies, but most faithfully in the Hortus Malabaricus, published by that immortal Patron of Natural Learning, Henry Van Rheede van Draakenftein, who has had great Commands and Employs in the Dutch Colonies.

Secondly, The Aloe Muricata vel Aculeata, which yields the Americans every thing their Neceffities require, as Fences and Houfes, Darts, Weapons, and other Arms, Shoces, Linen, and Clqaths, Needles and Thread, Wine and Honey, befides many Utenfils, for all which Hernandes, Garcilaffo de la Vega, and Margrave may be confulted.

Thirdly, The Bandura Cingalenfium, called by fome the Priapus Vegetabilis, at the end of whofe Leaves hang long Sacks or Bags, containing pure limpid Water of great ufe to the Natives, when they want Rain for eight or ten Months together.

A parallel Inftance to this of the Bandura, my Learned and Worthy Friend Dr. Sloane af

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