nature is given to them by the Creator. Who would think, that burnished gold, and polished steel, should have been in an obscure state, like the stones of the earth? The mind of man, improved by education, is just as different from the same mind in the state of na ture. Such is the richness and brightness of the several kinds of metals, that it hath been the custom with men, from time immemorial, to give to the metals of the earth the same names as to the lights of heaven, according to their colour and their dignity. Gold is allied to the sun, from its yellow colour, and its splendor; silver to the moon, from its whiteness, and as being next in dignity to the sun. Mercury or quicksilver takes its name from the planet nearest to the sun; copper from the planet next in order; iron, tin, and lead, were given to the remaining planets more remote from the sun. The natural history of the metals seems to have had a considerable share in the mythological mysteries of heathenism*. But leaving these fanciful doctrines of men, who gave the honour of God's works to their idols, we may go on from the metals to the gems, which are of an higher order, and a more refined nature. Here the glory of the terrestrial, approaches Copper had its name from the Island of Cyprus, where the use of brass was said to have been first invented; (In Cypro, ubi prima fuit æris inventio. Plin. Lib. 34, cap. 2.) and hence we may account for the mystical dedication of that Island to Venus, the Cyprian goddess, (Diva potens Cypri. Hor.) who agrees in name with a planet in the heavens, and with the ore of Copper in the earth. On this plan, it is very probable that the fable of Jupiter's burial in the island of Crete might, at the bottom, be nothing but a mythological mode of signifying to those who were in the secret, that tin was found under ground in that island. very near to the glory of the celestial bodies; especially in the diamond, the prince of precious stones; which vies in purity and brightness with the matter of the heavens, and appears like embodied light; insomuch that, if the fluid of light could be fixed into an ice, as the fluid of the water is, we may imagine that something like the diamond would be produced. It is remarkable, that the brighest matter of the earth is united with the richest, for the formation of a precious stone; the various sorts which receive their colour from some metal; as the ruby from gold; the emerald from copper; whence emeralds were commonly found in the copper mines of Cyprus*. When the metals are united to a chrystalline, or pellucid basis, they form a gem; but, if to an opaque earthy matter, they form the high-coloured earths of the painters, which all derive their beauty from some metallic mixture. It is further remarkable, that the chrystalline matter, and the metal which gives it colour, are united in nature by the mediation of water: whereas, if we attempt to unite them by art, in the artificial gems, we are obliged to have recourse to the violence of fire, to diffuse the colouring parts through the crystal. This, and some other like instances of the difference between the chemistry of art and the chemistry of nature, should make us cautious of pronouncing too hastily concerning subterraneous productions, lest we take that for the effect of fire, which was, in reality, the effect of water. Instead of naming the several minerals which are dug out of the earth, I shall rather direct your attention to two which are of more consequence than the rest: these are salt and sulphur. Salt preserves from * Theophrastus. putrefaction; and, being soluble in water, it keeps the sea sweet and wholesome. Where the heats are greater, the sea has more salt; because there is more danger of putrefaction; which teaches us, that the sea was not salted, by accident, but by design*. As the doctrine of truth in the Gospel saves the world from moral corruption, so doth salt preserve it from natural corruption; whence the one is used as a figure of the other. Ye are the salt of the earth, said Christ to his preachers; without you the world would be as putrid as flesh is found to be without the use of salt. The other mineral substance is sulphur; of universal effect, as the cement of nature for uniting the parts metals into masses, or mineralizing them, and giving them many of their properties. It is also the grand combustible of the world; which, as it descended from the heavens in rain for the destruction of Sodom, so is it now the chief cause of those dreadful commotions which happen in the earth. When iron and sulphur and water meet together, a fermentation ensues, which, if strong enough, breaks out into actual fire and flame. It hath pleased God, for wise ends, to lodge these different principles near to each other, in many places, that their mixture may present to our sight one of the most tremendous appearances in nature. When the sun shines upon the calmness of the ocean, we understand that God is benevolent as well as great; and, when the volcano rages, we are to learn that he is just and terrible in his wrath and vengeance. When the law was given on mount Sinai, the whole mount trembled, and burned with fire, and there were thunders and light * The late Dr. Halley, supposing that the sea grew salt by accident, in tract of time, from the waters washing away some salt from the land, proposed a new method for finding the age of the world, from the saltness of the sea. See Phys. Disq. where some farther observations are made on this subject, nings, and a thick cloud upon it. Here were all the appearances of a volcano; and, as this manifestation of God at Sinai was intended to fill the hearts of the people with the fear of God, by shewing them how terrible he is in his judgment against those who break his law; so every burning mountain, at this day in the world, should inspire the same religious fear; and, I believe, generally does, to those who are spectators of it; declaring to the world, that God is the avenger of sin; and that the fires of nature, which are now but partial, and under the restraint of mercy and forbearance, shall at length break out to the burning of the earth, and of all things therein. When the flood came upon the world, the fountains of the great deep were opened; the waters of the air were added to the waters of the earth, and all united their forces to execute the divine sentence: so at the last visitation of this world, all the fountains of fire shall be opened; the burning mountains of the earth shall send forth all their hidden stores, while new ones shall be opened in all places; and the fires of the sky shall co-operate with the fires of the earth. Modern discoveries have taught us, that the sea, the earth, the air, the clouds, are replete with a subtile and penetrating matter, which, while at rest, gives us no disturbance; but, when excited to action, turns into a consuming fire, which no substance can exclude, no force can resist; so that the elements, which are to melt with fervent heat, want no accidental matter to inflame them; since all things may be burnt up by that matter which now resides within them, and is only waiting for the word from its Creator. All the phænomena of nature speak some religious truth to those who have ears to hear their voice. When we say this, we do not deny that volcanos may have a VOL IV. E natural use in purging the earth, and giving vent tó combustible principles, which, if wholly confined, might shake and shatter the earth to pieces before the time. These things are very consistent, because the wisdom of God works for many different ends by the Same means. A review of the earth and its contents, however short and imperfect, must inspire us with an awful sense of the divine power and wisdom. But we are not to stop there; the natural history of the earth bears an unanswerable testimony to the truth of revelation; and we should never fail to apply it to that purpose, when an opportunity offers. The Scripture, which tells us that this earth, on which we live, is now under sentence to be destroyed by fire, doth also teach us, that it hath been once destroyed already by water: of which destruction the earth still bears such evident anarks, that the belief of it is as obvious to every observer of nature, as it is necessary to a Christian. From the surface of the earth we understand, that the whole was once under water; which descended, with an accelerated velocity, from the land to the seas, toward which all the furrows of the earth are directed, and in which they terminate. Then if we search under the earth, we find, that as man is not in the state in which God first made him, but fallen into disorder and sinfulness; so the earth has undergone some natural revolution, which, in part, dissolved its substance, and lodged within it such bodies as must have. been the remains of a former earth, because they could not possibly be the productions of the present. Bones of animals, shells of fishes, fruits of trees, are found buried at all depths, and even in the midst of the hardest stone and marble. Whence we are to argue: 1. That these bodies were transported and de |