Wood, but likewise Iron, of which Plows and other Tools proper for Tillage are compofed. Now it was impoffible without Fire to extra& this Metal from the Matter with which it is mixed in the Mines, as it is well known to the Mineralifts: So that tho' a Man were fufficiently provided with Earth, Wood and unwrought Iron, yet he would still want that which was neceffary to render those things ufeful to him. But now again, continual Experience has taught all Men, that the fame Earth does likewife furnish the necessary Materials of Fire, for making thofe things that are wanted; and that Wood, Coals, Turf, and the like, are of its Production; by which not only Iron is feparated and purified from the foreign Matters that cleave to it, and is converted into the Inftruments for Plowing and other Ufes; but moreover, that the raw Fruits, which are likewise produced by the Earth, are ripen'd and digested by the Fire, and fo render'd fit for Food.

SECT XVI. of Alchymifts,and an Explanation of the Texts in Exod. xxxii. 20. and Deut. ix. 21. about Gold.

Now, fince we have here made mention of Iron, fo far as it relates to cultivating the Earth; there would have been a large Field to treat more minutely concerning the fame, and other Metals and Minerals, fuch as Lead, Tin, Copper, Silver, Gold, and Precious Stones, which are all the Fruits and Productions of the Earth: But I fhall only make thefe two Remarks en pallant about Gold. Firft, How many Alchymifts (to be pitied for their Folly, if not defpifed for their mistaken Avarice) were found in the laft Century, who left nothing unattempted to make Gold from other. and cheaper Matter.. Innumerable Things were tried by innumerable Methods, to compass this

el

IS

End; not only by great and eminent Perfons, but
by thofe of a middling and fmaller Understanding;
but all in vain hitherto: And the only Fruit that
is to be reaped thereby, has been, that from hence
a ftrong Proof may be fetched to convince thofe
conceited Philofophers, who imagine they under-
ftand every thing, of the defect of their Judgments;
and that fomething has place in Nature, concern-
ing the Production of things, which far furpaffes
their Wisdom. Secondly, What I find my felf
obliged to infert here, is an Anfwer to the Objecti-
ons which many Unbelievers have brought against
the Authority of the Books of Mofes. We read in
Exodus xxxii. 20. that Mofes took the Calf which they
(the Ifraelites) bad made, and burnt it in the Fire,
and ground it to Fowder. The fame Story is ex-
preffed in Deut. xi. 21. in thefe Words; I took
your
Sin, the Calf which you had made, and burnt it with Fire,
and ftamped it, and ground it very small, even until it
was as small as Duft. And here our Adverfaries
think they have difcover'd a great Argument
against the Divinity of this Holy Word; foraf-
much as all the Experiments that have been made
upon Gold, even by keeping it whole Months in
our strong Fires, have always hitherto taught us,
that it can only be Melted, and not Burnt in fuch
manner as to be beaten to Duft: Wherefore, ac-
cording to them, this burning and afterwards
grinding to Duft, feems to be entirely contrary to
the Nature of Gold. Now not to return for An-
fwer what has been already faid by many very
learned Expofitors, in order to remove this Diffi-
culty, and whom they, who are curious, may con-
fult; I fhall only add,

First, That altho' Gold in itself, and alone, is uncombustible, and feems uncapable of being reduced by our Fire to fuch a Condition as to be ftampt to Duft; yet it may be done by the Addi

tion

tion of fome othe Matter, as Chymifts know very well; and fo do they particularly,that make colour'd Glafs and Counterfeit Jewels, which, by mixing Gold with them, acquire the colour of Rubies, and which, together with the faid mixed Gold, can be beaten to Powder. Now it is not faid in that Text, that Mofes used no additional Matter to bring the Gold to fuch a State; fo that for this reafon their Argument will not pass.

Secondly, This Argument is not conclufive; No body knows how Gold can be burnt, therefore Gold cannot be burnt; For if this be good Logick, they must proceed and fay farther; No body knows how Gold can be produced, therefore Gold cannot be produced; which Experience teaches us to be falfe.

But, Thirdly, to convince these miferable Seekers of Objections beyond a Reply, that it is by no means inconfiftent with the Nature of Gold to be thus burnt by Fire, as also that it can be beaten to Duft without any Mixture or Addition, we need only refer them to the Experiments performed by great Burning-Glaffes, fome few Years ago.

SECT. XVII. Gold may be burnt and reduced to Duft.

THUS, in the Hiftory of the Royal French Academy, 1699. p. 113. we find this Obfervation mention'd among thofe of Mr. Tschirnhaus, the Inventer of the faid Burning-Glaffes; That all Metals being placed in the Focus of the Burning-Glafs, will run into Glafs; and that Gold in its Vitrification, affumed a fine Purple Colour.

But very nice and accurate are the Obfervations which Mr. Hombergh made upon Gold in the pure Fire of the Sun, in the Year 1702. p. 186. and 1707. p. 50. as it is largely related in the Memoirs of the faid Academy; where, after having acknowledged that Gold is not diminished in our com

5

mon Fires, it is fhewn,that by fuch a Collection of the Rays of the Sun in a Focus, or very near it, Gold is evaporated and turned partly into Fumes, and partly into Glass; which, as the Author himfelf expreffes it, p. 189, 190. is a real Converfion of this heavy Metal into a lighter Glafs. At the end of the Memoir we find thefe Expreffions; and thus we fee by these Obfervations, that the Idea we had formed to our felves in Chymistry, of the Fixity or Faftness of. Gold, cannot obtain any longer.

Now I ask those who have hitherto made this Text of Scripture a Foundation of their Infidelity, whether they must not confess, that their Arguments are quite defeated, after the making of this Experiment; and that Gold is really burnt when it is partly evaporated, and partly changed into Glafs: At least, it is a Chymical Truth, that Evaporation and Vitrification is the only thing that can be unsterstood by Burning, if we take that word in its utmost Force. Befides, that hereby Gold, which does not otherwife eafily appear capable of being made fmall by any Beating or Grinding (tho' in the laft Age a famous Chymift has fhewn us, that it may be done by a Mill made on purpose) is brought into fuch a Condition, that after its Vitrification it may be ground to Duft. So that we here fee all the Circumftances required by the Text,come to pass in the Bufinefs of Gold.

I do not fay that that Man of GOD, Mofes, did in this Cafe make ufe of fuch a Burning-Glass, fince the first mention of thofe Inftruments is made by Ariftophanes (See the Hiftory of the Royal Academy of Sciences, 1708;) but they were very imperfect,and like round Balls. It would have been fufficient, if he had the Knowledge of any fuch Fires as were fo Pure and Strong as these Rays of the Sun thus collected. But that which is properly before us here, is, that from this Experiment it is plainly and

unde

undeniably fhewn, that what has been faid about the Burning of Gold, is poffible: And as has been fhewn above, Mofes might have made ufe of the fame or other kind of Mixtures, which the faid Text does not exclude.

SECT. XVIII. About Precious Stones.

FROM Metals it feems as if we ought to pafs to the Confideration of Precious Stones; which if they be not beholden to the Earth for their Origin, at leaft almoft all of 'em are found in and about the fame. Thofe who acknowledge the Greatnefs of an All-creating GoD, may in this laft Inftance remark how gracious and bountiful he has been to Mankind, by taking care even for Ornaments likewife, and by producing out of the Earth, Creatures of fo noble a Luftre for that Purpose; by rendring them fo far wonderful, that fome, and the Chief of 'em, do excell in Firmnefs and Incorruptibility, every thing that is yet known, whilft in the mean time their particular Structure has remained a Secret to us for fo many Ages.

One of the Properties of Diamonds, till then unknown, has been difcover'd by Mr. Boyle, and fince taken notice of in the French Academy, 1707. p. 1. namely, that a polish'd Diamond being rubb'd against a Glafs, will, in a dark Place, produce a Light as clear as that of a Burning Coal when ftrongly blown.

SECT. XIX. Atheistical Objections answer'd.

I FIND my felf oblig'd to fay something of the other Stones, tho' lefs valuable; not that I am able to demonftrate the wonderful Ends of the Creator in them, but only to obviate an Argument