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| Moisture, Motion, Reƒt
and Time, promote this Principle, from the common Experiments of
Chryƒtallization and Freezing even before the Fire, and in many
Chymical Mixtures. Whence we cannot be ignorant of Stone growing in
the Quarries gradually, not by any fancied Vegetation, tho' there is
ƒomething like it in Corals, but generally by Appoƒicion-
of Parts to Parts, as is notorious in the Fluors of ƒubterraneous
Grotts and Caverns. So that we have no reaƒon to doubt but what
was Clay, Sand, or Earth 3000 Years ago, may now be Stone or Marble,
according to the Proportion of Concurrence of ƒuch mentioned
Cauƒes This will perƒuade us that the now barren and rocky
Plains of the Countries of Syria, India, and Arabia are
owing to Natural Cauƒes, as well as an immediate Curƒe of
God for the Diƒobedience of its ancient Poƒeƒƒors
his peculiar People, becauƒe the fame is obƒer-vable of
the famous Countries of Greece and Africa warm
Regions so renowned for Fertility in antient Authors. Wherefore
there may be ƒome likelyhood in the Opinion of thoƒe who
think that in many Ages the whole Face of the Globe may become one
great Rock Dr. Plott, in his Natural Hiƒtory of Oxfordshire,
gives an Account of a Tumulus, now a perfect Mount of
Stone: and upon St. Vincent's Rock near Briƒtol
are fortifications now become ƒolid Cliff: I remember,
about ƒix Years ago, Mr. Ralph Widdrington, Brother to
the Earl of that Name, ƒhew'd me many human Bones taken from
whole Sceletons, with Brittiƒh Beads, Chains Iron Rings, Braƒs
Bitts of Bridles, and the like which were dug up in a Quarry, near
the Seat of the Family, at Blankney, Lincolnƒhire which
very probably was plain Mold, when theƒe old Corpƒes of
the Britons were interr'd; and ƒince then I ƒaw
many human Bones and Armour, with Roman Coins, Fibulae ,
etc found in |