The Question being thus stated, we are next to consider the Sense of Antiquity upon these two Points: First, Whether this sublunary World is mutable and perishable: Secondly, By the Force and Action of what Causes, and in what Manner, it will perish; whether by Fire, or otherwise. _Aristotle_ is very irregular in his Sentiments about the State of the World; he allows it neither Beginning nor Ending, Rise nor Fall; but wou’d have it eternal and immutable. And this he understands, not only of the great Universe, but of this sublunary World, this Earth which we inhabit; wherein he will not admit there ever have been, or ever will be, either general Deluges or Conflagrations. And, as if he was ambitious to be thought singular in his Opinion about the Eternity of the World, he says, _All_ the _Antients_ before him, gave some Beginning or Origin to the World; but were not, indeed, so unanimous as to its future Fate: Some believing it immutable, or, as the Philosophers call it, incorruptible; others, That it had its fatal Times and Periods, as lesser Bodies have; and a Term of Age prefix’d to it by Providence. But before we examine this Point any farther, it will be necessary to reflect upon that which we noted before, an Ambiguity in the Use of the Word _World_, which gives frequent Occasion of Mistakes in reading the Ancients: When that which they speak of the _great Universe_, we apply to the _sublunary World_: Or, on the contrary, what they speak of this Earth, we extend to the whole Universe. And if some of them, besides _Aristotle_, made the World incorruptible, they might mean that of the _great Universe_, which they thought would never be dissolv’d or perish as to its Mass and Bulk: But single Parts and Points of it (and our Earth is no more) may be variously transform’d, and made habitable and unhabitable, according to certain Periods of Time, without any Prejudice to their Philosophy. So _Plato_, for Instance, thinks this World will have no Dissolution: For, being a Work so beautiful and noble, the Goodness of God, he says, will always preserve it. It is most reasonable to understand this of the great Universe; For, in our Earth, _Plato_ himself admits such Dissolutions as are made by general Deluges and Conflagrations; and we contend for no other. So likewise in other Authors, if they speak of the Immortality of the World, you must observe what World they apply it to; and whether to the Matter or the Form of it: And if you remember that our Discourse proceeds only upon the sublunary World, and the Dissolution of its Form, you will find little in Antiquity contrary to this Doctrine. I always except _Aristotle_ (who allow’d of no Providence in this inferior World) and some _Pythagoreans_ falsly so call’d, being either fictitious Authors, or Apostates from the Doctrine of their Master. These being excepted, upon a View of the rest, you will find very few Dissenters from this general Doctrine.