In those first Ages of the World, after the Flood, when _Noah_ and his Children peopled the Earth again, as he gave them Precepts of Morality and Piety, for the Conduct of their Manners; which are usually call’d _Præcepta Noachidarum_, the _Precepts_ of _Noah_, frequently mention’d both by the _Jews_ and _Christians_: So also he deliver’d to them, at least, if we judge aright, certain Maxims, or Conclusions about Providence, the State of Nature, and the Fate of the World: And these, in Proportion, may be call’d _Dogmata Noachidarum_, the _Doctrines_ of _Noah_, and _his Children_. Which made a System of Philosophy, or secret Knowledge amongst them, delivered by Tradition from Father to Son; but especially preserv’d amongst their Priests and Sacred Persons, or such others as were addicted to Contemplation. This I take to be more ancient than _Moses_ himself, or the _Jewish_ Nation. But it would lead me too far out of my Way, to set down, in this Place, the Reasons of my Judgment. Let it be sufficient to have pointed only at this Fountain-head of Knowledge, and so return to our Argument. We have heard, as it were, a Cry of Fire, throughout all Antiquity, and throughout all the People of the Earth. But those Alarums are sometimes false, or make a greater Noise than the Thing deserves. For my Part, I never trust Antiquity barely upon its own Account, but always require a second Witness, either from Nature, or from Scripture: What the Voice of Nature is, we shall hear all along in the following Treatise. Let us then examine at present, what Testimony the Prophets and Apostles give to this ancient Doctrine of the Conflagration of the World. The Prophets see the World a Fire at a Distance, and more imperfectly, as a Brightness in the Heavens, rather than a burning Flame: But S. _Peter_ describes it, as if he had been standing by, and seen the Heavens and Earth in a red Fire; heard the cracking Flames, and the tumbling Mountains, 2 _Pet._ iii. 10. In the Day of the Lord, _The Heavens shall pass away with a great Noise, and the Elements shall melt with fervent Heat: The Earth also, and the Works that are therein, shall be burnt up_. Then, after a pious Ejaculation, he adds, _Ver._ 12. _Looking for, and hastening the coming of the Day of God, wherein the Heavens being on Fire, shall be dissolv’d; and the Elements shall melt with fervent Heat._ This is as lively as a Man could express it, if he had the dreadful Spectacle before his Eyes. S. _Peter_ had before taught the same Doctrine (_ver._ 5, 6, 7.) but in a more Philosophick Way; describing the double Fate of the World, by Water and Fire, with relation to the Nature and Constitution of either World, past or present. _The Heavens and the Earth were of old, consisting of Water, and by Water: Whereby, the World that then was, being overflowed with Water, perished. But the Heavens and the Earth which are now, by the same Word are kept in Store, reserved unto Fire, against the Day of