whereby they would measure the Duration of the World, is merely imaginary, and hath no Foundation in the true Nature or Motion of the cœlestial Bodies. But in the third Place, they speak of an ANNUS MAGNUS, a _Great Year_: A Revolution so call’d, whatsoever it is, that is of the same Extent with the Length of the World. This Notion, I confess, is more antient and universal, and therefore I am the more apt to believe that it is not altogether groundless. But the Difficulty is, to find out the Notion of this _Great Year_, what is to be understood by it, and then of what Length it is. They all agree that it is a Time of some grand Instauration of all Things, or a Restitution of the Heavens and the Earth to their former State; that is, to the State and Posture they had at the Beginning of the World; such therefore as will restore the Golden Age, and that happy State of Nature wherein Things were at first. If so, if these be the Marks and Properties of this Revolution, which is called the _Great Year_, we need not go so far to find the true Notion and Interpretation of it. Those that have read the _first Part_ of this _Theory_, may remember, that in the _2d Book, Chap. 3._ we gave an Account what the Posture of the Earth was at the Beginning of the World, and what were the Consequences of that Posture, _a perpetual Spring_ and Equinox throughout all the Earth: And if the Earth was restor’d again to that Posture and Situation, all that is imputed to the _Great Year_, would immediately follow upon it, without ever disturbing or moving the fix’d Stars, Firmament, or Planets; and yet at the same Time all these three would return, or be restored to the same Posture they had at the Beginning of the World; so as the whole Character of the _Great Year_ would be truly fulfill’d, tho’ not in that Way which they imagin’d; but in another, more compendious, and of easier Conception. My Meaning is this, If the Axis of the Earth was rectified and set parallel with the Axis of the Ecliptick, upon which the Planets, Firmament, and fix’d Stars are suppos’d to move, all Things would be as they were at first; a general Harmony and Conformity of all the Motions of the Universe would presently appear, such as they say, was in the Golden Age, before any Disorder came into the Natural or Moral World.