land to appear: first, the tops of the mountains, the the huch grounds then the plans and the rest of the wrth. And the gradual subsidency of ins

A Weste hech procular noted ant is

The two propositions before proved, are, 1. That the antidiluvian earth was of a different form and construction from the present. 2. That the face of the earth before the deluge was smooth, regular, and uniform, without mountains, and without a sea ;-propositions, which are implied in the remarks preceding the extract.

This theory of the earth is no longer considered in any other light than as a beautiful philosophical romance. It displays indeed powers of imagination, and of description, of the first order; but unfortunately, much of the spirit of the Latin original has evaporated in his own English translation. In comparing this description with the same in his own Latin, we cannot avoid being sensibly struck with its inferiority. The author seems scarcely to have understood himself. It is obvious, that he is far less intimately acquainted with the powers of his own language, than with those of the Roman. He had not the an, in his own tongue, of investing his with language of suita

any other period of the Roman language; it is peculiarly his own; though perhaps it is such as a Roman of the same cast of sentiment, writing on the same subject, and possessed of equal elevation of genius, would have chosen as the vehicle of his thoughts.

2. The second work of Burnet was his Archaologia Philosophica, sive Doctrina Antiqua de Rerum Originibus. In the preface to the edition of 1733, the author tells us, that "hiş design is to enquire into the opinions of the ancients, concerning the nature of things, in order to vindicate and give antiquity its' due praise; and to shew, that neither were our ancestors dunces, nor was wisdom or true philosophy born with us."

In this book he has called in question the literal history of the fall; and written a Dialogue between Eve and the Serpent, which gave great offence to his orthodoxical brethren. In a new edition, therefore, printed in Holland, he ordered it to be suppressed. It had been printed, however, both in the first. and second editions.

3. His book De Fide et Officiis Christianorum, was published after his death; of which the second edition, in 8vo. is dated 1733, Lon

don. This book forms a part only of a larger design, under the title of Tractatus de Claris et Obscuris in Doctrinâ Christianâ. Then follows-Pars Prima, in qua agitur de iis quæ spectant ad Vitam Hodiernam, sive de Fide et Officiis Christianorum. This work contains a compendious system of Christian doctrine and duty. It has been translated into English.

4. De Statu Mortuorum et Resurgentium was likewise a posthumous work. The second edition of it was published in 8vo, 1739, Lond. with an appendix, De Futurâ Judæorum Restauratione. In this treatise he has expressly denied the eternity of hell torments-a doctrine which, in his days, was commonly considered as essential to the system of Christianity-and has asserted the final salvation of the whole human race. But apprehending bad consequences from the promulgation of these unusual opinions, he strongly protested, in a note, against the translation of his book. It has, however, been since translated by Dennis, together with the note at the bottom of the page.

The opinions of Dr. Thomas Burnet on various subjects of theology, were considered as so heterodoxical in those days, that, notwith

standing he had the countenance of king William, and the patronage of Tillotson, archbishop of Canterbury, a conspiracy of the priesthood against him prevented any high degree of ecclesiastical preferment. As to the works of Burnet, though they are all stamped with marks of genius, they are not perhaps likely in future to be much read; since in his theological writings, he combats opinions, about which we no longer require conviction; and in philosophy we look for truth, rather than force and grandeur of imagination.