The Christian Philosopher

u

J

THE

Chriftian Philofopher '-

A

COLLECTION

O F T H E

BeflDifcoveries in Nature,

WITH

Religious Improvements.

jBy Cotton Mather D. D.

And Fellow of the KoY k-L Society.

LONDON;

Printed for Em Ai^. Matthews, at the Bible in Pater-Nofler-Row. M. DCC XXL

mt.thomas mollis,

Merchant in London.

SIR,

HE Learned Author of the enfuing Treatife^ has already diftus'd his Name and Reputation in a great- Variety of Ufeful Works ; by which the better Part of Mankind^ do fufficiently know him to be in Labours more abundant. The Reader* will find in this Treatife^ a Colledtidn

A z from

iv Dedication.

fionf Writers o( the firll and bed Cliafatfter, both inour own and othei: Natiipns i and every Obfcrvation in> pfovil to die Ends of Devotion and Tradice. The Remarks that the Au- thor gives, are (b mingled with the Difcoveries that he has brought toge- dier, diat as it ftiows us with what Spirit He has purfued His Enquiries into the Wonders of the Univerfe, fo it is both an Inftruclion and a Pattern to a ferious Mind. He has generally drawn into his Application, all that the Bible faith upon the feveral Sub- jeds: And thus he lays open the two great Books of God, Nature and Scripture. In diis way, our Curiofity is not onlv entertain d, but fandtified; the Invifiblt T}jinp of God from the Creation of the World are fecn^ and improved to the Glorv ot Him whofe thev are.

Your furprizinc; Generoficy to die Academy in Nczu-EngLmd, has made this Dedication more proper to you than any odier Perfon. Such a Bene-

iicence

Dedication} V?

licence is an Argument how thorowly ypu defire that the Docflrines of the GofpeV and the Purity of Difcipline^. may be tranfmitted to future GeAe- rations. And certainly, it is the no- bleft, and the moft divine Application of your Charity, when by it you are'^ a Fei/ozV'helper to the Trutk This is given to thofe from whom you can have no Expectation of Recompence ; but as it's all done to the Lord, and not unto Men, fo by him it will be re- member d at the Rejurredion of the Jufi. You know how much it is againft my Temper to give fiattering^ Words, and Tm con vine d that it is againft yours to receive em. But I have reafon to think, that the Reverend Author, and the whole Country where God has placed him, will believe this Dedication well direded, to the BEST of all their Benefacflors. This Admi- nijlration of Service is abundant, by many T^hankfgivings to God, {ivhilfl by this Minijiration, they glorify God for your profefsd Subje^fwn to the Gofpel r of

vi Dedication.

of Chrtji, and for your liberal Diftri- iution to them and to all Men) and by thetr Prayer for you.

1 have no more to add, but the Apoftles Wifti, that your Faith may grow exceedingly., and your Charity daily abound) tnat whatever you do, may be done faithfully to the Bre- thren^ and to Strangers.

I am,

SIR,

ijao. Your Smcere Friend,

and Obedient Servant,

Tho. Bradbury.

An INDEX.

Of the Light, P^^^ I

Of the Stars, * — ,fi

Of the Fixed Stars, ■ ,„

Of the Sun, J '?

Of the Moon, ^1

Of the Rain, 47

Of the Rainbmi, — ^*

Of Thunder and Lirhtninr, ^,

OfthelVind, y

Of the Cold, Y

Of the Terraqueous Globe, „ Z*

Of the Water, %i

Of Infers, "f

OftheFiihes, \f

Of the Feather' d Kind, . yJ

Of the Quadrupeds, ,„a

TH E NcccfTity of contending for RcvcaJed Re- ligion ; witii a Sermon on the 5th oi November^ 17 ip. By the Reverend Mr. TJmnas Bradbury. With a Letter from the Reverend Qjtton Mather D. D. on the late Difpures about The E\cr-Blefred Trinity. Pr, i s. ' The DoArine of the Blcflbd 7>imty iflated and de- fended, by fome London Miniders. (the Introdudion by the Reverend Mr. fvng. Chap. I. by the Reve- rend Mr. Robinfvn. Ciap. II: by the Reverend Mr. Smith. Chiip. Ill: by the Reverend Mr. Reynolds) The Second Edition. Prke is. 6 d. ' A Difcourfe concerning the "Neceflity of believing the Doftrin^ of the Holy Trinity, as profeft'd an^ tnaincain'd by the Ciurch of England in the hrft of the ^9 Articles of Reltgion. By the Reverend Mr. Samuel Mathe-r. Price' is.

A Difcourfe concerning the Godhead of the Holy Gho/1, the Third' Fcrfon in the Eternal Trinity.: X^herein the Sentiments of Dr. Clark ate confidered. By the Reverend Mr. Samuel Mather. Price 2 s.

Hymns and Spiritu:il Songs. In three Books. By the Reverend Mr. Simvn Brovone. With a Set of Tune^^ irr thre^ ?arts, curioufly engraven on Copper-Plates.'^ 'v A Collection of the Promifcs of Scripture, under their proper Hrads. In two Parts. With an Intro- rfuftion by the Reverend Mf. Snmuel Clark.

The OccaTIoiial Papers. In three Volumes ; Being ElTays on \arious Subjects and Occa(ions. '- The Family Inftrudor. In two Volumes. •r- Memoirs ot'the Church of Scotland in four Periods.

' All Printed for Fman. MATrin-ws, at the Bible in Pater- Nifier-Rozv ; where Subfcriptions are taken in, ^&r printing a Pnicftical Expolition of the Old and New Tduiment, in Six Volumes in Folio, written by the tit^ I^-verend ^fr. Matthr^u Kcnryy Miniftcr of the Gf^fpcT : which is now In the Prefs, and will fpeedily be publiHiM.

THE

THE

INTRODUCTION.

HE ESSAYS now before us wiil dcmoi>- ftrate, that Philofo}^hy is no En^my^ but a mighty and wondrous Incentive to Reli^ gion ; and they will exhibit that Philoso- phical Religion, which will carry with it a moft fenfible ClmraBer, and vidorious Evidei e ot a reafonahk Service. GLORY TO GOD IN THE rlGH- EST, B^nd GOOD-WILL TOWARDS MEN, an: nared and exercifed ; and a Spirit of Devotion and oj' Charity inflamed, in fuch Methods as are offered in thcfe £/- faysy cannot but be attended with more Ben-fits, than any Pen of ours can declare, or any Mind conceive.