Wesley Corpus

8. Let us now descend to the earth which we tread upon, and which God has peculiarly given to the children of men. Do the children of men understand this Suppose the terraqueous globe to be seven or eight thousand miles in diameter, how much of this do we know Perhaps a mile or two of its surface: So far the art of man has penetrated. But who can inform us, what lies beneath the region of stones, metals, minerals, and other fossils This is only a thin crust, which bears an exceeding small proportion to the whole. Who can acquaint us with the inner parts of the globe Whereof do these consist Is there a central fire, a grand reservoir, which not only supplies the burning mountains, but also ministers (though we know not how) to the ripening of gems and metals; yea, and perhaps to the production of vegetables, and the well-being of animals too Or is the great deep still contained in the bowels of the earth a central abyss of waters Who hath seen Who can tell Who can give any solid satisfaction to a rational inquirer 9. How much of the very surface of the globe is still utterly unknown to us! How very little do we know of the polar regions, either north or south, either in Europe or Asia! How little of these vast countries, the inland parts either of Africa or America! Much less do we know what is contained in the broad sea, the great abyss, which covers so large a part of the globe. Most of its chambers are inaccessible to man, so that we cannot tell how they are furnished. How little we know of those things on the dry land which fall directly under our notice! Consider even the most simple metals or stones: How imperfectly are we acquainted with their mature and properties! Who knows what it is that distinguishes metals from all other fossils It is answered, "Why, they are heavier." Very true; but what is the cause of their being heavier What is the specific difference between metals and stones or between one metal and another between gold and silver between tin and lead It is all mystery to the sons of men.