XLVI. MONS MOBILIS.

I OBSERVE that the mountains now extant do fall under a double consideration.

Those by creation, and those by inundation.

The former were of God’s making, primitive mountains; when at the first his wisdom did here sink a vale, there swell a hill, so to render the prospect of the earth the more grateful by the alternate variety thereof.

The second by inundation were such as owe 233their birth and being to Noah’s flood: when the water lying long in a place, (especially when driven on with the fury of the wind,) corroded a hollow, and so by consequence cast up a hill on both sides.

For such mountains of God’s making, who either by their birth succeed to estates, or have acquired them by God’s blessing on their lawful industry, good success may they have with their wealth and honour. And yet let not them be too proud, and think, with David, that God hath made their mountain so strong it cannot be moved; but know themselves subject to the earthquakes of mutability as well as others.

As for the many mountains of our age, grandized by the unlawful ruin of others, swoln to a tympany by the consumption of their betters; I wish them just as much joy with their greatness as they have right unto it.