Brewer said that he consulted "the most approved modern authors" and submitted additions to "the revision of gentlemen of acknowledged reputation for scientific attainments".[1][5] Nevertheless, religious rather than scientific answers to certain questions are prevalent in the book, particularly answers inferring divine design.[5] For example, although modern theories of ice formation show that most of its unusual properties result from the hydrogen bond between neighbouring water molecules,[27] Brewer suggested that the reason ice is lighter than water, expanding as it freezes, is because it has been "wisely ordained by God that water shall be an exception to a very general rule".[27][28]