if we observe that Distillers to extract the moisture of Herbs besprinkle the plants they are about with water or some other proportionate liquour if lastly we remember that Gold-smiths to separate the Silver mixt in a little quantity with other metalls mix more Silver withall 'T will be evident that when the Earth redounded with well-digested moisture there was no better way of drying it then by adding another moisture to render that was in it more separable and presse out both together as Nature it self operates in rottennesse 7. Supposing therefore the Earth became both colder and dryer the Plants and Animals must of necessity have drawn a more malignant juyce food out of it For since Vegetation consists in heat moisture Death and Old Age must be in their opposites and out of them be deriv'd to living Creatures wherefore since after the Deluge men sometimes liv'd 150 200 years the long life of the Patriarchs before the Floud mention'd in the Scriptures is not incredible Hence 't is that Animals were now assign'd to man for food and 't is not said that he shall rule over them as at the beginning but the terrour of him shall be upon the other Animals For at first they serv'd him as Instruments but now they were to become fierce and wild whence man would contrive to kill them and they consequently like perverse servants fly and be affraid of him as their chastizer 8. And these indeed God gave to man but another thing far greater For because the Earth was become dryer the Aire too round about man was made purer and thinner and both by his Food and by the Aire his Body was rendred as not so vast and durable so more subtile-spirited and more apt to be subjected to his Soul and fitter for the operations proper to it 9. Men therefore grew sharper witted and more addicted to Sciences and Arts and by consequence computing all things the World became better and perfecter since there would necessarily be many more men by reason of the littlenesse of their Bodies and such frequent changes through the shortnesse of their lives and yet nay much the rather more forward and riper for the eternall life of the future world CHAP. XIX Of the second propagation of Mankind into severall Countries Out of the same holy History 1. IT remains for describing perfectly the Beginning of the World to declare how the benediction given to Noe and his Sons to encrease and fill the earth began to be fulfill'd The divinely-deliver'd History therefore saies that the first off-spring of Noe agreed perfectly together and were very unwilling to separate which is collected out of those words that in the originall text say the Earth was one lip and the same words for that a lip signifies the words of men is found by the sense every where as when they are call'd Deceitfull lips Our lips are from our selves and in a thousand other places but where 't is taken for a Language I know not 2. But because the sense of the following terms must be different and the same words this Phrase will signifie that they desired and sought how to remain united as 't is said more manifestly below Whence 't is no light suspicion that this mind in them proceeded from the instigation of some One that affected a Tyranny over Mankind which some Historians also witnesse 4. Proceeding therefore in this thought they sat down in the fields about Babylon and there either mutually impell'd by one another or else by some one as I said they deliberated from the opportunity commodiousnesse of Bricks and Pitch to build themselves a City and a Tower for two reasons To get themselves a Name and to prevent their being dispersed over the Earth for so the Hebrew reading has it least perhaps or rather least at any time which ours renders before 5. They imagin'd therefore that fixing their abode by reason of the commodiousnesse of the vast City and for the famousnesse of the Tower which would have no fellow all men would willingly stay about those places Of the Tower 't is said in the Hebrew whose head in Heaven that is where the Birds fly or even the Clouds intimating that they design'd to continue on this edifice even to the Clouds which Naturalists say sometimes are not rais'd more then 340 paces above the Earth which height is not so vast and extravagant that it might not fall into the thoughts of men and even be perfected too according to what God said that They would not desist till they should have accomplisht them in deed 5. But God turn'd their own very counsells upon their own heads for the fond pains and perhaps which some Histories insinuate because the Tower when it had been brought to a very great height was thrown down by the winds and lightnings as it uses to happen to extreme high Fabricks made them weary of the work and its Authour so that they would no longer obey him nor even agree together but severall Companies as they could agree among themselves departed into severall countries the Authour of the work with those that consented to him remaining still in Babylon 6. And this explication is clear nor in any sort violent to the letter and according to the nature of things whereas that which the most follow contains so vast a Miracle and whereof we have no other example unlesse perhaps in the effusion of the Holy Ghost that it may seem violent to extract it out of words in their ordinary sense signifying another thing For to be of one lip lips to be confounded or Tongues agrees with common sense to signifie the one consent the other dissention but to transferre these to multitude of languages is lesse naturall which yet if otherwise there were a sufficient Authority to shew the effect done is no waies to be rejected but if the whole story draws its originall from this only Text it will have no bottome nor solidity 7. But hence perhaps some may ground their belief that 'T is not easie to imagine whence Languages should have been divided amongst mankind and have grown into so many kinds To which we reply that whoever shall but observe what is usuall in his own City or Countrey will easily discern how so great a variety of Dialects has grown into the world For 't is evident the perfection of a Language consists among the Better-bred and the rude People corrupt the lesse usuall words those that speak fast cut them short the Countrey folks likewise make a speciall pronunciation of their own Adde to these that divers Cities and Provinces have form'd Dialects of their own which yet ther 's no doubt are contain'd all under one Idiome 8. Consider then the minglings of distinct languages a Country sometimes being subdu'd by a Nation of a different Idiome sometimes by the frequent Travels of single persons the words of one Idiome being deriv'd to another 9. Lastly let 's reflect on the
these notions of hot and cold 11. And among rare bodies 't is apparent the rarest will be the best dividers that is the hotest but among dense bodies those will be the coldest which most streightly besiege the rare bodies and those are such as are most plyant to their parts whence they which are in some measure moist too will be the coldest LESSON V. Of the Elements 1. WE have deduc'd therefore out of the most simple notion of Quantity dissected by the only differences of more and lesse the Rarest body hot in the highest degree and dry but not in the highest degree the Densest dry in the highest degree and cold but not in the highest degree a Heavy or lesse rare body moist in the highest degree but not so hot lastly a Moderately dense body cold in the highest degree but temperately moist 2. These same bodies in as much as Motion proceeds from them to others are active but in as much as they sustain the action of others they are passive chang'd thus in Name not Nature 3. This property also of an Element they have that they cannot be compounded of other things and all things else are compounded of them they being establisht out of the first Differences which of necessity are found in others There are therefore four ELEMENTS 4. You 'l object Since Rare and Dense vary the Quantity by the very nature of Quantity there will be infinite degrees and thence the number of the Elements will neither be four nor indeed finite 'T is answer'd Men do not determine the kinds of things according to the fruitfulnesse of Nature but by grosse and sensible differences according to the slownesse of our Apprehension 5. Thus therefore a Rare body which makes it self and other things be seen we call Fire One that has not this vertue and yet hinders not other things from making themselves seen we call Aire A Dense body which absolutely excludes light we term Earth One that partly admits it and partly repells it we term Water 6. Not that wise men esteem these very bodies to be truly Elements which we are conversant with round about us But that these mixt bodies obtain that name out of the predominancy of some Element in them which they would deserve if drein'd from all dregs they were entirely refin'd into the nature of the Predominant 7. The Elements therefore are Bodies distinguisht purely by the differences of rare and dense and they are collected into four kinds or heads under the terms we have given them 8. Moreover 't is evident that no bounds or figures do properly belong to the Elements out of their own principles that is precisely by their own nature for since they are nothing but quantitative bodies affected with such a rarity or density the nature of Quantity still remains which is every where divisible and terminable and consequently figurable as one pleases 9. But whether there be not some greatest possible bulk in every one of the Elements out of the very nature of density depends upon Metaphysicall principles Neverthelesse out of their common operation a Sphericall figure is most agreeable to Earth and Fire To Fire because its nature being to diffuse it self with the greatest celerity out of a little matter into a great breadth it must of necessity spread it self on all sides that is into a Sphear 10. To Earth as being the Basis foundation about which moist bodies diffuse themselves and by so doing mold it into a Globe 11. But that Fire flames up like a Pyramid proceeds from the resistance of the Aire incompassing it which 't is forc'd to penetrate with a sharp point 12. Again since the Elements are oppos'd to one another only by the differences of rare and dense 't is evident their transmutation into one another is nothing else but rarefaction and condensation 13. 'T is plain too that dense things being forc'd against rare do compresse them and if there be no way to escape do necessarily condense them which condensation if it be enough both in time and degree will of necessity change that which is condens'd into that Element to which such a density is proper 14. But a rare body compress'd if it get out diffuses it self a main out of those straights whence if any dense body that is rarifiable stick to it it carries it away with it and rarifies it 'T is plain therefore that 't will turn it into the nature of the rarer Element if the other circumstances concurre which are necessary to Action 15. Out of all which we may collect that one Element cannot be chang'd into another without being transferr'd through all the intermediate degrees as if you should endeavour to rarifie Earth into Fire first you must raise it into Water then into Aire and at length into Fire 16. For as we have demonstrated above concerning velocity that a Movable cannot be rais'd out of one into another determinate degree but in time so with the same labour the same may be made evident concerning density since the nature of Quantity is equall and constant in both and Velocity is nothing but A certain density of Motion LESSON VI. Of Mixtion and the second Qualities or those vvhich most immediately follovv Mixtion 1. SInce that part of the world which is expos'd to our knowledge is finite and any never-so-little bulk infinitely repeated exceeds the greatest possible it follows that the singular bodies of this part are finite and some actually the least nay that according to the order of the World bodies cannot be divided beyond a certain term 2. There will be therefore in each of the Elements certain minutest parts which are either not at all or very seldome farther divisible When therefore the Elements are forc'd one against another the sides of the rare ones must of necessity become united with the sides of the dense but when they come to be divided again 't is impossible they should not leave some of those minutest parts sticking to the dense bodies 3. For since in the same Quantity the dense part is lesse divisible then the rare that too which is compounded of rare and dense in the same bulk is lesse divisible then the rare part of the same quantity It must needs be therefore that the rare Elements must stick by their minutest parts to the dense which they have once touch't 4. Hence 't is evident that the minutest parts being rub'd off on every side by the ouching together of divers Elements mixt bodies must necessarily be made For if two dense parts touch one minutest rare since the minutest is indivisible there naturally emerges a Compound of the three as hardly divisible as are the dense ones themselves 5. Whence we have the first Distinction of bodies For since the Elements are four and may be joyn'd together by bigger or lesse parts as oft as great parts of one Element redound the body is call'd by the name of that Element 6. Thus have we severall
the visible world but where there is any one Element there Aristotle acknowledges the rest too and indeed with the same Eyes we discern an opake body reflecting the light 6. 'T is objected Animals cannot live in the Moon not Men particularly because in it there is not a variety of Earth and Waters nor rains nor clouds Adde to this a most vehement heat the Sun shining continually upon the same part for fifteen whole days together and never receding in latitude above ten degrees from the part illuminated 7. 'T is answer'd If there be a kind of grosser Aire as 't is observ'd there will of necessity be Water for these grosse vapours are made out of Earth and have the nature of water before though perhaps the Clouds are not so big as to be taken notice of Besides the Almains have observ'd something like a vast cloud in the Moon The extreme heat is moderated by the height of the Mountains the lownesse of the Vallies the abundance of water and woods as we see by experience under the Aequator from which the Sun is at farthest about twenty three degrees distant and but about ten only for half the year from the middle between the Aequator and the Tropick yet this hinders not but those are most happy regions LESSON III. Of the parts of the Planetary World and especially those of the Earth 1. THe greatest part of the world which we have some kind of knowledge of consists of the Sun and six great bodies illuminated by it and some lesser ones which are in a manner members cut off from the greater 2. The bigger bodies are counted by Astronomers Saturn Iupiter Mars the Earth Mercury Venus which 't is certain of the rest by evident experiments of Mars and Saturn by their parity to the rest are opake bodies illuminated by the Sun 3. Mercury is believ'd to have appear'd like a spot under the Sun Venus appears horned like the Moon Iupiter suffers from the Stars accompanying him and they reciprocally from him The Sun alone shines of it self 4. Moreover since light is Fire the fountain of light is the fountain of Fire too The SUN therefore is a vast body consisting of Mountains and Plains which belch out fire and as Aetna Lipara and Hecla are never without flames and especially the Vulcanian Mountains of the new world so much lesse is the Sun 5. Both the clouds of ashes vapour'd out in vast abundance and other bodies mix'd with them which make the Spots in the Sun and the fountains of flames observ'd sometimes more fiercely sometimes more remissely to blaze out witnesse this to be the nature of the Sun 6. The whole body therefore of the Sun or at least as deep as is necessary must needs consist of some matter resembling to bitumen or Sulphur and be intended by nature for nothing but an Esca and food of flames serviceable to other bodies 7. And since we have the same Actour upon the other six Bodies the effects too must needs be analogous upon an analogous matter as we have already prov'd that of all other bodies must be amongst these the Earth by which we are nourisht is the best known to us 8. This our very senses tell us is divided into three parts A solid Substance which we call Earth a liquid but crasse one which we call Water and aninvisible one which we call Aire 9. The Earth is not a Loadstone first because it hangs not on any other for the Stars of the Eighth Sphear are at too great a distance to look for any Magneticall action from them secondly because that vertue in it which attracts the loadstone is not diffus'd through the whole body of the Earth but rests only in the bark of it as it were thirdly because if it were a loadstone it would joyn to some other body as the loadstone does to Iron nor would it be carry'd about in any place or with any Motion of its own but proceed to joyn it self with that other The parts of the Earth are Mountains Valleys Caverns Plains 10. And since we know Fire will make water boil and swell and dilate whatever other bodies are mixt with the water we see too that the Earth both within in its bowells and in its superficies is furnisht with heat to concoct Metals and juyces as in our bodies when the heat abounds with moisture above the just proportion in any part it breeds warts and wens and blisters so hills and mountains must of necessity rise out of the body of this great Mother 11. This is evidenc'd both by ancient and modern Experiments which tell us of Islands cast up in the Sea we hear of cinders belcht out of Aetna and Vesuvius for the most part falling upon and encreasing the Mountains but sometimes too raising fields into Mountains and hence it is that Mountains for the most part ingender Metalls and are full of wholesome hearbs as is generally observ'd 12. Hollow places whether upon the Superficies of the Earth which we call Vallies or Caverns within its bowells proceed from two proper causes the sinking and settling of the Earth into those places which the matter for the Mountains left vacant and the washing away of that matter which by rains and torrents is carry'd otherwhere especially into the Sea Thus the Channells of Rivers are made thus between vast and very high Mountains the Channells of the Valleys are deeper Hence in one place the Earth is hollow'd away in another rais'd LESSON IV. Of the Sea and its Accidents 1. THe parts of water are Sea Lakes Pools Rivers Fountains The Sea is but one since all those parts whereof every one is call'd a Sea communicate among themselves either openly or by hidden Channells as the Caspian discharges it self into the Euxine for otherwise t would overflow with the constant tribute of such great Rivers 2. That the Main does not overflow is because of the amplitude and vastnesse of its surface whence it comes to passe that as much is lick'd up by the Sun into clouds and winds as is pour'd in by so many Rivers as will be evident to one that shall observe how much the Sun in one day draws up out of a little Plash 3. Hence proceeds its saltnesse for since the salt which flows in out of the Rivers makes not them so much as brackish neither could they infect the sea were it not that the sun sucking up the lighter parts the salt remains in the rest 4. Moreover the salt which the sun must necessarily make upon the top out of the concoction of the land-floods which fatten the River-water does not sink down to the bottom both by reason of the motion of the sea continually mingling it together as also because the deeper the water the salter and heavier it is unlesse some speciall cause interpose as perhaps in the mouths of Rivers 5. From the abundance of salt the sea gets both density and gravity moreover that it will not
extinguish flames very readily as also by a multiply'd reflection of light to sparkle and flame as it were when 't is stirr'd 6. The same too is no little cause of Sea-sicknesse besides the very tossing which of it self is a cause as appears in those who are sick with riding in a Coach for the stomack being offended with the saltnesse strives to cast it up as appears by that salt humour we oft are sensible of in colds 7. Hence too comes it that the sea is not frozen the mixture of salt hindring the freezing wind 's entrance For where the sea is congeal'd 't is not the sea-water but the snow falling on it which makes the sea seem frozen as our Countrey-men that go Northern voyages witnesse Yet others report that near the shoars a sharp wind will freez the sea in some ev'n hotter Countreys 8. But when vast Rivers flow into narrow Bayes they must needs overflow into larger seas whence of necessity there must needs be a kind of perpetuall flux of some seas into others as of the Euxine into the Propontis of this into the Mediterranean of the Mediterranean into the Ocean The reason is because the lesser sea with the same quantity of water is more swell'd and consequently has a higher levell of water Again the power of the sun drinks more out of a larger sea then out of a narrower whence 't is more easily sunk low to receive the adventitious waters 9. Out of the sea the sun like fire out of a boyling pot extracts continuall vapours which either in Rains or Winds it disperses over all the Earth for all those Winds which we feel cool from the Ocean in the Summer though we perceive it not yet both their extraction makes us confesse they are moist and their density and softnesse savouring a similitude of and derivation from Water 10. The Earth therefore heated by the Sun being sprinkled with these whether in Rain or Wind for the Earth being once hot a great while retains it dissolves it self into Vapours and so by little and little they are rais'd to the higher parts of the Earth where if they feel the cold of the Aire without or by any other cause are coagulated into bigger parts they become Water and by degrees break themselves a passage through and flow down upon the lower grounds LESSON V. Of Fountains Rivers and Lakes 1. ANd because the causes of evaporations are continuall Fountains too continually flow which joyning together make Brooks and Rivers and when they have watered the whole surface of the Earth restore to the Sea the superfluous moisture to repair again the Earth with a new distillation 2. Let him that thinks not the Rain-water sufficient for this imagine the Mountains out of their innate heat are more pory then the rest of the Earth and hollow as we have said wherein there may be receptacles of water out of which the heat that is every where mingled often draws vapours which it transmits to the top of Mountains covered with Rocks whence afterwards water starts as it were out of bare Rocks 3. That this is the generation of Fountains the stones and earth at a Fountain-head all deaw'd like the cover of a boiling pot are an argument also the thinnesse subtilty of the vapours so rais'd through the Earth certain herbs too nourisht by such like vapours by observing all which the Water-finders search for Well-springs 4. Of Fountains the famousest are Baths that is hot ones The Authour of the Demonstrative Physick ripping up some fountains both learnt himself and convinc'd others by the very course of nature and by experiments Masterly made that cold Water full of a salt which he calls hermeticall with a mixture of Sulphur will grow hot 5. The same may be seen in watred lime and in Tartar with the spirit of Vitriol infus'd in it The cause of all these is the same viz. The fiery parts fetter'd as it were in dry bodies being set at liberty by the mixture of a liquid body dissipate into vapours that liquour it consisting of parts easily dissolvable 6. Hence it appears why cold fountains sometimes of the same favour are next neighbours to hot ones viz. because they passe not through the same salt 7. Why some are more some lesse hot viz. either through the abundance of this salt or through its nearnesse to the mouth of the Fountain 8. The same Authour evidenc'd the constant lastingnesse of the heat to proceed from the naturall reparation and recruit of the same salt when extracting the salt he found the remaining mud season'd again within three dayes not by the raining of salt down out of the Aire as that Authour thinks but by the nature of the Earth's being such that mixt with Aire it turn'd into salt or salt was made of the moist Aire and that Mud. 9. It appears again why some Fountains have wonderful vertues either in benefit or prejudice of our bodies why others convert Iron into Copper others petrifie sticks and whatever is thrown into them why some yield gold others silver 10. Namely because flowing through severall sorts of Earth they rub off along with them little particles and dust so minute sometimes that they are not discernable from the very body of the water and then the water is reputed to have such a vertue sometimes they are visible and then the water is said to carry some such thing in it 11. Of Fountains flowing out Brooks and Rivers are made whose running they say requires the declivity of one foot in a Mile Their reason is because a line touching the Earth at a Miles end is rais'd nine inches Artificers therefore adde three inches more that it may conveniently run whence the fountains of Nilus should be almost a mile and half higher then the Port of Alexandria but erroneously for when ever the water running behind is so encreased that it be able to raise it self above the water before this rule of declivity changes 12. Among Rivers 't is strange one should swim upon and as it were run over another as Titaresus upon Peneus Boristhenes upon Hypanis The reason is the gravity of the one and the lightnesse of the other or they will not mix out of some other cause as if one of them be oily 13. The overflowing of Rivers in Summer proceeds either from the melting of Snow shut up in Vallies or from an abundance of Rain falling in a far-distant Climate and therefore not suspected by us as is evident in Nilus Niger and some others of no name and scarce any better then Brooks 14. Fountains if they emerge into a hollow place of the Earth beget a Lake and if this cavity happen in any elevated Superficies of the Earth whether in a Mountain or a high Plain it comes to passe that sometimes great Rivers flow out of Lakes And sometimes vast eruptions of waters without any appearing cause when a Lake emprison'd in the bowells of a Mountain suddenly overflows
and opens it self a way LESSON VI. Of the Aire those things vvhich are done in it near the Earth 1. THe Aire is evidently divided into two parts that which is habitable by Animals and that above this last has no limits we can know of that first is contain'd in the Sphear of Vapours which ascend with a sensible heat out of the Earth that is as much as the Sun cherishes with its heat and renders fit for the life of Animals This therefore is comparatively hot the rest comparatively cold which the Snows and cold winds about the highest Mountains testifie A third which they use to call the Middle Region there 's none since the place of Meteors is very uncertain some residing near the Earth others above the Moon 2. Out of the Globe of Earth and Sea by the power of the Sun little bodies are rais'd up of the minutest bulk which the Sun deserting them sometimes fall down upon the Earth like drops and are call'd Deaw some drop from hard by others from a great height for all night long vapours descend and the higher more slowly both because they are higher and because every drop is lesse Hence 't is that Chymists rather chuse the Deaw that falls last as also the summer Deaw these being the purest and subtilest 3. From this Deaw 't is that the night grows cooler towards day-break though the first Drops breaking and diffusing themselves intends the same cold by the expiration of their cold parts 4. The drops of Deaw especially the least are perfectly round the cause whereof is because the water of Deaw is very tender and encompass'd in and bound together with a skin as it were by the more viscous Aire about it 5. As we see therefore Bladders blown-up become round because in that figure they are capable of most Aire so every fluid body when 't is straightned must of necessity mould it self into a round form And this seems the cause why Quicksilver so easily runs into little sphears for since the least fire will vapour it away the least cold too must needs compresse it 6. Some Deaws are sweeter then the rest especially in the hotter Regions whence a kind of Hony may be lick'd from the leafs of Trees and the Bees are believ'd to make their hony out of Deaw also the Manna in Calabria and Arabia and other hot Regions is a kind of Deaw Cloves too and Nutmeggs are thought to derive their sweetnesse from a kind of Deaw which falls in the Molucco Islands Now sweetnesse proceeds from a concocting and digestion of Moysture into a certain oily softnesse and equability of parts 7. Frost is congealed Deaw A Fogg or Mist properly is the expiration of the Earth or Water out of a certain Vent made by their native heat For we sensibly perceive Foggs rising out of moist Valleys Lakes Rivers and the Sea they presently fill all our Horizon then for the most part they rise either in the Morning or Evening seldome when the Sun shines hot they rise too in great abundance out of some certain place All which agree not to Vapours extracted by the Sun 8. And because they expire out of putrid water they stink and beget a Cough But that which uses to rest upon Mountains and in Woods especially when it rains is another thing for those are really Clouds not Fogs which either fall or are sustain'd by the leafs of Trees whence in certain Islands we read there 's no other water then what is so gather'd and distill'd from Trees Some Mists are purely watry others have a kind of slimy muddynesse withall deriv'd out of the quality of that body whence they are sublimated 9. The Nets we see in trees hedges as also those thrids that fly up down sometimes are made by the parts of the Fog growing together or of little bodies too rais'd up by the Sun minutest humid bodies gluing together other minutest dry ones that we may learn out of these rude principles how Silk-worms and Spiders Webs and even Flesh it self is woven LESSON VII Of Clouds Rain Snovv and Hail 1. HItherto we have kept near the Earth But if the Sun drives the vapours higher they are gather'd into Clouds Now a Cloud is a swarm or heap of minutest bodies elevated by the Sun of such a crassitude thickness that like a solid body it either reflects or deads the Light 2. That 't is no solid body is plain both from the tops of high Mountains upon which it appears like a Mist and does not much wet those that goe into it as also from its generation and rising up in minutest bodies 3. And the reason is plain why they hang above namely because of the littlenesse of their parts as we see Dust thrown up staies a great while in the Aire Besides the motion of the Aire hinders their descending wherefore in a high wind we fear not the Rain which as soon as the wind is down presently falls 4. Now that which makes it fall is the forcing those little bodies into a straight place and therefore wind brings Rain because it thrusts the little drops one against another and makes them bigger 5. Besides the wind it self is often incorporated with the Vapour and by sticking to them makes those particles which before were too little now to be big enough and fit for descending as when a warm wind rushes against a cold vapour or contrariwise and therefore cold winds in the Summer and warm ones in the Winter chiefly bring Rain 6. But because those things that are rais'd out of the Earth ascend not onely from the Superficies but out of its very Bowells too through the pores nay they are expell'd and thrust out from the bottome of the Sea and the Earth under it the Sea-water forcing whatever is dissolved in the bottome lighter then it self to ascend And because there is a perpetuall vicissitude of Vapours bandy'd from the Poles to the Aequator and from the Aequator back again to the Poles these Consequents follow 7. That little particles are drawn up into the Aire and Clouds of all kinds of Earth clayey stony nitrous bituminous metallick whatever other sorts there are again of all sorts of Plants Trees Roots Animals all which being hurry'd up and down in the Clouds from one part to another are scattered and if any where they come to find a convenient receptacle and nourishment there such things or creatures are produc'd 8. But because some are apt to be form'd suddenly as Froggs easily grow out of Mud and 't is told by a man of credit that a certain Chymist in a quarter of an hour brought certain seeds to grow it happens sometimes such as these too rain out of the Clouds 9. So it rain'd Wheat some yeares since in the West of England or rather something like Wheat and the same I believe those other miraculous rains are to be accounted viz. that it rain'd not bloud but a red water something
out with violence they take the shortest line which upon the superficies of a Sphear is the Arch of the greatest Circle LESSON XI Of Earth-quakes and their Effects 1. BUt because we have said there are Caves under ground and both our experience of Pits sunk and many extraordinary effects demonstrate Fire water there too there must necessarily be notable effects of the vapours extracted out of the bowells of the Earth 2. If therefore out of some subterraneous humidbody vapours chance to be rais'd by a subterraneous fire too and they prove too bigg for their place 't is manifest that alwaies increasing and becoming condens'd by the continuall accesse of new vapours they 'l seek themselves a way out according to the force they have where ther 's the easiest passage If that chance to lead into any vast under-ground Cave the Earth will quake with a great impetus and groan but nothing will appear above ground 3. But if the easiest issue be towards the superficies of the Earth the vapour will burst out through it and if it be noxious to Beasts or Birds 't will bring either Death or a Disease along with it making with the eruption either a gaping Hollow or a Mountain according as the Earth either sinks or is sustain'd and as it were vaulted Sometimes 't will bury and swallow up Cities sometimes transport vast pieces of Earth and produce other effects whereof we find expresse memorialls in History 4. The Prognosticks of an Earth-quake they say are an infection of the Fountains with a sulphurious savour an unusuall calmnesse of the Air and Birds a swelling of the Sea without any apparent cause blackish streaks under the Sun of an unusuall length all if they are truly Prognosticks and not onely Accidents which sometimes and not for the most part happen are the effects of a spirituous Vapour bursting out from the bowells of the Earth 5. They are said to happen chiefly in the Spring and Autumn therefore if the opinion be true because the Superficies of the Earth being warm becomes slacker with the rain But I should rather believe it a chance that many should be recorded in Histories about these seasons for both Winter and Summer have felt their Earthquakes and in the Torrid Zone where they are most frequent the differences of Spring and Autumn from the other seasons are very inconsiderable 6. The Sea-shores are most subject to these motions because the subterranious flames and fumes receive no little nourishment from the Sea and the moisture which soaks into the Earth renders it very fit for breeding vapours LESSON XII Of the Meteors of the other parts of the World and especially of Comets 1. THese accidents of our Orbe and its parts which are usually call'd Meteors must necessarily be found too in the other bodies which we have said are enlightned by our Sun And that out of the nature of quantity and the mixture of Rare and Dense if they have their severall degrees and differences 2. Nor in these only but in whatever bodies besides wherein alterations are wrought by the operation of fire upon denser matter for the same reasons 3. 'T is evident too that our Sun cannot warm and enlighten all those bodies that reflect light to us for if it were as far distant from us as Astronomers suppose the Sphear of the Fixed stars 't would appear to us to be but of the sixth Magnitude and consequently it could not communicate to us any considerable either light or heat how much lesse in the situation where 't is could it reflect so far as to us a light of the first Magnitude from any Star so far distant 4. Adde to this that one that should collect from the proportion of the basis of a Cone to its Axis how much light the Sun could reflect to us from the eighth Sphear would find it absolutely invisible Besides the very Aire through which the light passes by little and little drinks up and extinguishes it whence in a thicker Aire it spreads it self a lesse way then in a rarer so that in so vast a journey 't would be utterly deaded and not seen 5. A Meteor of the Planets perceptible by us is a Comet which its very-little Parallaxis convinces to be sometimes sited above the Moon 6. That 't is not fire its constant figure its Tayle not oppos'd to its motion but to the Sun its lasting consistency its matter light and to be seen through and lastly its Motion more regular then we observe in fire largely convince farther that it has nothing of fire but the colour adde to this that Fromundus with his very eyes discern'd the Tayle of that Comet in the Year 1618 to consist of the reflection of the Sun 's light 7. Be it therefore A vapour which partly reflects the light of the Sun partly drinking it in either repells it back again to us by refraction from it self or letting it through by reflection from another body And its fore-part will be the Head it s hinder whether part or something only accessnry to it will be the Tayle 8. And since by this generation of a Comet any figure of its Beard any Motion any winding of its tayle but for the most part the opposition of its Tayle to the Sun and the lesser light of its Tayle then of its Head may be fairly solv'd this intire subject is clearly display'd 9. Out of the same principles may be deduc'd that fading Stars are Comets but so far off that the secundary or refracted light of their Tail by reason of the height either cannot be distinguisht from the body or cannot be extended to us because of its extreme faintnesse as also that its motion cannot be discern'd 10. Even these therefore witnesse that there are Meteors among the very fixed Stars and those so much the more constant and lasting as the bodies out of which they are extracted are larger LESSON XIII Of the Ebbing and Flovving of the Sea and its Accidents 1. SInce out of what has been said it appears that the gravity of the vapours and the straightnesse of their issue are the cause of the violent motion of the winds and that the heaviest vapours are extracted out of the Earth when 't is well moistned It becomes evident that where vapours are rais'd out of the Sea only they are lighter that if they be turn'd into winds without being straightned they will be calm ones And since in the great Pacifick Sea in the Indian Atlantick Ocean quite through the whole Torrid Zone there are vast waters consequently in some measure secure from the incursion of Shore-winds there must needs be light vapours rais'd up by the Sun through all that Tract which the Sun retiring must turn into winds taking that course which the Suns rarefaction of the aire makes most easie this all the year long consequently there must be a continuall East-wind 2. And because the Aire naturally moves in a Circle
Earth in that line 't will be an adequate cause of the motion of the Earth 6. Now Astronomers teach that the Earth continually turning about its own Centre runs under the Zodiack its Axis retaining a certain inclination to the Axis of the Zodiack wherefore when we have found out a line in which the Earth being thrust on will observe this motion the Flux must be imagin'd to move the Earth according to that 7. Astronomers prove these motions of the Earth because otherwise greater motions of greater bodies must be suppos'd and those neither themselves constant nor proportion'd to the bodies and besides more entangled both in the Stars and in the Sun it self as is apparent by its Spots Which if you say make not up a perfect Astronomicall Demonstration that Maxime must be renounc'd upon which all Astronomy depends viz. that the Phenomena or appearances are to be solv'd the best way we can 8. Again because there follows a variety in the fixed stars from the diversity of the Earth's position in its Orbis Magnus when there 's once found out a Telescope of such perfection as to be able to distinguish that variety we may expect a Geometricall Demonstration and because for the same reason there must needs be a variety of reflection from Mars and Iupiter when the laws rules of light shall be better known there will not want a Physicall Demonstration LESSON XV. Of the Oppositions against the Motion of the Earth and of its effects 1. AStronomers object that this annuall transferring of the Earth would cause a diversity of elevation in those Stars which are near the Poles and a variety in the appearing bignesse of those in the Zodiack which since we see not follow neither is there any such thing as this Annuall motion of the Earth 2. 'T is answer'd The vast remoteness of the Fixed Stars renders such variations imperceptible and that their distance from us is sufficient to produce this effect may be collected from the effect it has upon a Telescope which though it amplifies so much the Planets and even Saturn himself yet adds nothing or an insensible matter to the Fixed Stars 3. Out of this motion of the Earth rises First the reason of Night and Day for since in a determinate time 't is roul'd about its Centre suppose in about 24 hours the things that are in the Heavens must needs appear sometimes and otherwhile disappear to a determin'd place of the Earth and such a variety in respect of the Sun makes Day and Night in respect of the other Stars a variety not own'd by any common name 4. Again by its motion under the Zodiack it attains various conjunctions with the other Planets 5. Lastly in that it carries its Axis turning still towards the same parts of the Heavens it comes to passe that the part of the Earth enlightned by the Sun possesses sometimes greater sometimes lesser parts of the Parallells according to which the Diurnall motion proceeds and consequently that the dayes are longer and shorter 6. Thence too is it that the Sun becomes more perpendicular at one time then another whence the natures of Winter and Summer are deduc'd and the varieties of Declinations Descensions and Twilights 7. But that the Winter is shorter then the Summer proceeds from this that the Motion through the inequality of the bodies rais'd up in the Winter time is swifter then in the Summer 8. An effect too of the Motion of the Earth is the carrying of the water about with it but not the Tyde First because if the Earth should stand still the water would stand still withall since as we have said above ther 's no impetus but from the gravity and such there would be none in the present case 9. Again ther 's no cause of the unequall motion of the water since ther 's the same quality continually in the movable and not by skips 10. Again if the whole water of the Sea were so mov'd 't would drown the Mountains Lastly the periods of the Earth's motion do not agree with those of the Tyde 's 11. But that the Flux depends on an extrinsecall Agent which impells only the Superficies of the Sea is most evident by the experiment of a late Diver that discovers ther 's no Flux in the bottom of the Sea LESSON XVI Of the Motion of the Aire vvith the Earth and its effects 1. OUt of what has been said 't is manifestly inferr'd that the Aire which clings to the Earth is roul'd in the same manner about or rather with the Earth For since both by the nature of Quantity and the weight of its gravity it presses towards the Earth and sticks to and incorporates with it it cannot without some greater force interposing be separated from it Since therefore in it ther 's no resistance against Motion and onely a resistance against being torn away from the Aire next it which takes another course and this resistance is not greater then that against being torn off from the Aire below and perhaps not so great since Aire is so much the lighter the higher it is T is evident it will follow the Earth Wherefore to the very confines of the emanations of some Star that has a different Motion the whole Aire will be roul'd about with the Earth 2. And experience also proves it for else the twilight vapours Comets and Birds above the highest Mountains would seem hurryed extream swiftly towards the West Again 't is plain those Clouds of dust which we call the Sun's spots fly along with the Sun and that the same way as appears because the bright parts are burned still the same way notwithstanding they are judged to be a hundred miles distant from the Sun The vapours too of the Moon are found to be carried about with the Moon 3. From this Motion of the Aire it follows that bodies in the Aire it self are so moved in respect to the parts of the Aire and the Earth as if there were no Motion at all in neither they being carried still along together with the Aire it self as one in a Ship under saile with a constant wind exercises the same Motions and with the same facility in the Ship as he could do if she stood still 4. Wherefore Arrows shot just upright will fall in the very same place or shot towards the East they 'l fly no farther then if shot towards the West The Motion of the Earth will raise no wind c. This too will be certain that the Aire cannot be carry'd lesse then the Earth as one that sits in a Coach cannot rid lesse ground then the Coach it self 5. Nor can all these be made good by an impetus conceiv'd upon the Earth and remaining in the Movable after its separation from the Earth for neither could Birds retain that impetus for many hours together at least without any notable diminution and lesse could little bodies for many dayes nor could that impetus carry an
Arrow as swiftly acrosse as directly Besides as those that swimme against the stream feel the strength of the stream under water so one that should move towards the West would feel the Aire to be carry'd towards the East 6. Much lesse by the force of its circular motion will the Earth throw any thing laid upon it into Heaven For circular motion has no such property in its own nature since 't is still about the Centre and by consequence keeps every thing according to its own line in the same distance from the Centre But those things we see thrown off from wheels are so by reason of their adhesion and the mixture of a straight motion with the circular as also because the centre of gravity of such thrown bodies is remov'd from that position wherein it was sustain'd by the body under it LESSON XVII Of the causes of the Motion of the Moon and other Stars 1. SInce supposing this motion of the Earth the Moon is carry'd with it about the Sun and keeps alwaies the same side towards it 't is fairly convinc'd to have a kind of adhesion to the Earth 2. Yet not a Magneticall one being it changes not its aspect nor has any declination for its approaching the Poles nor though it hangs loose does it come to the Earth 'T is therefore an adhesion of gravity 3. And since gravity proceeds from the Motion of things descending towards the Earth the Moon must be situated within the Emanations of the Earth be carry'd about the Centre of the Earth and about the Sun But because it has a propension of its own towards the Earth it is not carry'd so swiftly as the Emanations themselves its progresse being according to Astronomicall observations but about a 28. part every day 4. And because under the Zodiack ther 's a perpetuall tumult of vapours which ascend and being come up to a certain height turn off from the Torrid Zone towards the Poles the motion of the Moon is compounded of a Motion under the Ecliptick and towards the Poles 5. It is not therefore carry'd purely under the Ecliptick but because 't is mov'd in a Sphericall Superficies and by the shortest line that is by a greatest circle it will cut the Ecliptick twice every intire course of its defects that is every moneth 6. In its Opposition and Conjunction to the Sun the body of the Moon that is the whole complex of its solid and vapours becomes lesse heavy In Conjunction because its nearnesse to the Sun and the Sun 's stronger reflection from the Earth raises more Vapours in the Moon in Opposition more vapours are rais'd out of its naturally colder part and in the upper part ther 's allways abundance 7. Wherefore the Moon in these positions must rise higher from the Earth and in the Quadratures that is about the passages from the first to the second and from the third to the fourth Quarters appear bigger But because that part which looks towards the Earth is allways the heavier it never turns t'other side towards us 8. Nor is there any fear least the Moon falling by reason of its weight should o'rewhelm the Earth both because 't is furnisht with a great deal of fire and vapours lighter then the Emanations of the Earth as also because very gravity it self near the confines of the Earths emanations is not so powerfull as 't is here lower 9. But farther because 't is hurry'd about two thousand miles every houre whence were it made of solid Iron it could not fall down since we see iron Bullets sustain'd in the Aire by the power of Guns though their motion be not two hundred miles an houre 10. Out of what has been said we may easily argue concerning the other Great Bodies For all those that belong to our Great Orbe either are mov'd about the Sun as being certain other Earths or else about other Stars as the Moon about the Earth such as are the Medicean Stars and the Companions of Saturn 11. And because we discover Suns among those other parts of the world 't is very credible there are proportionable Planets dispos'd among them too and that all those Bodies are mov'd in the manner of ours 12. The Sun it self must of necessity turn about its own centre else certainly since 't is Fire 't would appear divided into Pyramids and if it were born along with a progressive motion 't would shew a vast train of flames like a Comet 13. Lastly since 't is all full of Caverns belching out flames and fire flames out according to the nature of its fewell these flames must of necessity flash out with a fierce impulse against the sides of the Caverns and because they have an eminent proportion to the body they must shake the entire Sun and turn it that way the Motion lyes strongest which the Phenomena of its Spots and bright parts testify to be according to the Zodiack LESSON XVIII Of the Primum Mobile the Duration and Quiddity of the World 1. BUt because this fire which bursts out from the Sun's bowells is it self mov'd too either this Motion which is the Mother of all other must spring from it self or else we must come to an incorporeall Agent 2. But that Bodies which rest how many soever they are cannot start of themselves into Motion is most evident For being suppos'd to rest all their intrinsecalls are suppos'd without that effect which is call'd Motion Since therefore all things remaining the very same in the causes there cannot be any change in the effect and yet supposing Motion there would be a change 't is plain there cannot any Motion spring out of them without altering first somewhat in the causes that is in the Bodies 3. Moreover every part of Motion being a new effect the same evidence convinces that motion cannot be continu'd without some Cause be suppos'd continually altering the First Body on which depend the motions of all the rest 4. Since therefore we have pursu'd the Originall of motion into the very bowells of the Sun we must conclude that there is a Mover of another nature viz. an incorporeall from whom Fire receiv's the power of moving who being of an immovable Nature establishes the Centre of the Sun that it may be the Fixer and as it were Basis of all things rouling about it 5. That Motion cannot be infinite the same argument convinces which made it plain before that all Permanent Quantity is finite For suppose backwards from this instant or now wherein we are an infinite Time already past there must be infinite hours past some one therefore will be infinite others distant from us and in that one a determinate now which with this present instant must enclose an infinite on both sides 6. Nor if the computation be made forwards will the reason differ for there must still be infinite hours to come and one of them will be infinite others distant from us and in that one a certain now terminating an
divide the Waters from the Waters In the Hebrew an Expansion Either word is properly taken since it was a Space unpassable for its vastnesse and expansion and by consequence fixed and fixing the division of the Waters 7. But those words in the midst of the waters are to be noted which teach that no Substance was made a new but only between the waters and the waters which is evident too from the word Heaven which name he gave the Firmament by which very word 't is express'd that before God created the Heaven The Etymology also of the word is to be noted which both in the Hebrew and Greek Idiom signifies as much as whence the waters or whence or where it drops that it may be evidenc'd even from the name that the Aire it self is the Firmament CHAP. V. A Philosophicall discourse of the vvorks of the other four days 1. FArther by the operation of this vast Fire not only the Water but much of the Earth too with the Water must needs have been rais'd up For Chymists know that the intense heat of fire can raise up and carry away crasse Oyls and Oyntments nay even Salts and very Gold it self Since therefore the Earth before the operation of Light was dissolv'd in minutest parts and Dust as void of all Moisture it must needs be that the Heat mix'd every where the Water with Earth and thus all muddy carry'd it up into the Aire but most of all about those parts over which the Fire perpendicularly hung 2. Whence 't is plain two Effects must needs have risen one that the Earth in that Circle should become more hollowed and low then in the rest of its Superficies the other that the Water from the remoter places should flow into these hollownesses whether by the attraction of the Fire or by naturall connection or by some power of Gravity which through the operation of the Fire by little and little attain'd a force 3. 'T is plain therefore that since the motion of the Earth was of necessity by the greatest Circle the Earth by the course of the foresaid causes must be drain'd and dry'd first about the Poles of that Circle and the waters gathered together in the empty hollownesse under that Circle 4. I said by the course of the foresaid causes for if we consider what was likely to be done by accident this consequence will not be universally necessary For 't is clear that the Earth by the boyling of the water being unequally mixt and remixt with continuall agitation must according to the law of contingency have produc'd by the meeting of different parts as many kinds and species of Earths as we see diversities of Fossils which we divide generally into four kinds Stones Metalls Mold and concrete Iuyces 5. And since from the varieties also of those great parts of that masse now tempered with water a notable variety must needs follow the Earth yet cover'd with Waters may easily here and there have boyl'd up into Excrescencies as Islands have often grown up in the Sea By this irregularity therefore some Mountains growing may have appear'd before the Polar Regions of the Earth 6. From the same principles it follows that the Earth did not appear wholly squallid and desart but already impregnated with the Seeds of all things nor with Seeds only but with Plants too those especially which either require or can endure more moisture the rest by little and little as the dryer Earth grew more apt and fitly dispos'd for their birth they too sprung out 7. And because an Animal is nothing but a more-compounded Plant by the same reason the Earth then most aptly tempered and dispos'd brought forth perfect Animals as it now being barrener of its own accord produces such as we call insecta as Mice and Frogs and sometimes new fashion'd Animals 8. But because the waters must needs have been very muddy even They before the Earth must have sprung into Animals fit to inhabit them viz. Fishes small and great as also into certain middle Animals which might fly up to the higher parts of the Earth that is Birds as even now we see all kind of Birds that are bred of Putrefaction by the Sea shores and Lake's sides grow out of the rottennesse of wood tempered with water 9. 'T was necessary too that by the force of that mighty Flame parts of Earth and Water of a vast bulk carry'd up above the Aire should by naturall attraction and the power of the baking Fire coagulate into many vast Bodies whereof some should more abound with fiery vertue and therefore both conceive and belch out abundance of Flames so that being entirely lucid they should be apt to enlighten other bodies too within a fit distance and that others lesse abounding with fiery parts should be fit in a congruous order and method to be concocted and enlightened by Them and themselves too be able to reflect light from the former to the rest 10. Wherefore were they set moved in a convenient site to the Earth now inhabited they might alwaies more or lesse enlighten it nor would there be any longer need of that vast light made by the Angels And this formation of things the Aegyptians Aethiopians Empedocles and other naturall Philosophers as it were by the conduct of Nature out of the very steps and order of Generation which they still observ'd in nature have emulated and attempted though not throughly attain'd CHAP. VI. An Explication of Genesis concerning the same 1. THe sacred Commentaries concerning these things tell us thus And God said let the Waters which are under the Heaven be gathered together into one place and let the dry Land appear Here is the first mention made of gravity whose effect is said to be to congregate into one place that we may see Gravity is not a motion towards any particular Site but towards the unity of a body and that it was made out of the Order of the Universe now establisht after that between the acting Light and the Earth upon which it acted a great distance full of Aire was interpos'd wherein the motion of things ascending and descending might be free 2. Iob 38. 't is said that the Sea flow'd as it were out of a womb whence 't is understood that the Earth throughly moistned with Water sweat out on all sides into the lower Vaults and increas'd the Water where by the extreme force of the light it had been too much suck'd out and so left the Earth in its due temperament Whence ther 's evidenc'd another cause too besides what we have explicated of the Earths appearing viz. because by the permixtion of hot water it swel'd into a far greater bulk 3. It follows and God call'd the dry Land and the gathering together of the waters he call'd Seas For it was not Earth in the same sense wherein at the beginning 't was said God created the Heaven and the Earth for there the Element of Earth was call'd Earth but
here a certain mixt body consisting of infinite variety And for the same cause he call'd the Firmament Heaven for at the beginning Heaven signifi'd Aire and Water in the purity of their natures but here a mixt body made of the Elevation of the Waters with the Aire 4. We understand farther because the waters are commanded to be congregated into one place and yet the effect is call'd Seas the waters which from that mighty celestiall fire had contracted Saltnesse though to appearance they possesse severall places yet have a communion between themselves truly constitute one place though outwardly interrupted as 't is evident of most of them out of Cosmographicall History 5. It follows And God said let the Earth bring forth the green herbs and which produces Seed c. Whence 't is understood that the generation of Plants proceeded from the very springing fecundity of the Earth through the activity of so much heat without any extraordinary and miraculous concourse of God For if in fifteen daies Plants ripen under the Equator which with us require a three moneths space for their generation what doubt but much more copiously and sooner they started out of the womb of the Earth justly tempered by the operation of Angels 6. Nor need we believe because the Plants were perfect therefore Oaks and such like Trees must have been at the full strength which they attain not under an intire Age for it suffices that the barren Trees yielded Shade and the fruitfull their Fruits against the sixth Day 6. The Text goes on Let there be Lights in the Firmament of Heaven and let them divide the day and the night And even from hence 't is evident that the office of Light created the first day was to dry the Earth which being done there was no longer need of so mighty a Fire and therefore the Angels ceas'd from that operation 8. There appears again the difference between that Light and the Sun for the Sun is not call'd light but a light'ner as a Candle or a Torch wherein one part is flame and another fuel of the flame or that yields the light It appears therefore that the SUN is a concrete of combustible matter and a certain Vulcanian Globe all over full of pits vomiting flames and that it receiv'd the office of the former light which was to divide between the day and the night 9. But in that 't is said in the firmament of Heaven the Originall expression has it in the expansion of Heaven or of that whence the waters 't is evident these lights were plac'd in the Aire and that ther 's no difference of nature between the Firmament wherein the Stars and that wherein the Clouds and Birds are and consequently that neither are there any Sphears in which the Fixed Stars should be but they are mov'd as Fishes in the water 10. Upon which grounds 't will not be hard to believe them made of Waters rais'd up out of the Earth as the 103 or 104 Psalm clearly teaches For where our text has it who covers with waters its upper parts viz. of Heaven the Hebrew has who framest its chambers of waters Chambers are lodgings or abiding places aloft the Stars therefore if indeed there are any People in them are elegantly call'd the chambers of Heaven and they are said to be fram'd of water that is built and compacted the watry parts commixt with which the terrestriall were rais'd up partly being drain'd into the concavities as we said concerning our Sea partly keeping a consistency about the globes to thicken the Aire partly remaining in them for a due mixtion sake according to the variety of the parts of the Globes 11. But that the Angels which before kindled the Light were divided amongst the Stars especially the Suns whereof 't is evident there are many Iob shews by those words when ask'd where wast thou when the morning Stars marched triumphantly or exulted alike or together and all the sons of God sounded their trumpets that is when the morning stars began to be mov'd as in the Psalm 't is said of the Sun he rouz'd up himself as a Giant to run his course that is stars making morning or light to which conjoining the sons of God he teaches that each of them had its Angel to excite their first motion as it were sounding the Alarm and giving the sign for motion or making the start and first impression And this interpretation is best accommodated both to the Hebrew words and to the matter whereof He spake and the word together shews that in one day they all began their motion 12. The holy Authour adds the End of these Lights that they might be eminent day and night for so the originall propriety has it where our text saies to rule over that is that they might be very conspicuous And for Signs or according to the force of the originall word Miracles or Prodigies that is that they might make men admire whence by little and little they might be elevated from terrestriall things to know God and his works and worship him 13. Lastly for days and years Whence 't is deduc'd that the Earth had been hitherto mov'd only about its own Centre but from thenceforward began to be mov'd under the Ecliptick viz. Because the motion made by the first fire was so violent that the waters were only drawn towards the light or if any mov'd any other way they were so few that they were in no measure able to alter the course towards the light But the force of the Sun being far lesse did so make the Waters move about the Earth that yet the impulse of the returning Waters was notable whence the Earth was mov'd about the Sun in a line mixt in a manner of a Circular and a right CHAP. VII Some Animadversions about the Text of the first Chapter of Genesis 1. FRom the whole Story 't is evident that our Earth is situated in the very middle of the Universe For since all the rest of the World was form'd by evaporation from the Globe whereof our Earth was the Centre this by Fire intermediate between the Earth the other parts of the World 't is evident that the rest of the world is with a certain equality remote from it and consequently that it is plac'd in the midst 2. Which I would not have so understood as if the Centre of the Earth were the very middle point but that the Great Orbe that is all that Orbe which the Earth makes with its circle about the Sun has the notion of a Centre for that it scarce makes a visible Magnitude in respect of the rest of the world Astronomers find by experience 3. Adde to this a conjecture from the Phaenomena's For the Zodiack is fuller of great and conspicuous Stars then the other parts of the Heavens as it must of necessity have happened if the World began after the manner we have explicated Besides of all those Stars which are
the Country where Man liv'd of all its beauty and introducing colds brought in the mortall state of the World and Man was forc'd to guard himself with Garments CHAP. IX An explication of Genesis concerning the Creation of MAN 1. THese things are dictated out of Nature concerning which ther 's an ampler relation out of the sacred Records For first God is said to have spoken thus to the Angels let us make Man to our Image and Similitude the word let us make signifies a speciall concourse of God and not a generall only as to the other things 2. An Image differs from a Similitude in that an Image speaks a relation of a thing either measur'd by or deriv'd from a pattern but a Similitude neither Besides an Image may be and for the most part is of a nature inferiour to its pattern but a Similitude falls so far short of the perfection of a Similitude as it participates of another nature Man therefore was created to the Image of God and to the Similitude of Angels according to that and they shall be like the Angels of God and again Thou hast abas'd him a little lower then the Angels 3. The Creation of Man is describ'd thus He form'd of the Mud of the Earth the primitive propriety has thinking to make or to frame as a Potter whereby is express'd that the work of Man was a greater task then that of other Creatures and that it specially requir'd the operation of an Intelligence Where our Text says of the Mud of the Earth in the Originall 't is dust of red Earth Now of framable Earths that the red are the best Pots for Pleasure made of them witnesse which yield a savoury rellish to the drinkers And the force of the word Dust is to make us understand the Earth was decocted into minutest parts for almost in all Arts the more the matter is divided the more exquisite the work proves 4. It follows And He breath'd into his Face the breath of life in which words ther 's a clear expression of another operation after the forming of his body to shew that the production of a Rationall Soul does not adequately proceed out of second causes 5. And the words which follow And Man was made a living Soul shew that there is no other but the rationall Soul in Man since his vegetation proceeded out of that That there are not therefore more subordinate Forms in any Matter appears from the propriety of the sacred Doctrine 6. Again the holy Writ says God therefore took the Man and placed him in a paradise of Pleasure to work and keep it and He commanded him saying Of every Tree c. Though it be not expressely taught that the knowledge of God was infus'd into Man yet in that 't is said He breath'd into his face and again that He took him and commanded him 't is apparent enough that God was first known to him and by God his science was deriv'd to other things For his first object at the opening his Eyes was his Inspirer before his face Him therefore first he knew ador'd and lov'd and being shew'd by Him the Herbs and Plants the Beasts and Birds he distinguish'd both the Vertue natures of each received them of Him for his own Use Service 'T is plain therefore that he could not chuse but Believe God's sayings Hope in his Promises Love him as his Father 7. That he learnt of God the Vertue of Herbs and Plants 't is evident out of those words Thou shalt eat of every Tree c. for whilst He puts both an Universality and an exception he insinuates that Adam knew both Moreover those words where he 's said to be plac'd in Paradise to work and keep it which he could not doe unlesse he knew the nature of Plants argue that he knew them Lastly since 't is expressely said of the Beasts and Birds that by only seeing them he throughly saw into their nature in those words to see what he would call them and again whatever Adam call'd any living Soul that is its name since 't is most certain that the names were fitted to the natures of things and consequently were impos'd upon the knowledge of them 'T is clear that the inferiour natures too were as easily known to him 8. The sacred Authour adds But to Adam there was not found a helper like him the primitive expression is And to the Man he found not a help as it were before him or as others explicate as it were against him It appears therefore that the WOMAN was made not out of the necessity of nature alone but by the consent and will of Adam God governing Man a Reasonable Creature by perswasion and induction not by force and command that is according to the nature which he had given him 9. It appears again that the Man was not only in his Matter but even in his Mind the Authour and Superiour and as it were the Maker of the Woman 10. But since Adam had not yet felt the stings of the Flesh neither knew he as yet the need of a Woman as Woman but only he desir'd one to discourse with to whom he might declare his knowledge and conferre about his doubts This is that which was so grievous to the Man that God said 't was not good for him to be alone and provided not only for the present but for ever that he should have such as he might teach and converse with 12. Nor makes it against this that a Man may seem more proper for the conversation of a Man for 't is not true neither in regard of his Mind nor of his Body For 't is known that as to his Body a Man chuses to converse with the beauteous and Beauty is proper to Women as they are condistinguisht to Men And as for the Mind a knower chuses to converse with one that will learn acquiesce rather then one that will be refractory but Women are more credulous and obedient then Men And in respect to both Body and Mind the conversation is more sweet and agreeable with such as reciprocate love but Women are more obnoxious to love then Men. 12. And that she was requir'd for Conversation the very genuine expression shews in those words a help as it were against him For since the countenances of those that talk together are mutually turn'd towards one another and Man is made to be mov'd forward it appears that the faces of those that discourse together are as it were of entrers by opposite and contrary ways and consequently the faces themselves according to the same line are opposite and contrary Such a help therefore was not found amongst all the Animals whence 't was ill with Adam CHAP. X. An explication of the same concerning the Creation of WOMAN 1. GOd therefore cast the holy Text proceeds a sleep upon Adam the Propriety is and He made a sleep fall for sleep begins from the Brain and the Head
A river went out from the place of Pleasure the force of the Hebrew word is out of Pleasure to water Paradise thence 't is divided into four heads in the Hebrew and from there that is already in Paradise 't is divided and is into four heads The sense is that out of the abundance and fertility of the Earth water sprung in four heads or great Rivers for 't is incongruous that one river divided into more should be said divided into heads but into branches or arms nor are there any where found appliably to Paradise four Rivers which can ever be conjectur'd to have flow'd from one head nor can any other place of Pleasure or a more fertile place then Paradise be imagin'd from whence this river should flow to water Paradise 4. And what is here call'd fertility and abundance is describ'd to have agreed to the whole Earth at that time it being said that a Fountain ascended out of the Earth watring the whole superficies of the Earth Where the native Text in stead of Fountain has a Vapour whereof the Book of Wisdome seems to speak when it saies that She cover'd the whole Earth as with a Mist and perhaps the Psalmist when after the forming of the Earth he subjoyns The Abysse is the vestment of its cloathing waters shall stand upon the Mountains 5. An example too of such like we have in some very hot and moist regions in one of the Canaries in the Island of Saint Thomas and some others that there issues a Vapour out of the Earth which being refrigerated with the shadow of the Trees descends in a Rain and feeds the Fountains and Rivers And it cannot be but out of the Earth yet moist by the power of the Sun for some time such a Vapour must issue and water the Earth and be deriv'd into Rivers 6. But now the enumeration of the Rivers makes the matter manifest for it takes the four greatest Rivers known to the Hebrews and which wash'd the whole world that they knew and saies that Paradise was watred by them But those that labour to derive these Names to other Rivers run into mere and incoherent Conjectures 7. The Scripture adds The Lord God took therefore the Man and put him in the Paradise of Pleasure that he should work and keep it The Hebrew word for he took is the same with that above when we spake of Adam's side and signifies the same as take in the largest sense nor in this place does it expresse any other thing then an application or conjunction of God to Adam and not a locall carrying as before 't is said of the word He brought But 't is said above to Adam that he should take the Earth for his matter to work on and fill it We have it therefore that the Garden which Adam was to cultivate and inhabite is the same which he was commanded to fill and subject and whereof 't is said that as yet there was not the Man to labour it but a Vapour ascended and watred its universall superficies Adde to these that the whole Earth was cursed that the whole before the curse was created for Adam and his Issue which in a Garden only could not have had room enough 8. Consider the honour of Husbandry both that of all the Mechanicks 't is the work that 's most proper to mankind and 't is a keeping or preserving of the Earth for the Earth grows better by cultivation but uncultivated it grows barren as it were perishes 9. Besides this precept God added another positive one for nourishing himself and a negative one for not killing himself by intemperancy CHAP. XII The History of ADAM'S FALL out of Genesis 1. THe divine Authour begins the following History saying Moreover the Serpent was more crafty then all the living Creatures of the Earth the word which corresponds to Serpent in the originall is deriv'd from a Verb which signifies to observe or to pry into secrets wherefore à priori it signifies an Observer a lier in wait and what in the Gospell the Tempter and where the Latine Interpreter puts all living Creatures the sacred Authour uses a very large word which comprehends Man too So that the sense may be the Tempter was craftier even then Man himself as also it appear'd by the event 2. He came therefore to the Woman and said Why has God commanded you c. in the originall letter even that God has said as if it should say was it not enough for God to have oblig'd you to keep his Garden but even must he not-permit you to eat To whom the Woman answer'd Yes we do eat of the rest but should we eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil we should die 'T is evident therefore this command was given by God not as out of power and prerogative but for the good of those to whom 't was given and Man is govern'd by God alwaies for the good of Man himself 3. The Tempter therefore reply's again You shall not die but you shall be like Gods the Analogy of the two Temptations is to be noted Say that these stones be made bread and He forbids you to Eat He has commanded his Angels concerning thee and Ye shall not die lastly All these will I give thee and Ye shall be like Gods 4. 'T is added The woman therefore saw that the Tree was good to eat and fair and delightfull to behold c. The Tree is put for the Apple or certainly in respect of the Apple these things agreed to it And whereas 't is said she saw the apple to be sweet to the tast or good for food as the originall reading has it it argues that the Woman too to some degree from the sight of Plants especially the earnest looking on them knew their natures And the Authour instead of this delightfull to behold has desir'd to look earnestly upon or to understand and the sense is that the Woman saw her Appetite so to have encreas'd that she could not turn away her Eyes Or else the word saw signifies consider'd and the sense will be She consider'd that the Apple was desirable for the Knowledge that would follow it upon the Tempter's words 5. The Woman therefore eat and gave too to the Man who was not deceiv'd that is did not eat upon a false perswasion but as 't is subjoyn'd obey'd the voice of his wife For alas he was effeminate and durst not through excesse of love oppose his Wife 6. 'T is collected out of the circumstances that the Tempter or lier-in-wait had observ'd the Woman absent from her Husband near the forbidden Tree at the hour when her Appetite to eat made way for his treacheries 7. But let us see the effect The sacred Text therefore saies that the eyes of them both were opened and they knew they were naked But 't is plain that not presently upon their eating but after some time suppose when by concoction the
therefore Philosophy teaches that even that complexion of nature which rises from acquir'd habits and exercise is apt to be deriv'd to the Issue much more that which was by Nature planted in Adam would have pass'd into his Posterity His Children therefore had he not sin'd would have attain'd from their Origin a certain equability of Passions whereby they would have grown easily obedient to Reason or rather they would have had no passion more vehement then was just fit so that they would have felt no difficulty in following right Reason from which disposition he seems not to have St. Bernard been far of whom 't is wonderfully said that Adam in him had not sin'd 7. Whence the perverse motion of the will in our first Parents was apt to proceed only from extrinsecall sollicitation So we see in the answer of Eve that she was content with the command 'till the Devil proposing a shew of fallacious reason which she could not see through had fastened as it were her mind to the delectable form of the Apple before her by which fastening that naturall equality was corrupted which too in like manner happened to Adam through his amorous fixednesse to his wife as may be collected out of his words wherein ther 's no praising of God the giver but only a commemoration of the lovelinesse of the woman 'T is evident therefore that the naturall principles of motion and passion were corrupted in both our Parents and so in Generation an inequality was deriv'd to their issue not one equall to Theirs but one far greater it being now corrupted from the change of site to the Heavens and the quality of the Aire and Food and so irrecoverably their Posterity drew from the Womb of their Mother an Origin or inclination to sin 8. Which negation of equability because 't is in a subject to which an equality is due by its Creation attains the nature of a privation and because the guilt of Adam is in it or because we derive our Origin from him 't is therefore call'd ORIGINAL not formall SIN and because 't is impossible that Man infected with this can live without sin by the strength of nature without new Grace therefore Nature is call'd the Slave of Sin and given up into slavery to the Devil But whether Originall sin comprehends besides an indisposition of the sensitive Soul a privation of Charity consequent from it in the Issue because ther 's nothing offer'd out of our text spoken concerning that matter I leave to the curious 9. It suffices us that out of what has been said it may be understood how Originall Sin is singular in every one how 't is deriv'd by Generation and how it proceeds from the fault of another 10. Of these things that have been said I know not whether we have not in some measure an Example in Cain and Abel Cain being conceiv'd in Sin perhaps the very night after eating the forbidden fruit before God by punishment had provok'd them to Penance Abel in the time of Penance whence Cain contracted in the conception his Mothers envy against God Abel her humility and piety wherefore what our Interpreter renders I have possest a Man by God may be more truly translated I have loved a Man against God CHAP. XV. Of the Propagation of Mankind out of the same 1. AFter the Death of his Brother Cain departed into the barrener parts as appears from his Curse And this was the first occasion of filling the severall quarters of the Earth And he is said to have sojourn'd towards the East from Eden or rather towards the West for the originall letter has it he sat down in a strange Country before Eden that is he dwelt in a far Country before Eden that is to which the face of Eden is turn'd Adam and his Family being suppos'd to look after him when he went from them that is to the West or having Eden Eastward Now Eden seems to be call'd that Country in which Adam dwelt in memory of the Pleasure he had there 2. And the sacred Authour prosecutes the Generations of Cain to the seventh descent and tels us the Cities that were built and the Arts both for use and pleasure invented in them But how many years each generation contain'd he mentions not but 't is likely they were shorter then the generations assign'd to Seth whence in the time of Enos which extends to about a thousand years after the nativity of Henoch the first-born of Cain the children of Adam on Cain's side may have been exceedingly multiply'd and that hap'ned which is written that in his time The invocation of the name of the Lord was polluted viz. in most of the posterity of Seth and Adam through their Marriages with the daughters of Cain 3. For since the Sons of Seth and the rest that liv'd with Adam may seem to have follow'd a Pastorall life and to have liv'd temperately but the Daughters of Cain to have been delicate and luxurious there appears on the Male's side strength and virility and on the Female's abundance of Moisture figurable by heat whence 't is consonant that a vast and robust issue was born out of their conjunction And out of confidence of their great forces men are prone to fall to injuring and oppressing the weak whence Lamech call'd it a consolation to kill all man-kind according to the by-word that saies 'T is better to be alone then ill accompanied 4. But whether they were of a huge stature of body such as we call Giants appears not out of the sacred History where nothing else is said but that they were Oppressours Strong and such as got themselves a Name or fame CHAP. XVI Of the FLOUD out of the same 1. WHen therefore they were impenitent whilst Noe built the Ark to save the few just that is eight persons the waters began to poure down upon the Earth which Genesis describing saies thus Such a year moneth and day all the Fountains of the great Abysse were broken up and the Cataracts of Heaven were opened there was made a Rain upon the Earth fourty daies and fourty nights The originall text for were broken up has slit themselves and for Cataracts a word which signifies occult cavities from a word which imports as much as to ly in wait as if it would say that the Repositories of heaven wherein God had plac'd as it were waters in ambush were opened 2. To these is to be added that place in the Second of Peter wherein 't is said there was of old a Heaven and an Earth of waters and by waters consisting by the word of God by which that world then overflowâ—d with waters perished But it cannot be understood as if the Earth consisted of Water which is no where written but rather the contrary viz. that the Earth was created together with the Waters the sense therefore is that Heaven consists of waters the Earth by waters to wit mingled together by that mighty fire
whereof largely above Consisting therefore is refer'd to both though it be construed with the later 3. It saies then that the old world was overflow'd by these two waters whence 't is evident those are distinct waters which are here call'd the Cataracts of heaven from those call'd the fountains of the great abysse Now we find no more about Heaven after the Fourth Day but that a vapour ascended from the Earth to water the universall face of the Earth and that the Earth was cover'd with a Mist and as much concerning the Sea Iob speaking in the person of God when I put it on a Cloud for its vestment wrapt it in darknesse as in the cloaths of Infancy For these signifie that the Aire was thick and misty there sweating by the Suns force as it were a perpetuall watry humour out of the Earth whose thinner parts were of necessity continually rais'd up into Clouds which could not fall for a time whilst the Aire quite up to them was thick and as heavy as they but after the Earth being dry'd the Aire between the Earth and the Clouds became it self too more dry and subtile the terrestriall humidity being spent then at length with a mighty vehemence the long-treasur'd-up waters in the clouds descended in such abundance that the Fountains which broke out from the more eminent parts of the Earth were so over-charg'd they slit their channels and with open Torrents roul'd into the Rivers and they oreflowing their banks all at once into the Sea Thus therefore by the waters whereof the former Heavens consisted that is the midst between the Earth and the Stars and by which the Earth consisted viz. which lay hid in its bowels the whole Earth was o'reflow'd in the time of Noe. 4. And the History tells that the waters rose fifteen Cubits above the tops of the Mountains now 't is not incredible that some Men were so tall so that this quantity of water was altogether necessary nay if there had been strong Trees upon the highest Mountains which could have resisted the water this proportion of water had been lesse then needed 5. For since after the Deluge Og may seem to have been nine Cubits high before the Deluge 't is credible enough there were some near fifteen Though to perswade one's self there were ever Men of that vastness which is attributed to the Cyclops and certain Reliques found in the New World there needs a great faith for these stories depend on uncertain memories or on conjectures of Men talking according to likely-hood of old Bones 6. But to return to the abundance of the waters The severer Mathematicians now adaies do not believe any Mountain to be higher perpendicularly then one Italian mile nor need we believe the Mountains before the Floud were so high as they are now the vallies are hollowed deeper with continuall Rains If therefore fifteen Cubits be abated from the highest Mountains make account the water rose a Mile perpendicular about the Earth 7. Whence 't will be deduc'd that about an equall proportion of water out of the Clouds and out of the bowels of the Earth concurr'd to the Deluge for if a Pail set in the open Aire in a very violent rain will be fill'd a cubits height in an hour in fourty daies and fourty nights a continuall and vehement rain from all parts of the Heavens would o'reflow the whole Earth little lesse then a thousand Cubits high as much therefore or more water was to be strein'd out of the Earth that the Floud might rise to a thousand Paces high 8. Which to render credible reflect upon the artifice of Husbandmen not unusuall amongst us by which they draw some feets depth of water over their barrener grounds with the weight whereof the superficies of the Earth being loaded is press'd down constipated with the lower Earth so fills those hollownesses into which the Air 's entrance caus'd the barrennesse whereupon they are rendred fruitfull From which experiment 't is evident that a huge weight of water brought upon the Earth must compresse it strein out the water which was hid in it and represse its swelling and consequently constipate the Earth and force it into a lesser Circle Since therefore the power of the Deluge may easily be believ'd to have extended it self three miles perpendicular within the Earth for the Sea is judg'd so deep now in the deepest parts let the Earth but have contracted it self one sixth part of those three miles and you have water press'd out of its own bowels to cover it five hundred paces round about We have therefore a fit proportion of water for so great an effect if we can contrive whence so much water may have ascended into the Clouds 9. But if the little lesse then two thousand years space be reflected on in which the Sun rais'd up perpetuall vapours to the very Sphear of the Moon and perhaps higher and kept them there by reason of the continuall thicknesse of that Aire between the Earth and Heaven It will be easily credible that there were Clouds amass'd together enough to pour down fourty daies and nights violent Rain which we have said is sufficient for the effect CHAP. XVII Of the Cessation of the Deluge out of the same 1 THe inspired Writer prosecutes the abatement of the water which he divides into four parts to the resting of the Ark upon the mountains of Armenia a hundred and ten daies thence 'till the appearing of the mountains tops about seventy daies from those to the time when the superficies of the Earth shew'd it self and from thence to the intire drynesse almost as many daies as in he first part divided almost equally 2. The causes of so unequall decrease are two deduc'd from the letter a Wind which God rais'd and a motion of the water proceeding from the Wind. As for the Wind 't is clear when the Sun began now to shine bright the Clouds being dispers'd and there was nothing but water upon which it might act there could no other wind be rais'd then such as even now we experience in that vast Clime of the Pacifick and Atlantick Seas though we must needs think 't was far more both vehement and ample when there were no Shores at all whence Contrary winds might blow and contract its bounds 3. The first part therefore of the abatement was made by this Wind through the mediation of the Sun which turn'd the Waters into Wind and the Wind now dry'd dry'd the waters by adhesion as we see it does Linnen cloaths by carrying away with it the watry parts 4. And the Ark is believed to have rested upon the highest Mountain in those parts The Hebrews say that it sunk twelve Cubits into the water still therefore by this account the water was twelve Cubits above the neighbouring Mountains but these Cubits by reason of the former contraction of the Sphear of the waters were lesse in proportion then those whereof there were fifteen
before above the highest Mountains as also then those which the water had abated from the top of the highest Mountain to the top of that upon which the Ark rested wherefore to these Cubits about seventy daies are assign'd 5. From the discovery of the Mountain-tops to the appearing of the Earths superficies about fifty five daies more are counted both because every day the Sphear became more contracted and the Sun more ardent through the reflection from the higher parts of the Earth as also because the motion of the water now concurr'd whereof the divine Book says nothing but and the waters return'd from the Earth going and coming and again but the waters went and decreased There can be no doubt but this motion of the waters since it proceeded from the Wind which rose from the Sun follow'd principally Its course that is was from East to West and consequently that the water is said to have gone and come because the water which was mov'd under the Aequator farther off from the Aequator return'd by the force of gravity because the water was lower in those parts out of which it had been expuls'd by the Wind And this 'till the mountain tops appear'd was regular but afterwards by incountring the mountains and higher parts of the Earth this course of the water at least in those parts was interrupted 6. Whence ther 's no farther mention of it though its effect towards drying up the water began then to be greatest For by this flux of the water the Earth by degrees was heap'd up towards the mountains and there was a more ample Channell dig'd for the waters especially in that part which was to remain cover'd with them Whence the fourth book of Esdras witnesses that at the Creation of the World there remain'd only a seventh part cover'd with waters but now Cosmographers will have the Superficies to be half Sea 7. Moreover by this agitation if any Cave remain'd empty within the Earth there was a passage opened to it for the waters Whence it appears what became of such a mighty bulk of water for no little part of it was consum'd by the Sun in Wind and to condense the upper Aire to that proportion which was convenient for the nature of things another part was swallow'd up into the cavities of the Earth the rest having dig'd it self a vast Channell remain'd in that part of the Earth which we now call Sea 8. But I must not passe over this place without advising that the Cause of the flux and reflux of the Sea is clearly taught to proceed from the Wind as 't is explicated in Physicks the Scripture straight adding and the waters return'd from the Earth going and coming immediately after the bringing the Spirit upon the Earth But some may object that during the fourty daies rain there was no such wind and consequently no Flux of the Sea neither and because the Diurnall motion follows from that neither can there have been Daies and Nights 9. 'T is answer'd Such vast Clouds and Rain could not happen without Tempests and consequently since this Rain was regular a regular Wind too accompany'd it and this according to the course of the Sun since the greatest heat is not to be expected but under the Sun The Wind therefore was more vehement those fourty daies to roul about such a Masse of waters whence the equality of daies and nights may have been preserv'd either wholly or very near 'T is a sign too of a Wind that the Ark is said to be carry'd upon the waters and to have rested upon a Mountain whereas 't was made in a Vally 10. The sacred Historian seems to add two other causes of the decrease of the waters viz. the shutting up of the Fountains of the Abysse and of the Cataracts of Heaven or the prohibition of Rain from Heaven But this later cause is clearly an effect of the wind 's being calm'd and of the Clouds being all spent as already fallen down upon the Earth And the former is an effect of the drying of the Mountains for because the Mountains were dry'd vapours began to ascend into their tops which flow'd out in little channells and rivulets as before the Deluge whence it appears that their reading too who interpret it the fountains of the Abysse were reveal'd comes to the same thing CHAP. XVIII Of the Covenant made vvith NOE after the Floud out of the same 1. AT length Noe and his family being gone out of the Ark God made a Covenant with them that he would overwhelm the Earth no more with waters and plac'd for a sign of the Covenant His Bow in the Clouds And that the Rainbow is indeed a sign there shall be no Deluge at that time is evident from hence that unlesse the Sun shine otherwhere there appears no Rainbow 't is clear therefore that there is not enough Rain in the Clouds to o'rewhelm the Earth 2. But since these words were said to Noe who had already liv'd six hundred years if he had beheld the Rainbow so many years and afterwards experienc'd the Floud he could not but have wondred it should import such a signification We must say therefore that without doubt the Rainbow was never us'd to be seen before the Floud nor is it hard to render a reason on 't out of what has been said 3. For since Naturalists tell us a Rainbow is made out of a double or triple reflection or refraction of light in every drop of a light show'ry cloud whence proceeds this variety of colours and light so weak and scattered or the foresaid colours cannot reach our Eyes at such a distance unlesse the Aire be very clear and pure and through the humidity of the Earth joyn'd with heat a thick Aire inveloped the Earth all that time 'T was absolutely impossible a Rainbow should be seen 4. Besides it seems that for all the later years a great masse of Clouds must needs have so cover'd the face of the Heavens that the Sun was rather felt then seen as we find 't is for whole weeks sometimes together in Winter in those Northern Countries which yet are not excessively cold No wonder therefore the Rainbow had not shew'd it self before the Floud 5. Next 't is to be observ'd how God contracted the Age of men and with what he requited it Now 't is evident that the Earth by means of the Deluge became far colder and dryer That 't was colder after such a Masse of waters so long not only covering and compressing it but penetrating into its very bowells any one will believe 6. But that water should dry will perhaps hardlyer rellish but if we consider that sodden things are rendred dry through the extraction of their naturall moisture when they are too much boil'd if we reflect that Trees are thrown by Timber-men into water least their native moisture should exuberate into rottennesse and worms and after a convenient time they are taken out again dryer then at first