and the filthy clensed If thou desirest light and perfection here is Vrim and Thummim if the sight of thy fins here is the golden candlesticke if thou wilt wash thy hands and feete here is the brazen lauer wilt thou bee purged from thy leprosie here is the riuer Iordan wilt thou floorish like a Bay tree thou must be planted by this riuer wilt thou bring forth much fruite thou must be sowne with this seed wilt thou sacrifice thy sins to God thou must kill them with this sword wilt thou go to the kingdome of heauen this is the only way here is the firy pillar and the cloud to conduct thee to Canaan and here is the Star that will leade thee to find out the Son of righteousn Iesus Christ that bright morning Starre with whom we shall shine in eternity of glory as Stars in the firmament In this word then must we conuerse both day and night not in curious searching and prodigious speculation but in serious weeping and religious adoration neither must our minds be oppressed with terrestriall and infernal occupations but they must be filled with celestiall and supernall meditations Therfore if we will profit here we must cast off all carnall affection that wee may receiue for our weary soules eternall refection for if no beast could touch the mountaine and heare Gods Law why should beastly minds touch the Bible and read Gods Law And in searching this Word let vs not in it search for riches and honour to our selues which is to seek for dirt amongst Iewels and poyson amongst medicaments to ouerthrow ourselues but let vs search for him who only is sufficient to content our soules within our bodies as hee was the only efficient to present our soules into our bodies Therfore we conclude with Augustine Scriptura creatura ad hoc sunt vt ipse quaeratur ipse diligatur qui ipsam creauit qui illam inspirauit The internall and eternall generation of the word was not knowne to the Gentiles but was obscured with an obscure fable of Minerua begotten of Iupiters braine by the which also they did signifie learned notions conceaued in the mind expressed by word or writ Then to be short right Honourable heere I doe offer to your tuition and fruition my Minerua not begotten of my braine but in my braine neither is she armed with a helmet aegis and a speare to terrifie Momus and therefore the more desirous shee is to shelter her self vnder the shaddow of your Honors patronage being perswaded that you are both a Patrone a patterne of learning the fruits whereof haue not only refreshed the hearts and eares of great Brittaine but with Dedalean wings they haue bin transported beyond the Ocean so that Rhodanus Betis and Rhenus haue seasoned their siluer streames with the delicious taste of your learned fruits Then what remaines quam vt ocior Icaro Visas gementis littora Bosphori Sirtesque Getulas canorus Ales Hypereborosque campos Moreouer your Honor being a Father and Patrone of iustice if any wrong be offered to her by Momus she may boldly fly to the Chancery for succor therefore I hope that as your Honor hath permitted your glorious titles to grace her Frontispice so you wil not refuse to beautifie her with your gracious aspect and respect That God which hath exalted you to so great dignities in this world preserue your body and soule and crowne you in the World to come with blessed Immortality Your Honors in all duty euer to command ALEXANDER ROSSE Ad illustrissimum Franciscum supremum Angliae Cancellarium Alexandri Rossaei Epigramma PAcis amans virtutis honos decor inclyte gentis Musarum docti gloria magna chori Auro Iuno beat te lauro Phoebus Apollo Linguâ Mercurius frontis honore Venus Frontis honor moritur florescit gloria linguae Aurea sceptra cadunt laurea serta manent Tu laurum praefers auro Venerique Süadam Plus tibi luce Themis plus tibi laude Charis Propterea aeternum tua fama vigebit in aevum Quod peritura fugis quod vigetura petis En tenues nostrae mittunt tibi dona Camoenae Non satis ampla tibi sint licet apta mihi Non Arabum messes non Indica munera mittunt Aut Nili varias luxuriantis opes Non pictas croco aut radiantes murice vestes Aut aurum rutilis quod vehit Hermus aquis Sed tibi chartaceum mittunt cum carmine donum Et sterilis noster qualia fundit ager Accipe propterea placido pia munera vultu Sinceri officij pignora certa mei Nostram si facilis respexeris inclyte Musam Te redeunte die te pereunte canam The Argument Q. VVHo wrote these bookes of Moses A. Himselfe proofe hee was the first that writ in the world Secondly The holy Ghost testifieth the same Exo. 24.4 Deu. 31.9 and Christ Iohn 1.45 and 5.46 Q. When wrote he this first Booke A. Before the Israelites went from Egypt Reas 1. Because then feeding his Father-in-lawes sheepe 40. yeeres in Madian he was most at leysure to write Rea. 2. To comfort the Hebrewes beeing oppressed with Egyptian seruitude for in this Booke they read the life and death of their Ancestours their courage patience vertue in affliction Gods promises to Abraham that after 400 yeares seruitude in Egypt they should be deliuered and inioy the land of Canaan Q. How came Moses to the knowledge of these things contained in this Booke A. Either by reuelation from God or by tradition of his Ancestors for the knowledge of these things Moses had from Iosephs children they of Ioseph he of Iacob Iacob of Isaac he of Abraham and he of Shem Shem of Noe he of Methusalem and he of Adam with whom he liued 243. yeeres Questions on the first Chapter Question WAs the world created or eternall A. Created 1. There can bee but one eternall 2. Almost all the Philosophers are against the eternity of the world 3. They that hold it eternall can bring no sound reason 4. The most ancient monuments or records amongst the heathen are not so old as the flood of Noah Q. Could God make more worlds then one A. Yes for he is almighty and hee made it not of any mater for that should haue bin exhausted but more he would not because hee being one delights in vnity Q. Why in Hebrew saith Moses Gods created ioyning the noune plurall with the verbe singular A. To signifie the mystery of the Trinitie one essence in three persons 2. It is the propertie of the Hebrew phrase Q. Why in the beginning of this booke speaketh Moses only of heauen and earth A. Because by the name of heauen he comprehends all celestiall bodies and by the name of earth the 4. elements for water is in the earth fire and aire as witnesse the springs exhalations or earthquakes and burning mountaines or hote waters Q. Did God create the earth moueable or not A. Immoueable Iob 38.
Psal 93. and 104. this is vnderstood in respect of the whole earth yet it is moued in respect of parts by earthquakes Iob 9. Q. Of what figure is the earth A. Round Esay the 40. This figure is most perfect capable ancient Q. Is the earth vnder the water or not A. Vnder because heauiest yet Exo. 20. Ps 24. and 136. it seemes the water is vnder the earth but it is to be vnderstood that a great part of the earth was made higher then the waters for mans habitation Q. Why cannot the whole earth moue A. Because hee is in his natural place which if it should moue it should ascend and this is against the nature of the earth Q. What is vnderstood by the spirit that moued vpon the waters A. A wind which often in Scripture is called a spirit or the holy Ghost or the power and mighty operation of God which also is often called by the name of Spirit in this sence the Spirit of God is sayd to carry Elias to heauen and to haue caught away Philip Acts 8. Q. Why is God brought in speaking in the creation A. To shew his absolute power whose word is his worke 2. The second person in Trinity the word essential of the Father by whom the world was created Q. Why was the light first created A. To beautifie al the rest of the creatures 2. The world was created in 6. daies which could not bee distinguished without the light and darkenes Q. Was this light spirituall such as God is sayd to inhabit as Christ is called the light of the world and the Apostles light the regenerate light A. No but corporall and sensible first the darkenes that went before was sensible ergo light 2. By this light the 3. dayes were distinguished before the creation of the sun but they were sensible 3. This Narration of Moses is historicall not allegoricall Q. Then what light was this A. Not the light of the elemental fire nor of a light cloud nor of water but of the sun which was the first day diffused through the whole hemisphere the 4. was collected into the globe of the sun we see The 1. day this light had but one common property to illuminate the 4. it had particular vertues to bring out particular effects 3. This light the 4. day began to bee cause of generation and corruption the measure of time the cause of increase and decrease in the moone Q. How did this light before the 4. day distinguish the day from night A. In moouing from east to west and from west to east by the motion of the 1. spheare Q. In what place of heauen was this light created A. In the east for this light returning to this same point of the east from which it went made a naturall day Q. VVhen was heauen and earth created A. Before the first day in respect of their substance and matter but in the sixe dayes in respect of their forme and perfection Q. What is meant by the firmament that separateth the waters from the waters A. The aire and starry heauens with all the spheres betweene which do separate the watry clouds from these waters below but properly the lower regiō of the aire doth separate these waters which are generated in the single region from the waters below which low region is called by the name of the whole firmament Q. What are these waters aboue the firmament A. Not Angels as Origen not waters properly so called aboue the stars as Basil would haue for their natural place is below and there is no vse of them aboue the starres neither the heauen called the Cristalline which hath neither the substance similitude or qualities of water but by these waters wee vnderstand the watery clouds aboue this lower region in the aire These waters in other places are sayd to be aboue the heauēs that is aboue the aire which in Scripture is called heauen Q. How made God the drie land to appeare A. By causing the earth which before was plaine to swell with mountaines 2. By the waters which before were spred ouer the whole earth to betake themselues to one place Q. Then were there mountaines before the flood A. Yes for the flood rose 15. cubits higher then the mountaines the mountaines are called eternall Psa 76. Wisedome is ancienter then the mountaines Pro. 8. They make the earth the comelier more fruiteful more commodious for man and beast they hold out the seas from ouer-flowing the earth out of them springs and riuers proceed they defend the valleies from the raging of the windes that without them the earth could not be before the flood Q. Is the earth or seas highest A. The earth for all riuers run into the seas naturally because they flow downewards 2. Men are said to go down into the seas in ships Psal 107. Again if the seas were higher ships should sayle swifter to the land then from it 4. The farther we were in the sea we should see the land the better Ob. But Psa 104. and 33. it seemes that the waters are higher then the earth A. In Ps 104. Dauid speaks of the springs that are generated in the mountaines or of the watery clouds that couer the hills in Psa 33. Dauid speakes of the miraculous standing of the red sea Q. Were briers thornes and poysonable hearbes created before mans fall A. Yes because these are parts of this world without which it is not perfect and although poysonable hearbs are not fit for meate they are good for physicke Q. In what time of the yeere was the world created A. In the Autumne because the Iewes before they departed from Egypt began their yeere in Autumne and also before the stood for the flood began in the second month that is about the month of Nouember 2. The Iewes Exod. 23. are commanded to keepe the feasts of Tabernacles in the end of the yeere that is in Autumne when fruits are ripe and also this same feast in the beginning of the yeere Chap. 34. nature also shews that Autumne is the end of the yeere by the maturity of the fruite and falling of the leaues from the trees It is also the beginning of the yeere as the yong seeds budding out of the earth do testifie Lastly in the creation the fruits of the trees were ripe and ready to be eaten Q. Were the starres created the fourth day A. Yes in respect of their light motions and operations but they were made the 1. day in respect of their substance for they are the thicker part of the spheres Q. Why were the stars created after the planets A. Because God will shew his power which in producing of plants doth not depend on the starres 2. To keepe the people from idolatrie whom he knew would be bent to worship the starres when they consider their beauty motion and operation in producing hearbs now they are inexcusable because this vertue they haue in producing hearbs is from God who in the beginning
foretell many things partly by Reuelation from God and partly because he is a subtile spirk and of long experience and hee makes those men foretell things to come rather by mouing their phantasies or by dreames or by offering to their eyes the shape or to their eares the words of those things he will foretell or by characters 2. They can foretell things to come because God permits them for the greater destruction of those that curiously consult Sooth-sayers so he suffered Balaam his Asse to prophesie 3. Men that are of subtile spirits may foretell some things by looking diligently into the life manners and dispositions of men as one may foretell that a tyrant oppressing his subiects shal be killed 4. They may foretell some things which may fall out true because of the credulity of those that consult with them for if they foretel good successe to any this ofttimes falls out because of the feruent desire and vsing of all meanes to attaine the same which doth fall out not because it was fore-told but because he to whom it was fore-told vsed the meanes to haue it Q. Is it not lawfull then to consult with Astrologers and Sooth-sayers A. No because in consulting with them we derogate from Gods glory and honour them in thinking that they can fore-tell all things which is proper only to God 2. If it bee vnlawfull to conuerse with an excommunicate person much lesse should we haue commerce with Satan who is excommunicated from heauen to the place of darkenesse and is the pernicious enemy of God and man Q. Whether are the beasts or fishes perfectest A. The beasts because they haue more perfect sences beget more perfect blood in our bodies then fishes haue more commerce with men and are docible in many things fishes are not Q. Why then were they created before the beasts A. As nature begins at that which is most imperfect in generation so God in the creation did keepe this course for man the little world and patterne of all the creatures was not created till the sixth day 2. God keepeth that course in the 3. last dayes which hee did in the 3. first in the first he created heauen and in the 4. did replenish it with starres the 2. hee made the seas the 5. replenished it with liuing creatures Q. Why speaketh Moses of the creation of some particular fishes and not of trees and beasts A. Because these fishes are greater then any earthly creatures therefore we should the more extoll Gods glory in considering them Q. How doe the waters bring forth the fishes A. The waters are not the efficient cause of the fishes but the materiall yet but in part for fishes are compounded of the foure elements notwithstanding the waters are the predominant matter of the fishes not in respect of their substance for that is earth but in respect of qualitie moist and cold Secondly The temperature of the fishes are waterish Thirdly Water is the place of habitation generation and conseruation for the fishes Q. Why were the birds created the fift day with the fishes and not the sixth A. Because they were created of the water as the fishes Secondly Because of the great resemblance betweene the birds and fishes both in respect of their place water and aire for both these elemēts are perspicuous humid moueable and easie to be changed one into the other Secondly In respect of their bodies for both are light and swift the sinnes of the fishes answere to the birds wings and their scales to birds feathers they both want eares paps milke bladder Thirdly Many kindes of birds dwell in the waters as the Sea-meawes Swans c. Fourthly their mouing is alike for as the fishes swim so the birds flie Fiftly They both vse their tayle to guide their flying and swimming Q. Were the birds created of the water A. Yes but not of the thickest of the water but rather of a watery vapour betweene water and aire therefore the birds conuerse in the water and aire Q. But it seemes the birds were created of the earth the sixt day by these words of the 2. Chapters And the Lord hauing formed out of the ground euery beast of the field and euery bird of the aire brought them to Adam A. If God had created them the sixt day of the ground Moses had not spoken of them the fift day Secondly in these words alleaged the coniunction and hath no reference to the word ground as though both had bene formed of the ground but to the word formed so the meaning is that not only the beasts that were formed of the ground but the birds also which God had created were brought to Adam Q. How doth the earth bring forth liuing creatures A. Not actiuely but passiuely for the earth is not the efficient but the materiall cause of earthly creatures Q. What difference is there betweene the beast cattel and creeping thing verse 25. A. By behemah in Hebrew is vnderstood the great beasts as Iob 40.15 By chaiah the wild beasts in whom there is seen most liuelinesse by remesh creeping things such as haue no feete at all as serpents and they that haue short and little feete as Ants. Q. Why did not God blesse the earthly creatures as he did the fishes A. Moses did omit this for breuities sake Secondly the blessing of the fishes doth belong also to the beasts Thirdly man is blessed and in him the beasts as when hee was cursed the earth was also Gen. 3. And when he was punished the beasts were punished also Genesis 7. Q. Why was man particularly blessed A. Not only for multiplication but also because of the elect And thirdly because mans copulation is oftentimes sinfull and inordinated Q. Did God create in the beginning imperfect creatures as Bees Waspes and such like A. He did not create them actually as hee did the perfect creatures but he created them in their causes as hee gaue that faculty to the flesh of an horse to beget Waspes beeing dead Q. Were Mules now created or not A. They were not First Because they were found out by Anah Genes 36. Secondly They are barren but God created all creatures with his blessing to be fruitfull c. Genes 1. Thirdly this kinde of procreation is against nature but God created euery thing according to his kinde Genes 1. Fourthly This is against his owne law Leuit 19. Q. Who was man and the cattell created in the some day A. First Because they both dwell in the earth Secondly The earthly creatures are more familiar with man then others Thirdly they are more profitable to man then other creatures Fourthly They are most like to man of all other creatures Q. How doth Gods goodnesse and wisedom appeare in the creatures A. Many wayes First In the variety of so many thousand diuers kindes of creatures Secondly In the comely order that is seene amongst them Thirdly in that all things that serue for the perfection of the world is
a part of Gods essence then a part of Gods essence should be sinfull and subiect to the wrath of God and paines of hell Q. Why did God breathe the soule rather in the face then in any other part of man A. Because in the face are all the senses which are the organs of the soule Q. Why in the nosthrils rather than in any other part of the face A. To teach vs that hee is the only author of our breathing secondly to shew the weaknesse of our life which dependeth from the nosthrils thirdly because the nose is the most commodious instrument of breathing by which the soule is kept in the body Q. Did God create one soule in man or three A. Only one first bicause one body can haue but one essentiall forme secondly the power of growing feeling reasoning are not three soules but three faculties of one soule thirdly the Scripture neuer speakes but of one soule Q. Were the soules of men created long before the body as thought Plato and Origines A. No for God created all things perfect but the soule of man being a part of man without the body could not be perfect secondly now in generation the body is no sooner formed but God infuseth the soule the same order did God keepe in mans creation thirdly the soules in all that time should haue either done good or euill but Iacob and Esau did neither good nor euill before they were borne Rom. 9.11 Ergo. Q. Seeing the soule doth exist after the corruption why did she not exist before the creation of the body A. Shee doth exist after the dissolution of the body of necessitie being immortall but it was not fit she should exist before the creation of the body seeing she is the natural forme and essentiall part of man Q. Whether are the soules of men infused in the bodies or are they deriued and propagated one of another A. By creating they are infused and by infusing created for mans soule being incorporall and indiuisible cannot be propagated of any other soule nor multiplied that is plaine by Zach. 12.1 and Coloss 12.7 Q. Is the soule of man immortall A. It is because a simple essence voyde of contrarieties and bodily accidents secondly It is created to Gods Image and mans soule is not like God only in that it is capable of all sciences and in that it hath an appetite infinite which cannot be filled but with God and that it hath a will free and indifferent to all particular good but also in that desire which it hath of immortalitie thirdly man hath dominion ouer the creatures which consisteth also in this that his soule is immortall theirs are not fourthly Mans soule is not produced of any matter by generation but is induced in the body by creation the soules of all other creatures were procreated of the Elements for the earth brings out beasts and the waters fishes this is also manifest by many places of Scripture Q. Is the soule of man immortall by nature or by grace A. Internally that is as it is a simple immateriall substance it is immortall by nature but externally as it depends on God hath it being and subsistance in him it is immortall by grace Q. In what place of the world was Paradise A. Not in any other earth separated from ours by the Ocean nor higher than the supreme region of the ayre as some Fathers thought but in Mesopotamia and the bordering countries to it for Paradise was planted on the East side of Eden which is in Mesopotamia secondly that is manifest by the Riuers Tigris and Euphrates which spring out of the mountaines of Armenia and flow thorow the countries of Mesopotamia Assyria and Chaldea and runne into the Persian gulph and these are the Riuers of Paradise Q. Should man haue remayned in Paradise onely if he had not sinned A. No for Paradise was not so large as to containe all mankinde being comprehended within the limits of these countries aforesayd secondly man had power ouer the whole earth and all the hearbs of the ground were giuen to him for foode and therefore hee was to replenish the whole earth thirdly how should the earth be trimmed manured and made fruitfull if man had dwelt in Paradise Q. Then to what end did God make Paradise seeing he knew that man should presently fall and be cast out of it A. He made it that Adam so long as hee obeyed God might enioy it secondly that it might be a figure and type of the heauenly Paradise and ioyes of the life to come thirdly to put him in mind after his fall what great blessings he had lost by losing Paradise Q. Is Paradise yet extant or not A. It is not extant for Paradise was in these Countries of Mesopotamia Assyria c. through the which Tigris and Euphrates the Riuers of Paradise did flowe but those countries are still populous and no signe now of Paradise secondly the Floud Genesis 7. was fifteene cubites higher then the mountaines therefore it was also defaced with the floud Q. Why was the tree of life called so A. Because it was the sacrament or signe of life both naturall in Paradise and spirituall in heauen or as some think because it had power being eaten to preserue the life of man a long time but not for euer for man was not to liue still a naturall life Againe the body of man was corruptible because it was made of matter the subiect of corruption of cōtrary elements and parts as also because the naturall heate of the body by degrees is extenuated and the radicall humor exhausted and in these respects although this tree had that vertue to preserue the life of the body a long time yet not for euer Q. Why did God forbid man to eate of the tree of knowledge of good and euill A. Not because it was euill in it selfe or hurtfull to man but because by this command God would try mans obedience Q. Why was the tree called the tree of knowledge of good and euill A. Not because it had power either to beget knowledge in Adam or to augment his knowledge as the Hebrewes and Iosephus do thinke for Adam was created with perfect knowledge neither can corporall fruits produce spirituall effects in the soule but it was so named from the euent for man knew now what was good and euill by experience hauing transgressed in eating of this tree Secondly it was so named because of Satans false promise who intised them to eate of it promising they should be as Gods knowing good and euill Q. What riuers were those that Moses calls here Phison and Gehon A. They were parts of Tigris and Euphrates which riuer is sometimes named one because they flow together and are ioyned in one below Babylon sometimes two in respect of the place from whence they spring and where they end Sometimes foure in respect of their foure heads whereof two spring out of the mountaines and other two emptie
Hebrewes do begin a new section which reacheth to the 12. Chapter so that they deuide the whole Law into 54. Sections or Lectures which they read in 52. Sabbaths and Genesis is deuided into 12. Chapters or Lectures Q. How is Noe called a iust and perfect man A. Not absolutely so but in respect of that froward generation Secondly because he indeuored to be so and made a conscience of his wayes for God accepts the will for the deed and a part for all Thirdly because of his faith for wee are iustified by faith and the iust liueth by faith Now. Noe was made heyre of righteousnes which is by faith as it is in the Hebrewes 11. And this doth the more commend Noes righteousnes that in such a froward age he was iust and perfect Q. How is it vnderstood that the earth was corrupt before God A. By the earth wee vnderstand men both because they are the inhabitants of the earth as also because they were earthly-minded And here to their disgrace they are called earth as before flesh who should haue bin spiritually and heauenly-minded before God that is openly in his sight or Elohius may signifie Princes and Iudges here so that in the open sight of their Iudges they wrought wickednes Hence then we see that it was not the Starres or any naturall causes that raised the flood but only God being prouoked by sin Q. Why is it said now that God looked on the earth A. Not as though he did not looke before for all things are naked before his eyes but now hee is said to looke on the earth because hee commeth to punish the earth And this sheweth vs that God did not rashly and vnaduisedly punish the earth but he looked vpon it first that is he did seriously consider there was great cause to punish Man-kinde Q. What is meant here by all Flesh A. Man-kinde Synecdochicè and not the beasts also as the Iewes thought for they cannot properly be said to corrupt their way because they want reason Lawes are not made for them they are not capable of life eternall they are not subiect to sinne and not lyable to punishment Q. What is meant by way A. Their religion and faith as Acts 18. Secondly their manners and course of life as malice is called the way of Cain Iude verse 11. couetousnesse the way of Balaam 2. Pet. 2.15 Q. How is it vnderstood that God destroyed the earth A. The earth was destroyed for the sinne of man as in other particular iudgements mens goods perished with them Numb 16.32 Ios 7.15 yet the earth was not destroyed in respect of her substance but of her ornaments and fertility which was much diminished by the salt water Q. Why would not God saue Noe by some other meanes but by the Arke A. Because by this meanes God would haue the world to see that his iudgements were comming when they beheld the Arke preparing and if they would not repent they might at least be made inexcusable who both seeing the Arke in making and hearing No◠preaching did not repent Secondly because by this meanes he would exercise Noe's faith the more which was very great that although the rest of the world did scorne him and followed their owne courses yet hee beleeued that God would performe his promise Thirdly although God at all times may worke miracles yet most times hee worketh by naturall causes therefore in the Desart he fed his people with Manna when he might haue fed them with nothing so hee might haue giuen them Canaan without their own helpe yet he would haue them fight for it and heere hee might haue preserued Noe more miraculously but this way he thought fittest Q. Was this Arke like our ships A. No but this was like a chest or coffin made not to sayle but to swimme and this forme was most commodious and capable of so many kindes of creatures and this Arke was admirable both in respect of the long time it was in building in respect of the greatnesse thereof of the end it was made to preserue all kinde of creatures of the wonderfull preseruation thereof in that dangerous Flood as also of many things whereof it was the tipe Concerning this Arke the Poets haue stolne much out of this place Q. What kinde of tree was the Arke made of A. The word Gopher doth signifie the Cedar Firre and Pine trees so it is vncertaine which of those it was made of neither is it much materiall but this word is not found in any other place of Scripture Q. How large was the Arke A. The length was 300. cubits the bredth 50. and the height was 30. cubits now a cubit is the measure from the elbow to the fingers end containing a foote and a halfe but if the men of that time were bigger then now as it is like then the cubit was also bigger Then wee must not thinke with Origen that those were Geometricall cubits wherof euery one containes 6. common cubits for Moses doth not speake here of any other cubits then hee doth else-where and of no other kinde of cubit doe we reade in Scripture then of those common cubits aboue-named as Exodus 27. Deut. 3. 1. King 17. c. So then the Arke by this reckoning was sixe times as long as it was broade and ten times so long as it was high But how so many creatures could be contayned in so little roome was not impossible for him that miraculously sent the Flood and deliuered Noe from the same yet if wee duely consider the bignesse of the Arke we shal finde there was roome sufficient for them all Q. How could Noe and his three sons build so great an Arke A. Although they were the chiefe builders yet we must think there were many more vnder them hired who laboured in building for their wages although they beleeued not and so they perished with the rest Q. Was there a window in the Arke A. Yes but the Hebrew word is Zohar which signifies light therefore the Hebrewes thought that this was no window but some precious stone that was hanged in the Arke to giue light to the creatures therein yet we must not deny but that there was a window for Noe in the eight chapter is sayd to open the window and let out the Rauen and Doue others say that this Zohar was a Lamp or candle appointed to burne so long as Noe was in the Arke because the Sunne did not shine all that time but this is fabulous Q. What is this And in a cubit thou shalt finish it aboue A. That is Thou shalt bow the roofe of the Arke but a cubit so that it may bee almost flat but yet so that the water may easily slide off Q. How many roomes or stories were there in the Arke A. Three roomes the highest for Man and the Fowles the next for al kindes of meat and prouision for the creatures the lowest and third roome for the Beasts These three are onely mentioned