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-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-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
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
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
kinds of Earth and in this sense all consistent things have the notion of Earth all visible fluid things are call'd Waters and there are many kinds of Airs and Fires 7. But when a body that has the consistency of one Element is full of minute parts of another the substance of one Element gets the denomination of the other's quality Thence proceed the degrees of temperaments hot cold c. and in one and the same kind too reduplicated differences of the Elements viz. of Earths some are Earthy some Watry some Aeriall some Fiery and so in the rest ev'n to the lowest species 8. It appears again wherein consist those qualities which distinguish bodies as to their consistency First the notion of liquid consistent plainly follows the nature of rare and dense and soft is a middle between liquid and hard but hard being that which resists division clearly refers to density 9. But grosse and Massive appertain to the quantity of parts for grosse is not so divided into minutest parts as to be able by its subtilty to enter into the least pores or crannies and Massive has no pores or passages in its body but speaks parts constipated and thrust close together Both of them plainly expresse a certain notion of Density 10. As for Fat and tough and viscous or slimy they have this common to them all To stick where they touch but fat in lesser parts viscous in greater tough properly holds its own parts together and cleaves not so much to others 11. They therefore consist of moist and dense well mixt from moist they derive the facility to unite from dense the difficulty to be separated LESSON VII Of the manner of Mixtion and the Passion of mixt things 1. THese things being suppos'd because there are two Active qualities heat and cold which are most eminent in Fire and Water let there first be a mixt body of Earth Water and Aire upon which Fire be suppos'd to act and since there is no mixt thing so compacted but at least some parts of Fire may be forc'd and fly away through it and they in their passage are joyn'd to the parts of Aire or Water 't is apparent that the Fire will carry away some of them with it whence the Compound will become more compacted and solid 2. Again because the parts of Fire are extremely subtile whereever they find a resistance in the solid parts weaker then their power of dividing that way they 'l escape and that not alone but laden with watry or airy parts so that they will leave the Water and Aire to be united with Earth and between themselves by the smallest parts that are possible 3. Whence two things come to passe One that the Whole becomes a like and equall throughout all the Elements being mixt by most minute particles in every part The other that the Elements become lesse divisible from one another in this whole which is to be rendred constant and permanent body 4. Let therebe therefore in another body the natures of Fire Aire and Earth blended together to which let Water be added from without and first you 'l see all the sallies block'd up and the Pores coagulated by vertue of the cold so that the Aire or Fire cannot easily steal out 5. See again the Water with all its weight and force pressing the nearest parts of the Compound on every side whence they are forc'd to compresse and streighten themselves and shrink into a lesse and lesse place to make room for the water and this not in the surface alone but even in the minutest parts as far as the water can pierce which so much the farther it can as its parts are rendred more subtile by the re-active power of the Aire and Fire 6. Behold therefore its parts being even thus condens'd a consistent and hardly-divisible body made which is to be a certain naturall species of Physicall mixt body 7. Hence again the causes of passions are apparent for we see some compounds suffer from Fire a liquefaction and dissolution into minute particles as into Ashes and powder others on the contrary grow hard others again converted into Flame 8. The reason whereof is clear for if the power of the Fire extends it self only so far as to dilate the humid parts which hold together the dry it comes to passe that the humid parts become larger and more rare and consequently the whole it self is rendred more divisible and subject to be diffus'd by its own gravity into the best ply towards the Centre which is to be liquid 9. But if the power of the Fire be so great as to carry away with it the humid parts then the dense ones remain resolv'd into minute particles without a medium to unite them And these operations are effected sometimes by the mere force of the fire it self sometimes by means of some instruments whereby the humid parts are either increas'd or decreas'd according as the Artificer has occasion 10. But farther if humid parts were redundant in the Compound and Fire were so far apply'd as only to restrain the excesse by exhaling those parts which were superfluous the connection of the humid with the Earthy parts will be lesse dissolvable and the proportion of the Earthy to the humid greater whence the Compound grows hard 11. Water too by pressing upon it pierces and enters into the Compound it encompasses sheir's off its lighter and dryer parts which it mingles with the whole dry body and amplifies the humid parts whence it makes the body flaccid and loose and next door to dissolution 12. Some it utterly dissolv's as salts for they are compos'd of certain minute parts betwixt which Water easily enters and so little they are that they swim in the water There becomes therefore a kind of fluid body thickned with little heterogeniall bodies swimming in it to which if Fire be apply'd by exhaling the superfluous humid parts it remains salt as at first 13. But sometimes it happens that something is mix'd with the salt water which has a power of separating the watry parts from those little swimming bodies and of pressing down precipitating them to the bottome for when the supervener has aggregated to it self the parts of that humid body wherein the dissolution was made that which was mixt with them if it be heavier then water descends for before it was sustain'd by its conjunction to the water which was lighter 14. There are bodies too which grow harder and are petrify'd by the mixture of water either because there wanted moisture to make them coagulate as it happens in dry or sandy bodies or because by the addition of the extrinsecall moisture the superfluous humour is suck'd out in which their inward parts were dissolv'd and rendred flaccid or lastly because the pores of the Compound being constipated without the internall heat better dries the inward parts 15. But when the redundant parts are so very minute in themselves that they are easily rarifyable
they are diffus'd into Flame And these parts are such as we call fat or aiery which consist of a thin moisture compacted with minutest dense parts 16. It falls out too that when the fiery parts within are many and happen upon a convenient moisture they multiply and encrease themselves without any apparent extrinsecall cause and open themixt body it self so that the Vessell cannot contain it but it boyls and runs over as we see in the Must of wine and of other fruits and this kind of action is call'd Fermentation 17. Sometimes too it blazes out in Fire and Flame as appears in Hay and other dry bodies moistned and crowded together which comes to passe by the fiery parts of the dry'd bodies turning the humid parts into fire and at length by their multitude and compressure raising a flame 18. Passion or suffering from Earth is when either by its weight or some other pressure and hardnesse a change is made which even by this is understood to be a division and commonly is wrought two ways For either the parts of one body are intirely separated by the interposition of another body of another nature or else only some are joyn'd to others of the same nature as it happens in liquids when they are swash'd up and down 19. The first of these divisions is made severall ways by breaking cutting cleaving pounding and the like the other by hammering drawing impression bending compression and the like all which appear in themselves to be made by the motion of hard and dense against soft and rare bodies LESSON VIII Of Impassibility Destruction and the Accidents of Mixt bodies 1 THose bodies which are esteem'd not to suffer at all that is no losse as Gold though it melt yet consumes not the Asbestus stone is purifi'd by flames and not endamag'd Hair grows not more flaccid that is its parts are not more loos'ned with water the Adamant is so call'd because neither the hammer nor fire can master it These have got a name through the unskilfulnesse of Artificers 2. For the Moderns have found out how a Diamant may be resolv'd to dust nay even melted as also how to make Gold volatile the Asbestus in the very stone both suffers from a very violent fire and when divided into hairs is able to resist only a moderate one 3. It appears consequentially what must necessarily follow if fire be apply'd to a confirm'd and establisht body For since some parts of a Compound are moister then the rest the first efficacy of the fire will be exercis'd upon them with which if there be any fiery parts mix'd those first fly out with the fire and are call'd Spirits 4. The next are the moist and more insipid parts and they are call'd Flegme Then the more concocted parts in which Earth Fire and Water are well mix'd and they are call'd Oyls or Sulphurs and need a strong fire to extract them 5. That which remains uses by the Chymists to be washt in water wherein they find a more solid part which sinks down and this they call Salt and a lighter part that swimms a top which they throw away as unusefull notwithstanding 't is dry in the highest degree and very efficacious to fix fluid bodies 6. But if a Compound of these two be throughly bak'd in a very strong fire the moisture of the Salt is liquifi'd and the other being clasp'd into it and as it were swimming in it so condenses it into a porous body that it remains alwaies pervious to fire and such a body is call'd Glasse or vitrify'd 7. Whence 't is clear that these bodies are in part made and in part resolved or extracted by the operation of Fire and that they are not Elements but Compounds containing the nature of the whole as appears by Experience 8. Out of what has been said it may be understood what a mixt body is viz. A body coagulated of rare and dense parts in a determinate number bignesse and weight 9. And when many such unite into one a certain homogeneous sensible body emerges serviceable for mans use though it be seldome so pure as to be unmixt with others 10. Hence again it appears that it concerns not a mixt body of what Figure it be since with the same proportion of parts it may be of any especially when one body is compos'd of many little ones All things therefore receive their figure from the circumstances of their Origination 11. For since the same things must be produc'd after the same manner and those that are divers different ways the variety of manners occasions the variety of figures 12. For that which equally dilates every way becomes spherical that which dilates irregularly becomes like a Bowl that which faints in growing longer becomes like a Top. 13. That which cannot extend it self in length becomes parallelly flat that which is in some part defective in breadth becomes a hexagon a quadrate c. that which cannot dilate it self in breadth becomes oblong And thus at large and in generall 't is evident whence proceed the figures of mixt bodies LESSON IX Of the Motion of heavy and light bodies and the Conditions of Acting 1. FRom what has been said we collect that since the Sun either is Fire or at least operates like fire beating upon Earth Water and all other bodies with its Rayes it summons out little bodies which sticking to its Rayes are reflected with them and mov'd from the Centre towards the Circumference 2. By whose motion all the rest must of necessity presse towards the Earth and because the Motion of dense bodies is so much the stronger the denser they are and descending bodies the more they descend the more they repell lesse descending ones there must be wheree're the Sun has any power a Motion of dense bodies towards the Centre and of rare towards the Circumference as experience teaches us there is 3. Whence first we see there can no where be any pure Elements since at least the Rayes of the Sun and the bodies carry'd about with them are mingled every where 4. We see too that dense bodies are heavy and contrarily rare are light and that there is not any inclination requisite in bodies towards the Centre as is evident by the experience of Pumps by which with an easie motion a great weight of water is rais'd or as when we suck a Bullet out of the barrell of a long Gun 5. We see moreover that since this tumult of little bodies ascending and descending swarm's every where place any body in it it must needs be press'd upon by others every where about it and the bodies which are aside on 't must perpetually pierce and enter into it if they find in it lighter bodies which they can repell from the Centre Whence this tumult is even within all bodies and by vertue of it all bodies are mingled 6. Whence again it must needs be that the thin parts of every body consist in a kind of perpetuall
still yielding and flying before it self it must needs turn again by the Shore-side drawing along with it the Vapours it finds yet not so constantly as under the Aequator because of the Shore-winds 3. Moreover eye-witnesses affirm that East-winds range for 27 degrees of Latitude from the Aequator on each side and West-winds the next ten and of Longitude in the Pacifick and Indian Sea about eleven thousand Italian miles and in the Ocean which leads to the new world from the Canaries to the Bay of Mexico about 70 degrees that is some four thousand more such miles so that if we allow the Aequator twenty one thousand miles these winds possesse thus almost three quarters on 't 4. Since therefore notwithstanding its calmnesse this wind carryes great ships eight miles an hour it must of necessity drive the waters themselves in the middle with great violence towards the West whence they must needs overflow upon the shores and return again from the shores to the middle and where they meet any shores withstanding their course to the West be reflected towards the East as also they must rush into all the Bayes and after a determinate time return again according to the winding of the shores the account of which time must be taken from the common Channell 5. We have found therefore an apparent cause why the Sea should fill the shores with its motion towards the East and West and empty them again with a constant course which we call the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea That this proceeds from an extrinsecall cause not because the water moves lesse that is slowlyer then the Earth appears from hence that the Ebbing and flowing is discover'd in some places not very deep to extend not above six fathoms all the rest of the water is calm and like a Lake whereas if the Ebbing Flowing follow'd from the motion of the Earth it must alwayes be mov'd ununiformly from the bottō upwards without any sensible beginning of the contest of the Waters 6. Hence the reason may be given why the Flux proceeds from East to West back again in the open Sea why no swelling should be perceivable in the Mid-sea but only at the Shores The reason is because there are no marks by which we might take the height of the Sea for 't is found to swell there too if any Island occurre how far soever from any other Shore 7. Moreover why there should be a continuall Flux of the Sea observ'd towards the West viz. because this wind in the middle of the Sea perpetually drives the waves towards the West 8. Why too the Flux should be more vehement in one part then in another viz. from the abundance of waters flowing in and directed by other causes the same way as by Rivers or the repercussion of the Shores beating the greatest part of the floud together against some one shore 9. Also why there should be six hours Flood and as many Ebbe for since the wind proceeds from the Sun and the Sun enforces its activity upon one part for six hours and remit's it as many there must needs be the same generall Periods of its effects that is of the Sea's Motion 10. But since the Moon too may suffice to encrease the wind and the nearer 't is the Sun the more its power is conjoyned with the Sun 's the farther 't is from the Sun the larger and stronger its force is upon the Ocean who can doubt but the Flux must be encreased twice a Moneth 11. In like manner since the Sun is twice a year in the Aequator in which place as just in the middle it most vigorously rayses the wind every six moneths too the Flux must be more eminent but especially about Autumn because between the Tropick of Capricorn and the Aequator it rains mightily night and day for three moneths together after the Summer Solstice 12. But that the Flux returns every day about an hour later still 't is from hence because the Flux and reflux proceed from opposite causes whole forces before the victory must needs be but equall and by reason of their equality require a convenient time Whence allowing six hours for the flux and as many for the reflux each must be allowed its intervall which in the Thames if I well remember is little more then a quarter of an hour This space therefore thus four times repeated in one day makes somewhat more then an hour 13. Sometimes too the winds stop the Flood insomuch that without a Miracle the Flood has three times advanced and been beaten back in the Thames by the force of an opposite wind Lastly it appears why in some Seas there 's no mention of Flux as in the Red the Euxine the Meotis the Caspian and Baltick Seas ther 's the same reason for them all that they are but little Seas and have but narrow entrances that vast Rivers running into them their superficies is higher then the Ocean's that their current into the Ocean is so strong that the Sea especially the Mediterranean whose Flux is not very high upon the Grecian Shore is not able to repell it LESSON XIV Of the Motion of the Earth and the Causes of it 1. SInce therefore the upper part of the water is continually mov'd towards the West and as because the water in the middle runs one way that by the Shore-side must needs run backwards so also because the superiour water is hurry'd towards the West that which is next under it must needs be driven back to the East and whatever so adheres to it that there is no cause of separation that is which will easilyer be driven towards the East then be separated from the lower water 2. But one part of the lower water is not separable from another unlesse it either ascends into the place of that above it which another part supervening prevents and hinders or else unlesse it repells that which is Easternly to it and that again another and in the end the last the Shore that 's oppos'd against it which is incredible and impossible The whole body therefore with the Earth adhering to it must needs be driven towards the East unlesse there be some resistance stronger then the impulse 3. Whereof ther 's none in its gravity because that motion is not contrary to the motion of gravity and its bignesse even much facilitates the motion The Earth therefore will be mov'd in a Circle and turn round about its own Centre because this impulse is made in a Circle 4. Again because 't is almost impossible this impulse should be equall on all sides and cause a pure rotation about the Centre there will of necessity a Progressive motion be mixt with it 5. And since as a body cannot be but in one place so neither can it move but in one line all the motions which Astronomers assign the Earth must of necessity compose one line and if the lashing or impulse of the under-under-water advance the
Of The BEGINNING Of the WORLD Wherein 't is essay'd how subservient Philosophy is to Divinity Same AUTHOUR Cant. 1. Equitatui meo in curribus Pharaonis assimilavi te Amica mea Printed in the Year 1656. To the READER SInce Philosophy has then attain'd its Dignity when apply'd to Action it renders Man better that is more Man and Christians are initiated to this by Divinity this evidently is the highest pitch of Philosophy to wait on and be subservient to the Traditions deriv'd from God Wherefore I saw it absolutely necessary to fortify the Institutions I would recommend to Thee with a subsignation of Theology Nor was I long to seek whether I should first addresse my self For when after the Notions of Nature digested in common I had expos'd the same in a Collection of the World as it were in an Example by the same rule having exhibited the Action of Things like a sceleton in its Principles in the last Book of Metaphysick I saw my self oblig'd to vest It in the CREATION with the Nature due to It. And since in the ancient Theology we had this accurately decyphered beyond the Attempts of Philosophers but untraceable because the Paths of Nature were unknown It seem'd to me a more expresse Seal of Theologicall Approbation could not be desir'd then that the Institutions should carrie a Torch before the Mysteries of Genesis and from those so discover'd receive themselves with advantage the Glory and Splendor of Authority What more I essay'd thou seest the Issue which I wish may benefit Thee A Theologicall Appendix Of THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD CHAP. I. A Philosophicall discourse concerning the Creation of Heaven and Earth 1. SInce we find by universall experience without any exception that not only the Operations but even the very Subsistence of all bodily Substances is by continued steps brought from possibility to be in act nor can we doubt that the parts and the whole are of the same nature 't is evident the Beginning of the Universe it self if we suppose it manag'd according to the nature of Bodies must proceed by the same rule that from the nearest power and possibility in which it could be it has been rip'ned by degrees to this excellent beauty and did not by instantaneous Creation immediately start into perfection 2. Because therefore God subsists by the very necessity of Being it self and in Being it self there can be nothing of imperfection 't is clear that His ultimate intrinsecall formality and free act preexists before not only the existence but even the very essence of all and every Creature as much as whatever is most essentiall in Him 3. As also that this Being which they have receiv'd from God is the nature of the Creatures nor can they otherwise flow from God then according to their naturall condition Especially since God acts not to attain an end prefix'd to himself but this is His end if we may call any thing an end in respect of God that the Creatures should be so as in his Essence Science and Will He has predesin'd their determinate nature fixed and inviolably to be that the whole Universe might emane His most beautifull Image and in a manner a most adequate participation of Himself 4. So that all things that are to have their most connaturall quality as far as it can stand impartially with the perfection of their fellow bodies this is that which God will'd and what in effect he has brought to passe 5. Be this therefore firmly establisht that God not instantaneously but by a congruous disposition of diverse degrees brought up the world from its deepest possibility that is its simplest and fewest principles to its due perfection 6. Again because neither materia prima nor any other part of a Thing but only Physicall Compound is apt to receive Exiastence and of Physicall Compounds the most simple and as it were most poten tiall that is next above mere possibility are the Elements and something must of necessity have flow'd instantaneously from God It follows that some one or more of the Elements were by Creation call'd by God out of the common Abysse of nothingnesse 7. But not one only Element was created For since Motion does not follow out of the sole vertue of Creation nor could Motion be without Division nor Division without a Substantiall difference of the divider from the divided nor this be made even by Angelicall vertue without time it follows that more Elements were created immediately by God 8. Yet not all the four Since FIRE we call an Element that makes it self be seen which implyes Action but corporeall action is not without motion nor motion from pure Creation 9. But of the other three Elements no one could be conveniently omitted For EARTH and WATER are those we see mixt by Fire through the whole course of Nature and Fire is immediately generated and nourished by AIRE If any one therefore of these three had been wanting the matter had been unfit for Angelicall operation 10. Three Elements therefore were created nor those confus'd in a Chaos for such a confusion had not exhibited the most simple matter but a disorder'd multitude of mixt things since mixt things emerge from a mere confusion of the Elements 11. Earth therefore was the inmost as the densest and of constant nature Aire was the outmost as the most opposite to Earth the middle both Nature and Place water possess'd CHAP. II. An Explication of GENESIS concerning the same 1. LEt 's see now whether the Christians most ancient Theology deriv'd from the Hebrews speaks consonantly to this God saies it in the Beginning created the Heaven and the Earth The Beginning saies not so much a precedency to things that follow'd since it self was something of what was began as that nothing was before it Admirably therefore by this term 't is express'd that the Creation of Heaven and Earth was so instantaneous and in a manner before the rest that neither any Time interven'd nor was it self in Time It shews therefore that they were created out of nothing and that instantaneously and that the rest immediately follow'd out of these once put 2. Nor can it be doubted what it calles Heaven and Earth since the name of Earth is immediately us'd afterwards whence 't is evident that by the remaining name of Abysse is express'd what before was call'd Heaven otherwise the sacred Text is confused and imperfect 3. 'T is added that the Earth was void and empty according to the Hebrew expression solitude and emptinesse or rather of solitude and emptinesse for so the Hebrews often expresse their Adjectives The sense is clear that neither were there men upon the Earth whose properties are fellowship and conversation the privation whereof makes Solitude nor Plants and Animals which as bodies and utensils might fill the place and house of humane habitation 4. It follows that Darknesse was upon the face of the Abysse The word Abysse says a Gulph of waters whose bottom
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
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
that is the pestilent vapours which fly in the Aire 3. But seeing that Emanations strike the Aire with a certain kind of agitation those things will be easilyest mov'd with this agitation and brought to the body which are most sollicited by this stroak that is those which are most conformable to the particles that sally out 4. To which may be added that such parts too will stick faster and easier and when they are united foment the naturall heat of the body which causes this motion Thence we see that Poysons are more easily suck'd out of infected bodies by other dry'd poys'nous things but best of all by those very bodies to whom the Poyson to be suck'd out is proper 5. But when the parts returning are any way viscous little light heterogeniall bodies stick to them too by reason of their gluyness and return with them as may be seen in Electricall bodies which little straws and dust fly to And sometimes they rebound again with a kind of Impetus or vehemency whence appears that the Steams of such like bodies are very spirited and start out with certain impetuosities 6. Out of these things it appears that there is in a manner a double nature of every mix'd body one as it were perfect and fit to be evaporated another as it were imperfect and wanting more concoction which two must of necessity be oppos'd to one another by the differences of more and lesse 7. Now if we suppose a body so compos'd in its own Nature as to be plac'd between two fountains as it were of such Steams it must of necessity attain such a disposition that on one side 't will be apt to receive the one's Emanations on the other the other 's and to eject them again by the contrary sides 8. It will therefore have contrary vertues in its extremities but in the middle an indifferency at least in comparison to the Ends. 9. Again its Emanations will be carry'd against the course of other bodies which return to their own fountains still directly on towards their opposite fountain and the body too if it hang so freely that it may more easily follow its Emanations then leave them will it self be carry'd along with its Emanations 10. But if it cannot bear them company and yet be plac'd obliquely to the fountain and at liberty to turn it self with the same force 't will turn it self to the fountain 11. Moreover as the fountain acts upon it so this body it self will act upon another body of the same kind but more faintly 12. Wherefore since we find by experience that a Loadstone receives vertue from the Earth as we have explicated it and suffers and acts thus from the Earth and upon Iron respectively and besides the searchers into its nature declare that all the rest of its wonderfull motions depend on these the reason of Magneticall Attraction is evident out of what has been said LESSON XII Of the generation of more compounded Bodies and Plants 1. 1. 'T Is plain out of what has been explicated above that not only the Elements are blended together to compound a singly-mix'd body but also many mix'd bodies are united into one more-compounded body For since by the power of their gravity moist bodies which we call Waters run down from higher to lower places and by their running presse the bodies they meet loos'ning partly their little particles in passing by and partly tearing them off along with them the Water becomes thickned and full of dregs with many minutest bodies of divers natures 2. This Water if it rest in any cavity of the Earth those little bodies sink down in it and whether by heat evaporating the humid parts of the water or by cold binding them together they coagulate by their clamminesse into one body appearing homogeneous through the littlenesse of its parts which being imperceptible are so equally mix'd in every the least sensible bulk that they shew every where throughout the same uniforme nature And this is the most simple generation of demix'd bodies 3. And these bodies by the fresh accesse of more water are increas'd more of the like matter being added to them by approximation or juxtaposition as they term it in the Schools 4. But if some such thing happen to coagulate after the fore-said manner in some concavity not far from the superficies of the Earth of so tender a substance and with so much heat that it should ferment within it self it must of necessity suck into its very body any moisture about it and dilate and concoct it 5. Wherefore such a body must needs be increas'd out of a certain intrinsecall vertue and with a kind of equality in all its parts after that manner as they call by intrasumption or receiving in and so Tartufoli Potatoes c. grow under ground without shooting any part of themselves above the Earth 6. But if the heat overcome and be able by increasing it to thrust out into the Aire too some little particles of this body which must be of the more subtile ones that is the best mix'd of hot and moist this body will have heterogeniall parts growing together and subservient to one another and becomes a manifest Plant having a root within the Earth and a blade or a stalk above ground LESSON XIII Of the more universall parts of Plants 1. 'T Is evident again that a Plant being expos'd to the Sun and wind becomes harder and dryer at least as to its exteriour parts whence it comes to passe that the Moisture drawn up out of the root either by the power of the Sun or its own naturall heat more and gentlyer irrigates and waters its inward parts 2. Whence proceeds commonly a threefold difference in the substance of a Plant for the outermost part is hard and call'd the Bark the innermost is soft as being that which is last dry'd and is call'd the Marrow or Pith lastly the middle is the very substance of the Plant. 3. But when Moisture flows in greater abundance out of the root then can be rais'd up perpendicularly which is the hardest course of all it breaks out at the sides splitting the bark of the Plant and makes it self a kind of new trunk of the same nature with the former which we call a Bough or Branch 4. But since the Plant receiv's a heat ' variously temper'd with moisture by the Sun 't is plain when the moisture is best digested it must necessarily break out into certain Buttons or Nuts which are concocted by degrees and from their originall hardnesse grow softer by the flowing in of more subtile moisture and participate in another degree the same differences which are in the Stock to wit a Skin Flesh as it were and Marrow 5. Only because some parts of the juyce are too earthy and therefore grow hard these commonly coagulate between the Flesh and the Marrow the Sun drawing out their moisture to the exteriour parts 6. These Buttons being found in the more
has the Centre of its gravity set directly to the Centre but when it sets a foot any way it inclines the centre of its gravity and consequently its whole body that way till transferring the other foot it sets it down too and this often repeated is walking 6. But one that leaps when he has contracted the superiour or fore-parts to the inferiour or hinder-parts suddenly pouring out spirits through convenient Nerves he thrusts the fore-parts forwards with such a force that the hinder-parts follow them 7. Something like this is the creeping of feetlesse Creatures for fixing their breast or some other part they bow their back-bone or that which serv's in stead of it and so draw the hinder to the fore-parts then fixing some of their hinder-parts to the Earth they advance their fore-parts by straightning again their back 8. Swimming is made out of leaping for it being effected by the Instrument's first being crook'ned and then straightned again by the resisting Water the body is pusht forward and the same happens in flying 9. Now the body being heavier then the Medium in a certain proportion and consequently obliged to spend a certain time in descending and the adventitious Motion making the Medium strain with more vehemence against that motion of the body downwards or according to the centre of its gravity 't is plain such a body will not sink LESSON XVIII Of the five senses of Animals 1. OUt of what has been said it appears that there are certain Channels spread through the whole body of an Animal full of a kind of aiery humour and that they are long and narrow whence the least impression made in any extremity of the body must needs in a moment run to their fountain the Brain and thence descend to the Heart These channels therefore being any way obstructed the Animal is sensible of nothing without 2. And since bodies that make impression either do it by their immediate selves or else by the mediation of some other body and those that act by their immediate selves either do it in their proper bulk or broken into parts or by naturall emissions and those bodies by the mediation whereof universally one body acts upon another are either Aire or Fire or light which we see every body bandies against another It follows that an Animal if it be perfect may be affected these five ways by the things about it 3. And because 't is evident that these five ways are distinct the Animal too it self will have five distinct dispositions by which it will be apt to receive these five impressions to chuse the things that are congruous and refuse those that are noxious both in its food and other things belonging to its conservation 4. Again because these impressions are different 't is fit the Organs that are to receive them be plac'd in severall parts of the Animal Animals therefore have five Senses 5. 'T is apparent too that the Senses are nothing but certain different degrees of Touches For the parts of the same body must needs make only a more subtile stroak of the same nature with the stroak of the whole 6. And hence we distinguish the differences of Tasts so as that one pricks another cutt's another brushes another smooth's the differences of Smels too are a-kin to Tasts 7. But the differences of Sounds are the same with those of Motions distinguisht by swiftnesse and slownesse by bignesse and smalnesse Lastly 't is evident that Fire or Light make stroaks too by its Activity upon other bodies 8. It appears farther of what nature the Senses must be and where situated For the Touch being to receive the excesse of those qualities whereof the body of the Animal consists requires nothing but a middling kind of Moisture or the naturall quality of that vapour which fills the Channels and therefore like them 't is diffus'd through the whole body 9. The Tast because it requires a Moistnesse which may dissolve the minutest parts needs an abundance of Moisture and a site where the food may be dissected The Smell by which Aire chiefly enters into the body requires a site and Organ where the vapours may stick that being constipated together they may act the more powerfully 10. The Hearing and Sight require a situation near the Brain in an eminent place where Motion and Light may come to them more pure and Organs which may multiply Light by refraction and Motion by reflection 11. Nor is it lesse evident that the Sensation is perfected in that part of the Organ where chiefly resides that vertue for which the Sense was made that is to transferre to the Brain the action of a body without If the black of the Eye the hammer of the Eare the pulp of the Nose doe this the Sensation also must be plac'd in them 12. It appears too why the Senses are believ'd to consist in a kind of Spirituality and abstraction from matter For since they are ordain'd by nature only that the Animal may be mov'd the stroak of sensible things is so thin and subtile that it changes not the quality of the Organ sensibly and therefore 't is not believ'd to be materiall 13. And hence too the Sensible object is commonly believ'd to be in the Sense not as something of the same nature or contrary to it but purely as another thing by which mistake Sensation is thought to be a kind of knowledge LESSON XIX Of the Objects of the Senses 1. LAstly it appears wherein consists the being Objects of Sense for Touchable things 't is plain are the first Qualities or those which are immediately deriv'd from them Tastable things conformable to nature are Sweets and must necessarily consist as the nature it self does in a moderate heat and moisture or of the degree proper to the Animal 2. From this temper other Savours incline too much towards cold and heat or moisture and drynesse as salt sharp and bitter things tast too much of heat restringent crabbed of cold sour bitter and sharp of drynesse insipid of moisture Proportion'd to this is the account of Smells 3. Sounding things are dry and trembling which are easily wav'd up and down but soft things hinder Sound 4. Since Colours strike the Eye their nature must consist in a vertue to reflect Light that is in a density constipation of parts and in having a many-corner'd figure And these commonly favour of cold and drynesse and their opposites of moisture and heat 5. Lastly Light it self and dilated flame if wee 'l suppose it repell'd from the Object to the Eyes must necessarily doe the same as Light will represent the figure of a thing by intershadow'd stroaks upon the Organ and strike more or lesse according to the nature of that which reflects it if it passe through a triangular glasse it will receive and carry to the Eye the same varieties that is differences of Colours 6. But that light too does those things which are proper to fire viz. to dry to
crasse it may be and not Iron but a kind of ironish stone so too not Flesh but something like Flesh may have rain'd other where For we are wont to call things by the names of others which they resemble especially when something of miracle is joyn'd with it so greedy we are of seeming to know or have seen something more then others 10. Snow and Hail seem to be accidents of Rain with this difference that snow is rain whilst 't is yet in such little parts that it cannot descend but Hail is it congeal'd when 't is in such drops as are apt for descending For that the generation of Snow is higher then that of Rain the tops of Mountains witnesse cover'd all the yeare with Snow which they could not be were they ever drench'd with Rain 11. And that 't is congeal'd in minutest particles is evident to one that considers it both from the height of its place and the very nature of Snow for the flakes are not of one continu'd body but as it were ashes or little dusts made up together Its whitenesse too proves it that is its eminent virtue of reflecting light for suppose a world of little sphears smooth and extreamly minute made up together into one body as little as can be visible and because every one of those convex Superficies are apt to scatter light in its proportion from every point that quantity must needs appear extreamly white 12. The Rine too witnesses it and a kind of snowy-hail we sometimes see like Coriander Confits for certain minute particles of snow are easily discernable and if one look very curiously upon a flake of snow one shall discern a composition without end as it were of distinct bodies coagulated Lastly the whitenesse of Froth proceeds clearly from the same cause 13. Hence the doubts about snow are easily resolv'd as why the vapours should not rather immediately fall down in Rain then turn into Snow since there needs a lesse intense cold for Rain For either they are admitted to be first in the degree of Rain before they become Snow but descend not because the parts are too little yet or it must be said that Rain does not signifie every moisture but a dropping one such as is not in so minute particles The cause too of its softnesse is plain for even Diamant dust if it be small enough will be soft 14. Again why 't is often sexangular or rather like a Star with six rayes For since six other equall circles just encompasse and inclose a Circle if Snow be compos'd of little Sphears the first composition will have six jettings out to which those things may stick which in motion are apt to touch and stop against what they encounter Such a compound therefore is apt to be form'd into a star-like figure 15. The cold if it has been very intense and dry slacken's before Snow because of the Snow's moisture especially if it come with a gentle a South or West-wind as also because a snowy cloud more compresses and straightens the Aire near the Earth whence the Vapours which rise out of the Earth being thrust and crouded close together grow warmer and thus too Snow lying upon houses makes the upper rooms warmer by hindring both the entrance of the wind and the issuing of the vapours In the same manner also it protects the Earth and Roots from the cold 16. But the warmnesse which is felt after the fall of Snow proceeds from the free action of the Sun which before was restrain'd by a grosse cloud interpos'd against it as also because the cold wherewith we were infested whilst the cloud hung over us lyes now as it were subdu'd and imprison'd under our feet That the falling of Snow hinders Sounds 't is because it deprives the Aire of its agility 17. Hail is Rain congeal'd in falling it receives a figure either from the drops or from the wind and the collision of the drops now growing hard or else by chance or the concurrence of accidentall causes 18. Those that discern monstrous forms and shapes in it sometimes polish and finish up by the help of their imagination certain rude lines as 't is often seen in Stones and whatever other figures 19. That it so soon melts the reason is because there remains in it more water then of the dry vapour the wind or congealing Aire having light upon great drops For that this is the cause of congelation our expecting Ice and a Rine the next day witnesses to wit when the wind is grow'n sharper by the cold of the night LESSON VIII Of fiery Meteors appearing in the Aire 1. who 'd expect Fire out of water Yet we have it sometimes out of the Clouds and even out of Rain Nay in a very Tempest there stick to the Masts things the Ancients call'd Castor and Pollux a wonder familiarly seen by the Mariners 2. But these and many such like seem rather to rellish the nature of vapours that reflect light then of Fire for both Will of the wispe or Ignes fatui do not burn nor flame out but only shine as also those Dioscuri or Castor and Pollux have the form of a globe which is not the figure of Fire Again Flames in a thin and tenuous matter are not long-liv'd as appears in Lightning and in a Candle which we see sometimes blaze up enflaming the smoak about it but suddenly extinguish again and retire to the Wiek The flames too which belch out of the Vulcanian Mountains are often but short-liv'd 3. Be this therefore a sure rule where-ever the figure is determin'd and constant 't is no fiery or flaming matter For the way of Fire is to brandish Pyramids upwards with an uncertain motion the crasser matter pressing downwards 4. Besides an Ignis fatuus has been found fallen down in a slippery viscous substance full of white spots The same too is the matter of Falling-starres as both a learned man hath found it amongst our selves when any such matter is found in the Fields the very Countrey-men cry it fell from Heav'n and the Starres and as I remember call it the Spittle of the Starres 5. Ignes fatui or Wills of the Wisp then are a certain viscous substance reflecting light in the dark evaporated out of a fat Earth and flying in the Aire They commonly haunt Church-yards Privyes and Fens because they are begotten out of fatnesse They fly about Rivers Hedges c. because in those places there 's a certain flux of Aire They follow one that flies them and fly one that follows them because the Aire does so They stay upon Military Ensigns and Spears because such are apt to stop and tenacious of them In the Summer and hot Regions they are more frequent because the good concoction produces fatnesse 6. Flammae lambentes or those we call Haggs are made of Sweat or some other Vapour issuing out of the Head a notunusuall sight amongst us when we ride by night in the Summer
time They are extinguisht like flames by shaking the Horse Mains But I believe rather 't is onely a Vapour reflecting light but fat and sturdy compacted about the Mains of Horses or Men's Hair 7. Cardanus tells of a certain Carmelite that as often as he thrust his head into his Coul it flam'd out and that 't is usuall enough in Spain for sparkles to fly out of woollen garments rubb'd upon ones head Nor doubt I but these are reall fire such as uses to fly out of Wood Canes or Flints by rubbing or striking them for these and such like are full both of fire and a certain vapour which is fewell for it whence when many hot parts light upon a considerable part of the vapour they scorch and kindle it whereupon after such a production of fire there remains in some an offensive sent as of burning 8. The Hair of Horses and Cats as also Sugar rub'd together in the dark are said to produce the same effect The Eyes too of some are said to sparkle viz. when they shine with spirits and reflect the light as if they were glasse Yet doubt I not but the Eyes may by some preternaturall disposition yield reall light it seeming evident in Cats 9. But that the most part of these are idle stories I collect from this experiment that it has seem'd even to my self sometimes that my Chamber was all light and I saw every thing plainly when notwithstanding I have often catch't my self in it and found mine eyes shut all the while and that my memory within was working upon those thiings which I thought I saw and sometimes I found that I err'd too imagining some things to be in this or that Place which indeed were not 10. Falling-Stars are a certain viscid or slimy matter rais'd out of the Earth in very minute parts and coagulated in the Aire which when in its fall it comes within our sight beautifies all its way with reflected light Yet sometimes it falls not downwards but being carry'd traversly by some motion of the Aire 't is call'd a Gliding star 'till either being dissipated or by some other Accident 't is seen no more 11. Caprae Trabes Bolides Faces Dolia Clypei as the Ancients call them or whatever other names such Meteors may have whether they are reall fires or only certain Clouds brighter then ordinary neither is it deducible clearly enough out of Histories they relating scarce any thing save that they burn in such a figure but that they take burning for shining 't is very credible even from hence that they mention no tokens of their burning nor have I ever met with any very curious observer treating of this subject LESSON IX Of truly fiery Meteors hanging in the Aire 1. THe true fires therefore are Lightnings Dragons and those they call Fire-Drakes For first they have not a clear brightnesse as falling and gliding Stars have which is almost a sure sign of reflection but a dimm'd one from the condition of the matter as it were with smoak as we see in our fires though this rule may fail on both sides unlesse it be prudently apply'd Again they are short-liv'd Thirdly the ashes of Dragons are often seen and the effects of Lightning are well known The Nature of Fire-drakes is like that of Lightning or the blazing of Candles so that 't is unquestionably a sudden kindling of an oyly vapour and it varies its figure with every motion as fire uses according to the various dispositions of the combustible matter To apprehend the Causes of these things 2. Let us imagine the hottest days effect that upon the Earth which upon a Chymicall matter the most intense heat does that after the gentler is apply'd to extract Oyles that is the most glutinous and crasse moisture Suppose that out of fat and soft grounds they raise Vapours not liquid but compacted with a deal of dense matter not without a vast abundance of fiery parts imprison'd in them 3. That these Vapours can neither be elevated into a very high station nor long sustain'd above That yet to the proportion of the heat they are carryed higher according to the nature of the Region and of the concurring causes in one Climate then in another And that through the motion and tumult of the Clouds these vapours meeting with one another being of a glutinous substance stick together and are constipated that being constipated they are kindled and being kindled either break out or are thrown out 4. Again this matter being the heaviest of all that are elevated will be hurryed downwards as we see in Golden-gunpowder for the dilating of the fire makes and applyes an impression of the adhering matter that way which the matter leads It breaks therefore through the Clouds there where 't is easiest descending and being in the time of its passage for the most part directed obliquely because the Cloud is thickest towards the Earth 't is so hurry'd to us 5. When nothing but the flame approaches us 't is said to lighten when without Thunder and in a clear season any lightnings appear we say it flashes 6. Hence 't is apparent enough how Thunderbolts come to be darted out of the Clouds For the fire in the Clouds being extreme violent it bakes a light stone like a Pumice or those which are made in furnaces for Metalls and that having the fire still adhering to it and being light of its own nature is carry'd like an iron kettle or earthen Porringer in water and descends with violence 7. Again 't is evident how Thunder is caus'd For that most suddain rarefaction of Fire cannot be made without a most swift compression of one Cloud to another nor this without a mighty noise such as we hear at the suddain extinguishing of a violent and intense fire and at the dashing together of the waves of the Sea in a Storm 8. From the different matter of the Lightning there happens the variety of different effects As when the Purse or Scabbard being intire the Mony or the Blade is melted it proceeds from hence that in the Lightning there is the nature of those Salts which serve to melt Metalls and yet have no power upon slighter subjects when the Wine congeals the Vessell being broken 't is a sign of cold Spirits in the Lightning by which liquid things are rendred consistent and hard things are broken as we see by the congealing of water in a glasse or earthen vessel close stop'd when water will not quench it it has a mixture of Wild-fire in it such as we see in burning Fountains 9. Iron is us'd against Lightning because 't is a kind of matter something akin to Lightning and draws the volatile spirits to it self so that it does other things no hurt Mushromes too come on the better for Tempests because the Rain which accompanies them is warm and fat as the fields of Aetna and Campania are rendred more fruitfull by the eruptions of the Mountains because much heat and
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
is unknown or not reach'd and because the most simple manner of reaching is by Sight it properly signifies such a depth of water that Sight cannot reach its bottom Wherefore the sense is most easie that what it had formerly call'd Heaven was a vast diaphanous body upon which there was no Fire to enlighten it It affirms therefore directly that Fire was not created 5. But it subjoyns two parts of the Abysse whilst it says and the Spirit of the Lord was born upon the waters Clearly therefore it affirms three Elements EARTH WATER and AIRE were Created by God but not FIRE And that they were not confus'd is evident in that otherwise it had not been an Abysse that is a capacity of Light and a privation since by the commixtion of Earth the other Elements had been rendered opake Moreover the Spirits being born upon the waters denotes a distinction of Places between the other two Elements 6. But 't is observable that the word was born according to the force of the Originall term speciâ—ies that motion whereby Birds sustain themselves with open wings over their nests least they should crush their young ones and yet to defend them from the cold Whence a certain person amongst the Hebrews explicates it not weighing upon touching but not striking wherefore the Aire cover'd the water but press'd it not 'T is plain therefore that according to the propriety of the expression 't is specifi'd there was as yet no Gravitie and that the Aire is the first of the Elements whose property it is to have any heat in it 'T is evident therefore ther 's no gravitie in the Aire of its own nature and consequently that 't is not an intrinsecall Quality in the other Elements but is in them from the operation of Fire and the order of Agents CHAP. III. A Philosophicall discourse of the vvorks of the tvvo first daies 1. THe Matter of the World being Created it remains that we see what follow'd by the additional operation of Creatures And because the operation of Angels is no other then rarefaction nature wanted its naturall instrument viz. Fire for This we see principally made use of for almost all naturall effects especially the generation of Substances and This is not rais'd out of Water and Earth immediately without first becoming Aire it must be that the Angels or Angel whose task this was by rarefying the Aire rais'd a vast Fire 2. And since there are many sorts of Fire and that which far from the fiery body smoaks no longer but shoots out directly with pure rayes is by a speciall name call'd Light Light must needs have been made by the Angels through the rarefaction of pure Aire as from which no Smoak rises 3. Nor is it lesse certain this must be done in the very confines of Aire and water For since the Angels could not in an instant convert Aire into Light and a locall motion of the neighbouring bodies follows upon rarefaction the Aire must needs have been mov'd whilst 't was yet in the form of Aire and since motion cannot be without a plurality of Substances 't is plain that the Aire divided the water and consequently the first Fire was rais'd in the confines of both 4. Since therefore the Fire being rais'd of necessity acted upon the water it follows that the Waters being stir'd those particles to which the Fire stuck being rarer then the rest and coveting still a larger place by their own and the denser parts of the Water's motion must needs be thrust out into the Aire which is more yielding and those excluded be aggregated together specially towards the Light where by reason of the more vehement action there must needs be greatest abundance of them and more flowing from one side then another since naturall causes work not rigorously even the whole masse of Water and Earth adhering to it by little and little attain a motion towards the same Light so that successively and by parts it rol'd in a Circle and was enlightned having in some places Night in others Day 5. Besides another effect must evidently have follow'd from this production of Light viz. a vast abundance of Clouds be rais'd up into the Aire which by the circulation of the Light about the inferiour Globe must necessarily be remov'd a vast distance from the Globe it self and the Light Whence being no longer sensible of the Globe's attraction they could not by any order of Causes be remitted back towards the Globe Thus therefore ther 's a vast space establisht between the waters in the Globe whence the Clouds were extracted and between those very Clouds themselves which may keep them from one another separate for ever or at least till the end of the World CHAP. IV. An explication of Genesis concerning the same 1. WHat says Theology to this It says And God said Let there be Light and LIGHT was made Speech and command are address'd to another clearly therefore it reaches that by the intermediate operation of Angels Light was made 2. And it was made clearly shews that the making immediately and instantly began viz. that there was no delay in the intermediate Instrument wherefore that 't was an Incorporeall Substance which needed not be mov'd that it might move Moreover the word he said which implyes Knowledge declares it to have been an Intelligent Instrument 3. It adds And God saw the Light that it was good Goodnesse is perfection namely because the nature of the Elements by the addition of Fire was compleat and perfected therefore Light is said to be good Again because the rest of the Elements were passive and Light active therefore Light is call'd good or perfect for what has attain'd an aptitude to produce or make its like is esteem'd perfect in its kind 4. It follows And he divided the light from the darknesse c. 'T is plain this division was made not by Place but by Time since Day and Night are parts of Time and consequently that motion or the diurnall conversion was now begun which is declar'd by those words and he call'd the light Day and the darknesse Night For since as yet Man was not to whom words might be significant He call'd is as much as he establisht the Essence of Day and Night for a name or appellation denotes the essence or quiddity of the Thing nam'd 5. 'T is added and the Evening and the Morning was made one Day in the originall Text and the Evening was made and the Morning was made or the Evening was and the Morning was From which Phrase 't is understood that this motion had for its term whence the Evening and for its term whether the Morning and consequently that the motion was made in a Subject to which it agrees to have Evening and Morning that is in the Earth and that it was from West to East that is towards the Light 6. Again And God said let there be a FIRMAMENT in the midst of the Waters and let it
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
illuminated from our Sun the Earth alone is carry'd under the Ecliptick that is through the middle of the very Zodiack to whose course the rest seem to yield and give place 4. In the middle between the generation of Plants and Animals the Celestiall bodies are reck'ned because they are compacted of the crassest evaporations and therefore ought not to be counted 'till the Earth had already shew'd it self wherewith the generation of Plants was conjoyn'd but before Animals because they are not animated themselves but are only for animated things And because they are adventitious to the Earth as helps before that Animals were created but especially Man for whom the Earth was chiefly made who yet is but a kind of Animal and therefore ought to be generated together with the rest 't was necessary a habitation should be prepar'd and consequently furnisht with lights 5. From the same order 't is deduc'd that Plants are not said to be animated or living in the same sense as Animals Since Animals have in themselves the principle of their encreasing but Plants are fill'd from without from the order of the Universe 6. Now three things are to be remark'd concerning the explicated Texts First that God saw all things good besides the Firmament and Man the reason whereof is for the Firmament that it had only the notion of a Place and the Stars not being yet created remain'd imperfect whereas the name of good signifies perfection but Man was the complement of all and therefore not in any speciall regard but looking upon the whole he 's comprehended in this that all things were very good 7. The second is Why God of all others should name Day and Night the Firmament the Land and Seas and lastly Man but none of the rest The reason is because of those things that are made some belong to the Universe as formall parts that is without which 't is no longer a Vniverse others as materiall parts which may be chang'd without the destruction of the Universe the first God nam'd that is fixt and establisht their nature the rest he omitted as mutable 8. The third is Why God bless'd only the Fishes Birds and Man and not the Plants nor Animals The reason is because the blessing was to fill the Earth and the Sea and if he had commanded the Trees or Animals to fill the Earth there had been no room for Man These therefore were to encrease to such a degree only whence otherwhere God said to his People that by little and little he would destroy their Enemies least the Beasts should be multiply'd against them and 't is a saying too amongst us concerning domestick Animals that 'T is a good land which nourishes more Men then Beasts But because the Sea was not the habitation of Men 't was said to Fishes that they should multiply without any other measure then that of the Sea it self and the same reason is of Birds in the Aire 9. Farther we have the reason why the Creation of the World was distinguisht by Days For since all these works were perfected by means of fire or the Sun's heat and that not in one Quarter only but over the whole globe of the Earth by consequence the whole Orbe of the Earth was intirely turn'd to the Light whilst every thing was made now we call a Day an entire conversion of the Earth to the Sun 10. It appears too that these days were unequall For since the Globe which was to be turn'd at the beginning was vast for Water and Earth were created of such a bulk that all the Stars might be made out of them 't is plain it was a mighty Masse and not to be entirely converted to the light under a long time 11. The first three days therefore were very long and the following still shorter then the former but the later three were shorter and like ours or little longer so that an Animal at least in three of those days might be brought to a congruous bignesse a Fish in two but the Plants even before the Earth was altogether dry'd already sprung up 12. But 't was necessary that those things which could not be produc'd at the same time and together should be made in severall days wherefore three days were assign'd for constituting the orbe other three for its adorning and for establishing the Firmament viz. that vehement sucking out and elevating of the vapours the second day the first having been spent in acquiring as it were velocity but the third day finisht the work that we might look upon these three days as it were the beginning middle and end 13. In like manner because some space was to be allow'd for breeding the Fish the first day is assign'd to the Stars in which whatever was to be wrought at least in respect to us requir'd nothing but their being show'n in the Firmament which is perfected in once turning about And because the procreation of the Water is more abundant and quick then that of the Earth the generation of Fishes is plac'd between that of the Stars and Animals And thus the necessity of twice three days is resolv'd CHAP. VIII A naturall Discourse of the Creation of MAN 1. BUt because all these things consisted in Motion nor could sustain the proper notion of an end 't was necessary a Creature should be made which should so transcend and grow above Motion as that yet its beginning should be in motion which because according to its form it exceeded Motion and Matter a pure and as it were casuall heap of Physicall indivisibles and a Mixtion otherwise then particularly artificiall could not frame 2. A Body therefore by Angelicall hands was form'd which God alone beyond the power of Angels could effectively Animate and so by their joynt-labour MAN was made with that capacity of Body and particularly of Brain which should be most fit to polish his life conformably to Nature according to the conditions of the Time wherein he was set 3. In a little while therefore beholding all kind of Plants as also of Animals and Birds he learnt the nature of things but when he would have told his thoughts in words there was nothing among them all which could apprehend or answer him Falling asleep therefore with much sollicitude God made a WOMAN to spring out of his side To whom at first sight the Man joynd himself with extreme love and taught her which fruits were wholesome which noxious and unwholesome 4. She believing her Husband but not knowing her self as he did being overcome with the deliciousnesse of a certain fruit provocative to Lust both eat her self gave it to her too-uxorious husband Whereupon being out of countenance with the swelling of their naturall parts rais'd without their consent they sought for coverings 5. Mean time by the command of God the Sun raising the Wind and the Flux of the Sea turn'd the Earth aside which before had its Axes direct and even with those of the Ecliptick and spoil'd
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