Psal 93. and 104. this is vnderstood in respect of the whole earth yet it is moued in respect of parts by earthquakes Iob 9. Q. Of what figure is the earth A. Round Esay the 40. This figure is most perfect capable ancient Q. Is the earth vnder the water or not A. Vnder because heauiest yet Exo. 20. Ps 24. and 136. it seemes the water is vnder the earth but it is to be vnderstood that a great part of the earth was made higher then the waters for mans habitation Q. Why cannot the whole earth moue A. Because hee is in his natural place which if it should moue it should ascend and this is against the nature of the earth Q. What is vnderstood by the spirit that moued vpon the waters A. A wind which often in Scripture is called a spirit or the holy Ghost or the power and mighty operation of God which also is often called by the name of Spirit in this sence the Spirit of God is sayd to carry Elias to heauen and to haue caught away Philip Acts 8. Q. Why is God brought in speaking in the creation A. To shew his absolute power whose word is his worke 2. The second person in Trinity the word essential of the Father by whom the world was created Q. Why was the light first created A. To beautifie al the rest of the creatures 2. The world was created in 6. daies which could not bee distinguished without the light and darkenes Q. Was this light spirituall such as God is sayd to inhabit as Christ is called the light of the world and the Apostles light the regenerate light A. No but corporall and sensible first the darkenes that went before was sensible ergo light 2. By this light the 3. dayes were distinguished before the creation of the sun but they were sensible 3. This Narration of Moses is historicall not allegoricall Q. Then what light was this A. Not the light of the elemental fire nor of a light cloud nor of water but of the sun which was the first day diffused through the whole hemisphere the 4. was collected into the globe of the sun we see The 1. day this light had but one common property to illuminate the 4. it had particular vertues to bring out particular effects 3. This light the 4. day began to bee cause of generation and corruption the measure of time the cause of increase and decrease in the moone Q. How did this light before the 4. day distinguish the day from night A. In moouing from east to west and from west to east by the motion of the 1. spheare Q. In what place of heauen was this light created A. In the east for this light returning to this same point of the east from which it went made a naturall day Q. VVhen was heauen and earth created A. Before the first day in respect of their substance and matter but in the sixe dayes in respect of their forme and perfection Q. What is meant by the firmament that separateth the waters from the waters A. The aire and starry heauens with all the spheres betweene which do separate the watry clouds from these waters below but properly the lower regiō of the aire doth separate these waters which are generated in the single region from the waters below which low region is called by the name of the whole firmament Q. What are these waters aboue the firmament A. Not Angels as Origen not waters properly so called aboue the stars as Basil would haue for their natural place is below and there is no vse of them aboue the starres neither the heauen called the Cristalline which hath neither the substance similitude or qualities of water but by these waters wee vnderstand the watery clouds aboue this lower region in the aire These waters in other places are sayd to be aboue the heauēs that is aboue the aire which in Scripture is called heauen Q. How made God the drie land to appeare A. By causing the earth which before was plaine to swell with mountaines 2. By the waters which before were spred ouer the whole earth to betake themselues to one place Q. Then were there mountaines before the flood A. Yes for the flood rose 15. cubits higher then the mountaines the mountaines are called eternall Psa 76. Wisedome is ancienter then the mountaines Pro. 8. They make the earth the comelier more fruiteful more commodious for man and beast they hold out the seas from ouer-flowing the earth out of them springs and riuers proceed they defend the valleies from the raging of the windes that without them the earth could not be before the flood Q. Is the earth or seas highest A. The earth for all riuers run into the seas naturally because they flow downewards 2. Men are said to go down into the seas in ships Psal 107. Again if the seas were higher ships should sayle swifter to the land then from it 4. The farther we were in the sea we should see the land the better Ob. But Psa 104. and 33. it seemes that the waters are higher then the earth A. In Ps 104. Dauid speaks of the springs that are generated in the mountaines or of the watery clouds that couer the hills in Psa 33. Dauid speakes of the miraculous standing of the red sea Q. Were briers thornes and poysonable hearbes created before mans fall A. Yes because these are parts of this world without which it is not perfect and although poysonable hearbs are not fit for meate they are good for physicke Q. In what time of the yeere was the world created A. In the Autumne because the Iewes before they departed from Egypt began their yeere in Autumne and also before the stood for the flood began in the second month that is about the month of Nouember 2. The Iewes Exod. 23. are commanded to keepe the feasts of Tabernacles in the end of the yeere that is in Autumne when fruits are ripe and also this same feast in the beginning of the yeere Chap. 34. nature also shews that Autumne is the end of the yeere by the maturity of the fruite and falling of the leaues from the trees It is also the beginning of the yeere as the yong seeds budding out of the earth do testifie Lastly in the creation the fruits of the trees were ripe and ready to be eaten Q. Were the starres created the fourth day A. Yes in respect of their light motions and operations but they were made the 1. day in respect of their substance for they are the thicker part of the spheres Q. Why were the stars created after the planets A. Because God will shew his power which in producing of plants doth not depend on the starres 2. To keepe the people from idolatrie whom he knew would be bent to worship the starres when they consider their beauty motion and operation in producing hearbs now they are inexcusable because this vertue they haue in producing hearbs is from God who in the beginning
foretell many things partly by Reuelation from God and partly because he is a subtile spirk and of long experience and hee makes those men foretell things to come rather by mouing their phantasies or by dreames or by offering to their eyes the shape or to their eares the words of those things he will foretell or by characters 2. They can foretell things to come because God permits them for the greater destruction of those that curiously consult Sooth-sayers so he suffered Balaam his Asse to prophesie 3. Men that are of subtile spirits may foretell some things by looking diligently into the life manners and dispositions of men as one may foretell that a tyrant oppressing his subiects shal be killed 4. They may foretell some things which may fall out true because of the credulity of those that consult with them for if they foretel good successe to any this ofttimes falls out because of the feruent desire and vsing of all meanes to attaine the same which doth fall out not because it was fore-told but because he to whom it was fore-told vsed the meanes to haue it Q. Is it not lawfull then to consult with Astrologers and Sooth-sayers A. No because in consulting with them we derogate from Gods glory and honour them in thinking that they can fore-tell all things which is proper only to God 2. If it bee vnlawfull to conuerse with an excommunicate person much lesse should we haue commerce with Satan who is excommunicated from heauen to the place of darkenesse and is the pernicious enemy of God and man Q. Whether are the beasts or fishes perfectest A. The beasts because they haue more perfect sences beget more perfect blood in our bodies then fishes haue more commerce with men and are docible in many things fishes are not Q. Why then were they created before the beasts A. As nature begins at that which is most imperfect in generation so God in the creation did keepe this course for man the little world and patterne of all the creatures was not created till the sixth day 2. God keepeth that course in the 3. last dayes which hee did in the 3. first in the first he created heauen and in the 4. did replenish it with starres the 2. hee made the seas the 5. replenished it with liuing creatures Q. Why speaketh Moses of the creation of some particular fishes and not of trees and beasts A. Because these fishes are greater then any earthly creatures therefore we should the more extoll Gods glory in considering them Q. How doe the waters bring forth the fishes A. The waters are not the efficient cause of the fishes but the materiall yet but in part for fishes are compounded of the foure elements notwithstanding the waters are the predominant matter of the fishes not in respect of their substance for that is earth but in respect of qualitie moist and cold Secondly The temperature of the fishes are waterish Thirdly Water is the place of habitation generation and conseruation for the fishes Q. Why were the birds created the fift day with the fishes and not the sixth A. Because they were created of the water as the fishes Secondly Because of the great resemblance betweene the birds and fishes both in respect of their place water and aire for both these elemēts are perspicuous humid moueable and easie to be changed one into the other Secondly In respect of their bodies for both are light and swift the sinnes of the fishes answere to the birds wings and their scales to birds feathers they both want eares paps milke bladder Thirdly Many kindes of birds dwell in the waters as the Sea-meawes Swans c. Fourthly their mouing is alike for as the fishes swim so the birds flie Fiftly They both vse their tayle to guide their flying and swimming Q. Were the birds created of the water A. Yes but not of the thickest of the water but rather of a watery vapour betweene water and aire therefore the birds conuerse in the water and aire Q. But it seemes the birds were created of the earth the sixt day by these words of the 2. Chapters And the Lord hauing formed out of the ground euery beast of the field and euery bird of the aire brought them to Adam A. If God had created them the sixt day of the ground Moses had not spoken of them the fift day Secondly in these words alleaged the coniunction and hath no reference to the word ground as though both had bene formed of the ground but to the word formed so the meaning is that not only the beasts that were formed of the ground but the birds also which God had created were brought to Adam Q. How doth the earth bring forth liuing creatures A. Not actiuely but passiuely for the earth is not the efficient but the materiall cause of earthly creatures Q. What difference is there betweene the beast cattel and creeping thing verse 25. A. By behemah in Hebrew is vnderstood the great beasts as Iob 40.15 By chaiah the wild beasts in whom there is seen most liuelinesse by remesh creeping things such as haue no feete at all as serpents and they that haue short and little feete as Ants. Q. Why did not God blesse the earthly creatures as he did the fishes A. Moses did omit this for breuities sake Secondly the blessing of the fishes doth belong also to the beasts Thirdly man is blessed and in him the beasts as when hee was cursed the earth was also Gen. 3. And when he was punished the beasts were punished also Genesis 7. Q. Why was man particularly blessed A. Not only for multiplication but also because of the elect And thirdly because mans copulation is oftentimes sinfull and inordinated Q. Did God create in the beginning imperfect creatures as Bees Waspes and such like A. He did not create them actually as hee did the perfect creatures but he created them in their causes as hee gaue that faculty to the flesh of an horse to beget Waspes beeing dead Q. Were Mules now created or not A. They were not First Because they were found out by Anah Genes 36. Secondly They are barren but God created all creatures with his blessing to be fruitfull c. Genes 1. Thirdly this kinde of procreation is against nature but God created euery thing according to his kinde Genes 1. Fourthly This is against his owne law Leuit 19. Q. Who was man and the cattell created in the some day A. First Because they both dwell in the earth Secondly The earthly creatures are more familiar with man then others Thirdly they are more profitable to man then other creatures Fourthly They are most like to man of all other creatures Q. How doth Gods goodnesse and wisedom appeare in the creatures A. Many wayes First In the variety of so many thousand diuers kindes of creatures Secondly In the comely order that is seene amongst them Thirdly in that all things that serue for the perfection of the world is
did create hearbs and plants without the helpe of starres Q. Did God create the Moone in the Full or in the Change A. In the Full because God created his workes in perfection now the moone is perfitest in the Full. 2. Shee was ordained to illuminate the night which she doth most perfectly in the Full. Q. Haue the starres their light wholy from the sun A. No because they haue different effects therefore different light 2. There is one glory of the sun and another of the moone and another of the starres 1. Cor. 15. Q. Why are the sun and moone called great lights A. Not in respect of quantity for some starres are greater but because they appeare to be greater 2. In respect of their light which is greater then the light of other starres Q. Of what figure is the heauen A. Round for this figure is most apt for motion 2. The Scripture witnesseth the same Eccle. 1. Q. How many heauens are there A. The Philosophers speake of ten heauens the Scriptures only of three to the which the former ten may bee reduced Q. Shall the heauens be abolished in the day of Iudgement A. Not in respect of their substance which is vncorruptible but in respect of their motion influence and diuers operations in this inferiour world for of these then there shall be no need because man shall bee translated to a better life and other liuing creatures shall be abolished Q. Are the starres innumerable A. Not in themselues for they are naturall bodies but in respect of our ignorāce 2. These starres of greater note are vnnumerable for the Mathematicians haue reduced the 1022. starres to sixe degrees of magnitude for these of lesser note are not numbred because not knowne Q. Is the sun hot or cold A. Neither but hee begets heat here below because of his great light and not because of his motion Q. Haue the starres life reasonable because God is brought in speaking to them in Scripture A. No if they had they should be capable of vertue and vice life or death eternall God is brought in speaking to them in Scriptures so he is to insensible creatures as the earth seas winde c. to signifie our stupidity which are duller to heare and obey him then sensles creatures Q. Do the starres moue of themselues as it seemeth by these places Psa 19. Iob 9. Ios 10. or are they moued by the spheres A. By their spheres but the Scripture speaketh rather of the starrs then their spheres because the starres are better knowne to vs for the spheres we see not Q. Is the heauen and the earth corruptible or not A. They are incorruptible in regard of their substance so witnesseth the Scripture Eccle. 1. and 3. chap. Psal 149. and therefore shall not be abolished but renewed to a more perfect state for the seruent desire of the creature waiteth when the sonnes of God shal be reueald Those Scriptures that speak of the destruction of the world are to be vnderstood of the alteration of some qualities to better Q. Shall the sun and other starres moue as they do now after the day of Iudgement A. No for now they moue to distinguish night and day Summer and Winter but then of these things there shall bee no need to man glorified Q. How are the sun and moone signes A. They are naturall signes of faire and foule weather health and sickenes sowing and mowing c. and supernaturall signes of Gods wrath for there shall be signes in the Sun and Moone and Starres before the last day Luke 21. Q Were the starres made for signes to the Astronomers to fore-tell things to come A. They neither should nor can fore-tell by the stars 1. They should not because prohibited by the word of God Iere. 10. Deu. 18. Leu. 20. secondly condemned by the Canons decrees and Councels of the Church and refuted by the Fathers 3. They cannot foretell by these Scriptures Esay 41.44 and 47. Chap. Eccle. 8. and 10. Chap. Prou. 27. 1. Cor. 2. Again the most part of Apollos oracles were false as witnesseth Porphirius lib. de oraculis Q. Why is this kind of Astrologie condemned A. Because it euerts Gods prouidence abolisheth the liberty of our will makes all the mysteries of Christian Religion to depend on the starres it is the cause of all villany and neglect of Gods workes yea it makes all the miracles of the old and new testament such as the flood of Noah the fire of Sodom the birth actions and death of our Lord to depend on the starres Q. Can the Astrologers foretell things to come by the starres A. No because they know not the forme matter motions force and effects of the starres in the things here below they cannot explaine the hid causes and properties of hearbs stones and liuing creatures yea they know not what is doing now in other countries and if they know not things present much lesse things to come Q. But if they had the perfect knowledge of the starres could they not tell what is to come A. No because wee cannot haue perfect knowledge of particular effects except wee know their particular causes now the starres are but generall causes 2. If this doctrine were true then twinnes borne vnder the same starre at the same time should bee of the same nature and disposition but this is false as witnesseth the birth of Iacob and Esau 3. It should follow that all those that are killed in the warrs at the same time should bee borne at the same time which is most false 4. That all those that liue according to the same lawes and religion should bee borne at the same time vnder the same starre 5. That al the actions of mans free will should be knowne to them which cannot be seeing man can alter and change his will when he lift 6. If men could tell by the starres what is to come they should bee had in great esteeme but it fares otherwise with them for the greatest both Diuines and Philosophers confute them Kings and Magistrates condemne and punish them 7. If they can tell what befalls to man much more can they foretell what shall befall hearbs and trees which are more subiect to the starres then man but this is false for they cannot foretell how many Peares a Peare tree shal bring forth Q Are not then the starres naturall signes of things to come A. Naturall signes are rather the causes or effects of that they signifie but the starres are neither 2. How can the starres which are still the same be the signes of so many innumerable accidents as fall out in the world yet I except Comets which are not naturall starres but Meteors generated of naturall causes yet they are supernaturall signes of things to come Q. Can the Astrologers foretell nothing true A. Yes oftentimes they fore-tell things truely but that is not because of the starres but by the instinct of Satan with whom they haue commerce and hee can
themselues in the Persian sea Q. Then Phison is not Ganges of India nor Gehon Nilus of Egypt A. No for Ganges springeth out of Cancasus of India Nilus out of the mountaine of inferior Mauritania but Phison and Geho◠out of Armenia Nilus exonerateth her selfe in the Mediterranean sea but Phison and Gehon into the Persian Gulfe Q. What country is this Hauilah A. Not a country in India but bordering vpon Palestine and Assyria as may be gathered out of Gene. Chap. 25.18 Q. What is Bdellium A. It is a blacke tree the bignesse of an Oliue tree from the which there runneth a kind of sweete gum Plinius lib. 12. Chapt. 9. Q. How is that vnderstood that God did put Adam into the garden A. Either by the inward perswasion of God hee was led thither as Christ was led to the wildernesse Math. 4. or he was caught by the Spirit as Henoch Habbacuc and Philip or else by an Angell in the shape of man he was led to Paradise Q. Why did not God create Adam in Paradise A. To let him know that Paradise did not belong to him by nature but by grace Secondly to teach him to bee the more circumspect in obeying God considering hee might be as well put out of it as hee was brought in if he brake Gods Law Thirdly that hee should haue no cause to accuse God of cruelty in putting him out of that place which by nature was due to him therefore hee returnes to the place from whence he came Q. Then why was Euah created in Paradise A. Because Adam out of whose side shee was taken was now in Paradise Secondly she is not now properly created but formed and framed out of Adams rib for when Adam was formed she was created potentia in him in respect the body of Adam was the matter of her body Q. Should man haue wrought in Paradise A. Yes but not for need and with trouble as now but with pleasure to keepe himselfe from idlenes Secondly thereby to stirre him vp the more to contemplate heauenly things And thirdly to try the diuers natures of grounds and of those things that grow on the ground Q. Doth these words You shall eate of euery tree of the garden containe a precept or a permission A. Not a precept but a permission for if God did command Adam to eate of euery tree he should haue bene tied to it Secondly man hath no need to be commanded to eate when he is hungry for hee can do that by nature Thirdly he knew that all the trees were created to that vse therefore he needs no commandement to eate Q. Was this commandement of not eating the tree of Knowledge of good and euill inioyned to Eua also Q. Yes for so shee confessed to the Serpent Secondly If she had not beene commanded to abstaine from it shee should not haue sinned in eating of it Q. How could this precept belong to Eua seeing she was not yet created A. It was first giuen to Adam and then by Adam it was deliuered to Eua. Q. Why did God forbid Adam to eate of this tree A. First To let him know that he was but a creature and seruant and therfore had a Lord whom he must serue and obey Secondly To let him see that hee had free will and power both to chuse and refuse any thing he pleased Thirdly To exercise him in obedience Q. But seeing God knew that Adam would violate this precept bring himselfe his posterity to perpetuall misery why would God inioyne it to him A. To make him inexcusable for he made him vpright and gaue him grace to obey if he would dedit Adamo posse si vellet non et velle et posse Secondly Although God knew that man would sinne yet hee did permit him because he was to conuert that sinne of Adam to his greater good in sending his Sonne into the world Thirdly hee suffered him to fall that his mercy and iustice might appeare the more Q. How is it vnderstood that whatsoeuer day Adam should eate of the Forbidden tree he should die A. He did not dye actually as soone as he had eaten the forbidden fruite but now he was subiect to death and the necessity of dying is layd vpon him Secondly hee may be sayd to dye actually that day because then the infirmities of body soule which are the fore-rūners causes of death actual did seaze vpon him so mortuus est morte inchoata sed non completa Q. Why did not God expressely threaten Adam with death eternall A. Because God in the old Testament speaketh but sparingly of death eternall and vnder shaddowes Secondly death corporal is better knowne to man not onely by faith and reason but also by experience then death eternal which onely is knowne by faith Thirdly hee would speake of such a death as did not onely belong vnto him but to all his posterity although they did repent and this is the death of the body whereof all are partakers Q. Why did God threaten Adam with death A. Because death is the greatest and most fearefull misery that can happen to man Secondly The name of death comprehends all the miseries and afflictions that doe befall man in this life because they are preparations to death Nam vt via ad generationem est generatio sic via ad interitum est mors Q. Then what death is meant here A. Both of body and soule temporall and eternall Q. How can death corporall bee a punishment for sinne seeing it proceeds of naturall causes as of contrary qualities A. It is not the punishment of sinne as it proceedes of naturall causes but in respect that God ordayned Adam to liue immortally if he had not sinned now hauing sinned death followes as the stipend of sinne Q. Why was it not good that man should bee alone A. Because man without the woman could not procreate children and so man-kinde could not bee multiplyed Secondly Christ could not haue come in the flesh Thirdly The Elect and Church of God could not haue increased if Adam had beene alone Q. How were the creatures brought to Adam A. Either by the helpe of Angels or by that naturall instinct which the Greekes call 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the which euery creature perceiueth what is good and bad for them Q. Why did God bring the creatures to Adam A. First To let him see how much hee did excel them and how much the more he should be thankefull Secondly Because hee was the Lord of the beasts God would haue him to see his seruāts Thirdly that he might name them Fourthly That posterity might know what excellent knowledge Adam had in giuing names to the creatures according to their kindes Q. Why were not the fishes brought to Adam A. Because they doe not so much resemble man as the beasts secondly because they could not be such a help to man as the beasts thirdly because they could not liue out of the water Q. Had