Selected quad for the lemma: city_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
city_n	world_n	year_n	young_a	157	3	6.0900	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A66701	The new help to discourse or, Wit, mirth, and jollity. intermixt with more serious matters consisting of pleasant astrological, astronomical, philosophical, grammatical, physical, chyrurgical, historical, moral, and poetical questions and answers. As also histories, poems, songs, epitaphs, epigrams, anagrams, acrosticks, riddles, jests, poesies, complements, &c. With several other varieties intermixt; together with The countrey-man's guide; containing directions for the true knowledge of several matters concerning astronomy and husbandry, in a more plain and easie method than any yet extant. By W. W. gent.	Winstanley, William, 1628?-1698.; Winstanley, William, 1628?-1698. Country-man's guide. aut.	1680 (1680)	Wing W3070; ESTC R222284	116,837	246

in doubt by Laws or Might Mean time France a Wonder saw A Woman Rule ' gainst Salique Law But Reader be advis'd and stay Thy Censure till the Judgment-day Then shalt thou know and not before Whether Saint Witch Man Maid or Whore The Statute of this noble Virago all in Brass being habited all in compleat Armor standeth at this day in Orleans upon the middle of their Bridge Qu. Wherein doth Man chiefly differ from Beasts An. In two things especially Ratione Oratione Reason and speech Qu. How do Philosophers divide the parts of Life An. Into three the Vegetive the Sensitive and the Rational the Vegetive is that of Plants Trees c. the Sensitive is of Beasts Fowls Fishes and the like but the Rational is only peculiar to Man though I must confess many are of opinion that several beasts are endued with more than an ordinary reason of which they instance the Elephant and of whom they deliver this story That in the great Battel betwixt Alexander the Great and King Porus an Indian Emperor the Elephant which King Porus rode on seeing his Master strong and lusty rushed into the thickest of Alexanders Army but when he perceived Porus to grow faint he withdrew himself and kneeling down received all the Arrows shot against his Master in his own Trunk Qu. By what means may every man be accounted an honest man An. By endeavouring to be what he desires to seem Qu. What was an excellent Motto which comprehendeth it in the means whereby a man may quickly grow rich Counsel I know will quickly be hearkned unto by all An. Nec habeo nec careo nec curo I have not I want not I care not which he enjoyeth that hath only content as the Divine Poet said My wishes are but few all easie to fulfill I make the limits of my power the bounds unt● my will Qu. What are the differences or kinds Musick An. Among the Ancients I have met with three kinds of Musick viz. First that of the Greeks which consisteth altogether of lon● Rules or Spendans This was the gravest and saddest of the rest called by Aristotle Moral because it setled the affections Boetius whom we account the Classical Author in this Faculty calleth it Lydian because in much use with those of that Nation and now as generally received by the Italian This is the Musick which Elisha called for ●● invite unto him the Spirit of prophecy King 3. 15. and this is it which is yet sung ● Churches a practice which we derive fro● the Ancients though some of late have opp●sed it and which is much commended ●● that Doctor of the Latin Church St. Austin The second kind consisteth of a mixture of long and short Notes or of the Dactylus which is termed active because it raiseth up the affections Boetius calleth it the Dorian because it had been in much esteem amongst the Dorians a Greek People we may now call it English as being much used by us and is that Musick which cleareth the Spirits and is so soveraign an Antidote to an afflicted mind The third sort is that which consisteth altogether of short Notes or Tribrachy and is by Aristotle said to be ravished because it unhingeth the Affections and stirreth them up to lasciviousness Boetius termeth it Phrygian as being the strain of that wanton and luxuriant people in these days we may call it French as being most delighted in by the striving Spirits and lightness of that Nation But the best Musick far more sweet than honey Is when a man 's own Purse gingles with money Qu. In what do several Nations differ concerning their Aera or computation of Time from which every reckoning takes its beginning An. The Christians make their Epoch the Birth of Christ which happened in the year of the world 3962. but this reckoning they ●sed not till the year 600. Follow in the mean ●ime the civil Account of the Empire The Mahumetans begins their Hegira or Computation from the return of their Prophet to Mecha after he was driven thence by the Philarchae Anno Christi 617. The Grecians reckoned by Olympiads the first of which is placed in the year of the World 3187. but this Account perishing under the Donstontinopolitan Emperors they reckoned by Indictions every Indiction containing 15 years the first beginning whereof was about the year of Christ 313. which among Chronologers is still used The Romans reckoned first from the building of their City which was A. M. 3213. and afterwards from the 16 year of the Emperor Augustus A. M. 1936. which beginneth somewhat before our Epoch from the Birth of Christ This reckoning was used among the Spaniards till the Reign of Ferdinand the Catholick The Jews had divers Epochs as the Creation of the World in the beginning of Time Secondly from the universal Deluge Anno 1565. Thirdly from the confusion of Tongues Anno 1786. Fourthly from Abraham's Journey out of Chaldea into Canaan Anno 2021. Fifthly from the departure of the Children of Israel out of Aegypt Anno 2451. Sixthly from the year of Jubile Anno 2499. Seventhly from the building of Solomons Temple Anno 2432. And eightly the Captivity of Babylon Anno 3357 The most usual reckoning in England is only that of the Worlds Creation and Christ's appearance in the flesh the first seldom used but only by Chronologers and Writers of Histories Qu. Since Adam Methusalem and some other of the Patriarchs lived nine hundred and odd years why did God never suffer any man to accomplish a thousand An. Some learned Persons give this reason because a thousand years hath in it a type of perfection and God never suffered any to fulfil it to shew that there is no absolute perfection in this world Qu. What two Philosophers were those who were so eminent for two notable qualities wherewith they were endued the like of them not to be foundin our modern Histories An. Democritus and Heraclitus the first whereof alwayes laughed the other continually wept which two different passions are much canvased by Authors which of them is most suitable to humane Nature indeed our appetites are most greedy to desire the first but sound reason rightly weighed will conclude for the last Solomon tell us that it is better for us to go into the house of mourning them into the house of laughter and that the laughter of fools is madness Besides History tells us that Agelastus the Grandfather of Crassus a very wise man was so reserv'd that he never laughed in all his life but once which was when he saw the Ass eating of Thistles But what need we go any farther than 〈◊〉 Holy Wtit if we consider our blessed Saviour we cannot find in the Scripture that he laughed but that he wept we read of these three times 1. When Lazarus was dead 2. Over Jerusalem 3. Upon the Cross when he delivered up his Spirit with cryes and tears Qu. What four things are those which we are by Divinos

Canopy Q. What is that which hath a voice but no Body speaks yet understands not itself what it says is often heard but never seen A. It is an Eccho said by Ovid to be a fair Maid that pined her self away to nothing for love Qu. Who are those amongst men that attempted to fly like birds A. Daedalus and Icarus Also one of our British Kings if the History of Geoffry of Monmouth be true who attempting to play the Fowl or rather the Fool fell down and brake his neck This King's name was Bladud It is also said that of late years an Italian flew from the top of St. Mark 's Tower in Venice and did it without hurt Q. What likeness have false men to countterfeit money A. Man and money a mutual falshood show Man makes false money money makes man so Q. To what are Souldiers in peace compared unto A. To Chimneys in Summer for though in hot weather we have no extraordinary need of Chimneys yet we do not pull them down as knowing that Winter will come in like manner Soldiers are continued in Peace either to prevent or to be ready if War do come Q. Amongst all Beasts and Birds which are of most beautiful and various colours yet not without some parts of great deformity A. The Peacock among Birds and the Panther among Beasts the first hath a very goodly Train but foul Feet The other a gay Body but deformed Head and therefore it is said that wanting Food and being a Beast but of slow pace she hideth her head whereat all the other Beasts come about her to wonder at her Beauty but coming within the reach of her Claws she catcheth them and makes them become her food Q. To what are out-side Gallants likened unto A. To Cinnamon trees whose bark is better than their whole body Q. What was the old saying concerning Friends A. That it was good to have Friends but bad to need their help since true friendship indeed is very rare No such friends to be found now adays as was Damon and Pythias Alexander and Lodowick Musidorus and Pyrocles Friendship extending now no further than profit according as one wittily versifies Friends like to leaves that on the Trees do grow In Summers prosperous state much love will shew But art thou in adversity then they Like leaves from trees in Autumn fall away He happy is that hath a friend indeed But he more happy that no friend doth need Q. What makes silver look so pale A. To this Diogenes the Cynick answers that it is because so many lies in wait for it Q. Why is it said 't is good to have a wolf cross the way and bad to have a Hare cross it A. By this is meant that when a Wolf crosses away from us it is good luck that we scape him and if a Hare it is bad luck that that scapes us but for any future things that is boded by them I am of the opinion of Cato who when one would needs know what harm attended him by reason that Rats had gnawn his Hose he answered That it was no strange thing to see that but it had been much more strange if his Hose had eaten the Rats Q. Who was the two men the one whereof was never born but died the other was born but never died Ans Adam and Enoch Q. Why do so many men praise poverty and yet covet after riches A. Their actions shew they mean not as they say for although the poor are accounted blessed yet most of them are of Ovid's mind Non tamen haec tanti est pauper ut esse velim Though blessings be for them in store To be their Heir I 'de not be poor Q. Who was the greatest Traveller in his time A. Sir Francis Drake who first put a Girdle about the world of whom a Wit in that Age thus descants Drake who th' encomapss'd Earth so fully knew And whom at once both Poles of Heaven did view Should men forget thee Sol could not forbear To Chronicle his Fellow-Traveller Q. What is the most beautiful thing in the world A. One said the Sun which if so then were blind men of all others most miserable but certainly virtue is most resplendent of all things and which is to be discerned by the eyes of the Soul wherein blind men of all others have the greatest help of Contemplation Q. What is the heaviest burthen that the earth bears A. Sin which is more ponderous than the biggest Mountains or greatest Piles of buildings for it weigheth down even to Hell Q. Which is the longest Letter in the Alphabet A. The letter L. which is more than a yard long Q. Which is the most unnecessary Letter in the Alphabet A. K. because C. is of the same sound Q. What three Vowels are most pernicious to Debtors A. These three IOV. Q. What two words are those that trouble the world A. Meum and Tuum Thine and Mine Q. What are the principal causes of the greatness of Cities A. Although they are many in number yet they are reduced principally to these seven 1. A Navigable River by which there may be continual concourse of Merchants as may be seen by Venice Amsterdam Constantinople and our Metropolitan City of London which as it is thought had it not been for the River of Thames would not have gone on so forward in the rebuilding since that terrible conflagration thereof by fire which may be evidenced in that the buildings towards the River side were the first begun and are the forwardest in finishing 2. The Palace of the Prince for where the Court is there will be continually store of Nobility and Gentry which enriches Tradesmen by selling commodities to them one instance whereof we have by Madrid in Spain which is grown from a mean Village to a very populous City only by the Kings Court. 3. The Residence of the Nobility by whom beautiful Buildings and stately Structures are raised to the great adornment thereof as may be seen in the Cities of Italy where their Nobles and Gentry constantly reside as ours do in Towns and Villages 4. The Seat or Tribunal of Justice which invites Lawyers and their Clients thither in abundance to the great enriching thereof as may be evidenced by the Parliamentary Cities of France and Spiers in Germany 5. Universities or publick Schools of Learning which draw thither the Sons of several Noble persons and Gentlemen from the adjoyning Counties to the great benefit and profit thereof as Paris well knoweth Oxford Collen and several other places 6. Immunities from Taxes and Impositions which cause many persons to come and inhabit in such places their Income being thereby greatest and their Priviledges most as in Naples Florence and Venice which being almost desolate by a Plague were again very suddenly peopl'd by granting Immunities to all Comers 7. The last but not the least is opinion of Sanctity as was evidenced in former times bp the City of Canterbury to

animalia plebis Inveniunt For when the seven mouth'd Nile the Fields forsake And to his ancient Channel him betakes The tillers of the ground live Creatures find Of sundry shapes i' th mud that 's left behind This River is in length almost 3000. miles being the only River of Egypt and is for its varieties sufficiently famous all the World over Of the fortunate Islands The Air of those Islands is reported to be of that singular temperature and the Earth of that fruitfulness that the Husbandmen have their Harvest in March and April Here all good things do abound useful or delightful for the life of man plenty of Fruits store of Grapes the Woods and Hedges bringing forth excellent Apples of their own accord The grass being mowed down in five days space will grow up to the length of a Cubit the ground is so fertile At Christmas they have Summer and all fruits ripe The Earth yields her fruit five or six times a year the Mountains are always beautified with variety of Flowers the Trees and Hedges-rows evermore green Dame Flora hath here her continual habitation and Ceres therein a continual Mansion In their sowing every two grains bringing forth a thousand Qu. How many Kings did formerly 〈◊〉 in these Countrys whereof our now 〈…〉 Soveraign King Charles the second is the most absolute Monarch An. In England it self were seven during the time of the Saxon Heptarchy which were 1. The Kingdom of Kent containing Kent only begun by Hengist the Saxon Captain and ending in Baldred having a succession of eighteen Kings and the continuance of two hundred forty and two years Queens County Weishford and Dublin Scotland had formerly two Kings whereof one was of the Scots the other of the Picts Besides these there was a King of the Isles of Scotland and one of the Isle of Man and Henry the sixth created Henry Beauchamp Earl of Warwick King of the Isle of Wight so that reckoning seven Kings in England three in Wales five in Ireland two in Scotland and three in the other Islands and you will find the whole number to amount to twenty Kingdoms A Discourse of Wonders Foreign and Domestick And first of Foreign AN Artizan in the Town of Norenburg in Germany made a wooden Eagle which when the Emperor Maximilian was coming thither flew a quarter of a mile out of the Town to meet him and being come to the place where he was turned back of its own accord and accompanied him home to his lodging 2. There is a Lake about Armach in Ireland into which if one thrust a piece of wood he shall find that part which remaineth in the mud converted to Iron and that which continueth in the water turned to a Wherstone 3. The Hill Aetna in Sicily which continually vomiteth forth flames of Fire to the astonishment of all beholders The reason of these flames as is conjectured is the abundance of Silver and Brimstone contained in the bosom of this Hill which is blown by the wind driving in at the chaps of the Earth as by a pair of bellows through which chinks also there is continually more fuel added to the fire the very water administring an operative vertue to the combustible matter as we see that water cast on coals in the Smiths Forge doth make them burn more ardently The reason of this flame is thus rendred by the witty Ovid in his Metamorphosis I st ● bitumine● rap●un●t incendi●● vices Luteaque exiguis ard●scunt Sulphura slammis Atque ubi terra cibos alimentaque debita slamma Non dabit absumptis per longum viribus annum Naturaeque su●m nutrim●ntum decrit edaci Non f●cit Aetna famem desertaque deseret ignis A rozen mould these siery flames begin And clayje Brinstone aids the sire within Yet when the slymie soylconsumed shall Yield no more food to feed the sire withal And Nature shall restrain her nourishment The flame shall cease hating all famishment 4. A Lake in Aethiopia superior of which whosoever drinketh either falleth immediately mad or is for a long time troubled with a drowsiness of which the aforesaid Ovid thus reciteth Aethiopesque Lacus quos siquis faucibus hausit Aut fu●i● aut patitar mirum gravetate soporem Who doth not know the Aethiopian Lake Whose waters he that drinks his thirst to slake Either groweth mad or doth his soul oppress With an unheard of drowsiness 5 The three wonders of which Spain boasteth of viz. 1. A Bridge over which the water flows that is used to run under all other Bridges 2. A City compassed with fire which is called Madrid by reason of the Wall that is all of Flints environ it round about 3. Another Bridge on which continually feed ten thousand Cattel the River Guadiana which hath his head in the Mountain Seira Molina afterwards runneth under ground the space of fifteen miles the like doth the River Lycus in Anatolia according to Ovid. Sic ubi terreno Lycus est epotus hiatu Exsilicit procul hinc alioque renascitur ore So Lycus swallowed by the gaping ground At a new mouth far off is rising found 6. The Tomb of Mansolus built by his Wife Artunesia Queen of Halicarnassus accounted one of the worlds seven wonders it being five and twenty Cubits high and supported by six and thirty curious Pillars of which thus writeth the witty Poet Martial Aere nam vacuo pendentia Mansolaea Laudibus immodicis Caris ad astra ferunt The Mansolaea hanging in the Sky The men of Caria's praises Deify 7. The Temple of Diana at Ephesus accounted also one of the worlds seven wonders It was two hundred years in building being four hundred twenty five foot long and two hundred twenty broad sustained with a hundred twenty seven Pillars of Marble seventy foot high whereof twenty seven were most curiously graven and all the rest of Marble polisht It was fired seven times and lastly by Herostratus the same night in which Alexander the great was born which made the Poets say that Diana who was the Goddess of Midwifery was so busie at the birth of that great Potentate that she had no time to defend her own Temple 8. The Pyramis of Aegypt reckoned also for one of the worlds seven wonders which have out-lived devouring time They were built nigh to the City of Memphis whereof two are most famous The first and greatest was built by Cleops a King of that Country who in the work employed a hundred thousand men the space of twenty years The Basis of which Pyramis contained in circuit sixty Acres of ground and was in height a thousand foot being made all of Marble This work was begun of such a prodigious vastness that King Cleops wanted money to finish the same whereupon as Herodotus writeth he prostituted his Daughter to all commers by which dishonest means he perfected his building and she besides the money due to her father exacted of every man that had the use of her body one stone

of whom she got so many that with them she made the second Pyramis almost equal to the first 8. A Tree in Mexico in America called Mete which they plant and dress as we do our vines It hath forty kinds of Leaves which serve for many uses for when they be tender they make of them Conserves Paper Flax Mantles Mats Shooes Girdles and Cordage On these leaves grow certain prickles so strong and sharp that they use them instead of Saws from the root of this Tree cometh a juice like unto Syrup which if you settle it will become Honey if you purifie it it will become Sugar you may also make Wine and Vinegar of it The rind roasted healeth hurts and sores and from the top boughs issueth a Gum which is an excellent Antidote against poyson 1. A Tree in the Isles of Orcades in Scotland near the Sea side that beareth a fruit which dropping on the dry Land putrifies away and turns to nothing but falling into the water becomes a living Creature like unto a Duck. And by this means as Authors they have se'd A Soland Goose is hatched up and bred 11. The River Styx in Arcadia which for its poysonous nature the Poet feigned to be the River of Hell on which plyed Charon the Ferriman whose description take thus from the Poet Charon grim Ferriman these streams doth guard Ugly nasty his huge hairy beard Knit up in Elf-locks staring fiery ey'd With Robe on heastly shoulder hung knotty'd 12. Near unto the Lake where once stood the Cities of Sodom and Gomorrah grow certain Trees which bear Apples in colour and show like unto Gold but being touched fall to ashes 13. The Psylli a people of Lybia of so venomous a nature that they would poyson a Snake insomuch that when their Wives were delivered they would throw their Children amongst a herd of Serpents supposing that child to be born of an adulterous bed the very smell of whose body would not drive away a whole brood of the like poisonous vermine Other Forraign Wonders It is recorded by Guicciardine L. Vives Erasmus and Dr. Heylin in his Microcesmus how that Margaret Sister to Earl Floris the Fourth of Holland being the age of forty two years brought forth at one birth three hundred sixty three Children whereof half were Males half Females and the odd one an Hermophrodite They were Christened in two Basons at the Church of Lo●sdunen by Guido suffragan to the Bishop of Utrecht who named the Males Johns the Females Elizabeths all which immediately after dyed and with them their Mother the Basons are yet to be seen in the aforesaid Church Their runneth a story concerning this miraculous accident how that a certain poor Beggar woman with three twin-Children came to this Countesses door and begged an Alms of her which she not only denyed but also called her Harlot and Strumpet telling her withal it was impossible she should have so many by one man which this Beggar hearing besought God who knew her innocency to manifest it unto her by giving her so many at one birth by her Husband as there are days in the year which fell out accordingly Much to this purpose is the story of one Jermentrudis wife to Isenbardus Earl of Altorse in Suevia which Countess grievously accused one of her neighbour women of adulteries and had her punished because she had not long before been delivered of six Children at a birth It fortuned that she her self her Husband being abroad in the Fields was delivered at one birth of twelve Children all Males she fearing the like infamous punishment which by her instigation had been inflicted on the former woman commanded the Nurse to kill eleven of them The Nurse going to execute the will of her Mistriss was met by her Lord then returning homeward He demanded what she carried in her Lap She answered Puppies He desired to see them she denied him The Lord on this growing angry opened her Apron and there found eleven of his own Sons pretty sweet babes and of most promising countenances The Earl examined the matter found out the truth enjoyned the Nurse to be secret and put the children to a Miller to nurse Six years being passed over in silence the Earl making a solemn Feast invited most of his wives and his own Friends The young boys he attired all in the same fashion and presenteth them to their mother she misdoubting the truth confesseth her fault is by the Earl pardoned and acknowledgeth her Children A like strange thing we have of one Agilmond a King of the Lombards in the Land of Hungary who going forth one morning a Hunting as he was riding by a Fish pond he spyed seven children sprawling for life which some Harlots had been dilivered of and most barbarously thrown into the water The King amazed at this spectacle put his Bore spear or hunting-pole among them on which one of the childrens hands fastened and the King softly drawing back his hand wafted the Child to the shore This child he named Lamissus from Lama which in their Language signified a Fishpond He was in the Kings Court carefully brought up where there appeared in him such tokens of vertue and courage that after the death of Agilmond he was by the Lombards chosen to succeed him Nor is that less strange which is reported of Claudia a Romane Vestal Virgin the story whereof is this The Romans were once told by an Oracle that they should be Lords of the world if they could but get the Goddess Cybele from the Phrygians which was there worshipped in a City called Pesinus Hereupon they sent unto the Phrygians to demand it who being willing to please a potent Neighbor especially the Romans being their Countrey-men as descended from Aeneas and his Trojans granted their request and the Goddess is shipt for Rome But when it came into the River of Tyber it there made a stand neither could it be again moved forward by force or sleight It happened that this Claudia having been accused of incontinency to clear herself tyed her Girdle to the Ship praying the Goddess that if she were causelesly suspected she would suffer the Ship to go forward which was no sooner said than granted Claudia by her Girdle drawing the Ship to Rome by the same clearing her self from all imputation of Uncleanness or Incontinency Pharo a King of Aegypt being blind was told by an Oracle that if he washed his eyes with the Urine of a woman which being a wife had known but one man he should recover his sight After many vain trials h● found one woman whose Urine helped him her he married and causing all the other whom he had tryed to be gathered together in a Town called Latthus he set fire on th● same burning them all for their Incontinency Domestick Wonders IN the Year of our Lord 1151. and in the 33 year of the Reign of King Henry the second near unto Oxford in Suffolk certain Fishers took in their Nets a

Clock-bells did both in City and Countrey In London a piece of the Temple Church fell down In the late dissolved Church called the Grey-Fryers now called Christ-Church in the Sermon time one stone falling from the Church killed a young man outright and another stone so bruised a Maid that she lived but four days after the Man and the Maid being fellow Servants in one House divers were bruised and run out of the Church Some stones fell off from the Church of St. Pauls in London and some from the Church of St. Peters at Westminster divers Chimneys lost their tops and Ships on the Thames and on the Seas were seen to totter this Earthquake did not continue above a quarter of an hour in London but in divers parts in Kent it held them so terrible that the people went out of their Houses for fear they should fall on their heads Of the Rain-Bow The Rain-bow is only the Suns reflection on a hollow Cloud which the edge being repelled and beaten back against the Sun from thence ariseth much variety of colours by reason of the mixture of clouds air and fire-light together If two Rain bows appear at one time they presage Rain to ensue but if one Rain-bow presently after Rain it betokeneth fair weather Of Thunder and Lightning When hot and dry vapours mixt with moisture is exhaled up into the middle Region and there inclosed in the body of a Cloud these two contraries not agreeing together break forth with great violence so that fire and water break out of the cloud making a roaring noise which we call Thunder and the fire Lightning the Thunder is first made but the Lightning first seen in regard the sight is quicker than the hearing which to prove observe but at some distance when a man is cleaving of blocks or a Carpenter hewing a log and you shall see the fall of the beetle or Ax some little distance of time before you hear the noise of the blow Now of Lightnings there be many sorts that which is dry burneth not all but dissipateth and disperseth its self moist burneth not likewise but blasts and changeth the colour but the clear is of a strange property for it melteth the sword and not singeth the scabberd it draweth vessels dry without hurt to the vessels some rich misers have had their silver melted in their bags and purses and yet neither bag nor purse hurt nay not so much as the wax that sealeth the bag stirred It breaketh the bones and hurteth not the flesh and killeth the Child in the Mothers Womb not hurting the mother what great cause have we to pray as it is in the Letany from thunder and lightning good Lord deliver us What things are not burt with Lightning It entreth not past five foot into the earth it hurteth not the Laurel-Tree such are freed that are shadowed with the skins of Seals or Sea-Calves the Eagle is likewise free Pliny saith Scythia by reason of cold and Egypt by reason of the heat have seldom Lightning A Brief Deseri●tion of the World shewing what it is and of what Parts it consisteth together with other things well worthy of observation THe world may not unfitly be termed a large Theatre of the heavens and earth wherein are contained all bodies both simple and mixt The Greeks calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Latine Universitas or Mandus all signifying with us the world It consisteth of two only parts the one Elemental and the other Coelestial The Elemental part contains the four Elements as Fire Air Water Earth The Coelestial parts contains seven several Orbs for the Planets and one for the fixed Stars above which is the Christalline Heaven the first mover which once in 24 hours carries the other round about the Earth and last of all the Empereal heaven the habitation for Saints and Angels with all the rest of Gods elect Within this coelestial part not these only are continued but also the Elemental part it self and whatsoever it containeth within the midst of his concavity by the divine providence of God hangs this dark and gross body of the Earth upon which we mortals live and in respect of the glorious Heavens we should scarce so much as fix our eyes upon it for God hath made us not as other Creatures with a dejected countenance but os homini sublime dedit he hath given to man a lofty and exact countenance according to that of the Poet And where all Beasts look down with groveling eye He gave to man looks mixt with majesty And bids him with expansed looks to view the Sky Plato the most divine amongst the Heathen affirmed that the chief cause why men had eyes given them was to behold the Heavens an admired spectacle of Gods Workmanship for though there be other ends for which we have our senses yet without question this is one and a main one to consider the glorious part of Gods creation and to search into the obstruse Mysteries thereof for God hath made nothing in vain he hath not made these glorious bodies only to be gazed at but to be searched into there being none of the humane sciences that draw us so near to God so that Ptolomy not unworthily in the beginning of his Almagest affirmeth Hanc unam scientiam esse viam ac semitam ad sciendum Deum altissimum which being understood cum grano salis will not be much different from the mind of St. Paul Rom. 1. 20. for the invisible things of God c. are seen by the Creation of the World In which place as all things created are understood so especially it should seem the coelestial bodies to be intended for these with their beauty magnitude and multitude and with the perpetual stability and wonderful variety of their invariable motions and effects do in a marvellous manner commend the wisdom and goodness of the glorious God and do exceeding much draw us to the admiration love and knowledge of him according to that excellent testimony of the kingly Prophet The Heavens declare the glory of God and the Firmament sheweth his handy work And again There is neither Speech nor Language but their Voice is heard among them Psalm 19. 1 2. And in Wisd 13. 4 5. saith Solomon But if they were astonished at their power and vertue let them understand by them how much mightier he is that made them For by the beauty and greatness of the Creatures proportionably the maker of them is seen And from hence sure it is that the Sideral science is by some not unfitly call'd Natural Theology Solid Orbs and Comets to be in the sublunary Region have been maintained by many both elder and later yet by the infallible observations and unparallel'd instruments joyned with the unwearied assiduity and almost invaluable expence of the Tres-noble Tyche they have been found altogether false The Heavens so framed are That they do all declare Gods Glory doth excel The Skyes and Firmament Bright clear and