out with violence they take the shortest line which upon the superficies of a Sphear is the Arch of the greatest Circle LESSON XI Of Earth-quakes and their Effects 1. BUt because we have said there are Caves under ground and both our experience of Pits sunk and many extraordinary effects demonstrate Fire water there too there must necessarily be notable effects of the vapours extracted out of the bowells of the Earth 2. If therefore out of some subterraneous humidbody vapours chance to be rais'd by a subterraneous fire too and they prove too bigg for their place 't is manifest that alwaies increasing and becoming condens'd by the continuall accesse of new vapours they 'l seek themselves a way out according to the force they have where ther 's the easiest passage If that chance to lead into any vast under-ground Cave the Earth will quake with a great impetus and groan but nothing will appear above ground 3. But if the easiest issue be towards the superficies of the Earth the vapour will burst out through it and if it be noxious to Beasts or Birds 't will bring either Death or a Disease along with it making with the eruption either a gaping Hollow or a Mountain according as the Earth either sinks or is sustain'd and as it were vaulted Sometimes 't will bury and swallow up Cities sometimes transport vast pieces of Earth and produce other effects whereof we find expresse memorialls in History 4. The Prognosticks of an Earth-quake they say are an infection of the Fountains with a sulphurious savour an unusuall calmnesse of the Air and Birds a swelling of the Sea without any apparent cause blackish streaks under the Sun of an unusuall length all if they are truly Prognosticks and not onely Accidents which sometimes and not for the most part happen are the effects of a spirituous Vapour bursting out from the bowells of the Earth 5. They are said to happen chiefly in the Spring and Autumn therefore if the opinion be true because the Superficies of the Earth being warm becomes slacker with the rain But I should rather believe it a chance that many should be recorded in Histories about these seasons for both Winter and Summer have felt their Earthquakes and in the Torrid Zone where they are most frequent the differences of Spring and Autumn from the other seasons are very inconsiderable 6. The Sea-shores are most subject to these motions because the subterranious flames and fumes receive no little nourishment from the Sea and the moisture which soaks into the Earth renders it very fit for breeding vapours LESSON XII Of the Meteors of the other parts of the World and especially of Comets 1. THese accidents of our Orbe and its parts which are usually call'd Meteors must necessarily be found too in the other bodies which we have said are enlightned by our Sun And that out of the nature of quantity and the mixture of Rare and Dense if they have their severall degrees and differences 2. Nor in these only but in whatever bodies besides wherein alterations are wrought by the operation of fire upon denser matter for the same reasons 3. 'T is evident too that our Sun cannot warm and enlighten all those bodies that reflect light to us for if it were as far distant from us as Astronomers suppose the Sphear of the Fixed stars 't would appear to us to be but of the sixth Magnitude and consequently it could not communicate to us any considerable either light or heat how much lesse in the situation where 't is could it reflect so far as to us a light of the first Magnitude from any Star so far distant 4. Adde to this that one that should collect from the proportion of the basis of a Cone to its Axis how much light the Sun could reflect to us from the eighth Sphear would find it absolutely invisible Besides the very Aire through which the light passes by little and little drinks up and extinguishes it whence in a thicker Aire it spreads it self a lesse way then in a rarer so that in so vast a journey 't would be utterly deaded and not seen 5. A Meteor of the Planets perceptible by us is a Comet which its very-little Parallaxis convinces to be sometimes sited above the Moon 6. That 't is not fire its constant figure its Tayle not oppos'd to its motion but to the Sun its lasting consistency its matter light and to be seen through and lastly its Motion more regular then we observe in fire largely convince farther that it has nothing of fire but the colour adde to this that Fromundus with his very eyes discern'd the Tayle of that Comet in the Year 1618 to consist of the reflection of the Sun 's light 7. Be it therefore A vapour which partly reflects the light of the Sun partly drinking it in either repells it back again to us by refraction from it self or letting it through by reflection from another body And its fore-part will be the Head it s hinder whether part or something only accessnry to it will be the Tayle 8. And since by this generation of a Comet any figure of its Beard any Motion any winding of its tayle but for the most part the opposition of its Tayle to the Sun and the lesser light of its Tayle then of its Head may be fairly solv'd this intire subject is clearly display'd 9. Out of the same principles may be deduc'd that fading Stars are Comets but so far off that the secundary or refracted light of their Tail by reason of the height either cannot be distinguisht from the body or cannot be extended to us because of its extreme faintnesse as also that its motion cannot be discern'd 10. Even these therefore witnesse that there are Meteors among the very fixed Stars and those so much the more constant and lasting as the bodies out of which they are extracted are larger LESSON XIII Of the Ebbing and Flovving of the Sea and its Accidents 1. SInce out of what has been said it appears that the gravity of the vapours and the straightnesse of their issue are the cause of the violent motion of the winds and that the heaviest vapours are extracted out of the Earth when 't is well moistned It becomes evident that where vapours are rais'd out of the Sea only they are lighter that if they be turn'd into winds without being straightned they will be calm ones And since in the great Pacifick Sea in the Indian Atlantick Ocean quite through the whole Torrid Zone there are vast waters consequently in some measure secure from the incursion of Shore-winds there must needs be light vapours rais'd up by the Sun through all that Tract which the Sun retiring must turn into winds taking that course which the Suns rarefaction of the aire makes most easie this all the year long consequently there must be a continuall East-wind 2. And because the Aire naturally moves in a Circle
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
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
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
the Country where Man liv'd of all its beauty and introducing colds brought in the mortall state of the World and Man was forc'd to guard himself with Garments CHAP. IX An explication of Genesis concerning the Creation of MAN 1. THese things are dictated out of Nature concerning which ther 's an ampler relation out of the sacred Records For first God is said to have spoken thus to the Angels let us make Man to our Image and Similitude the word let us make signifies a speciall concourse of God and not a generall only as to the other things 2. An Image differs from a Similitude in that an Image speaks a relation of a thing either measur'd by or deriv'd from a pattern but a Similitude neither Besides an Image may be and for the most part is of a nature inferiour to its pattern but a Similitude falls so far short of the perfection of a Similitude as it participates of another nature Man therefore was created to the Image of God and to the Similitude of Angels according to that and they shall be like the Angels of God and again Thou hast abas'd him a little lower then the Angels 3. The Creation of Man is describ'd thus He form'd of the Mud of the Earth the primitive propriety has thinking to make or to frame as a Potter whereby is express'd that the work of Man was a greater task then that of other Creatures and that it specially requir'd the operation of an Intelligence Where our Text says of the Mud of the Earth in the Originall 't is dust of red Earth Now of framable Earths that the red are the best Pots for Pleasure made of them witnesse which yield a savoury rellish to the drinkers And the force of the word Dust is to make us understand the Earth was decocted into minutest parts for almost in all Arts the more the matter is divided the more exquisite the work proves 4. It follows And He breath'd into his Face the breath of life in which words ther 's a clear expression of another operation after the forming of his body to shew that the production of a Rationall Soul does not adequately proceed out of second causes 5. And the words which follow And Man was made a living Soul shew that there is no other but the rationall Soul in Man since his vegetation proceeded out of that That there are not therefore more subordinate Forms in any Matter appears from the propriety of the sacred Doctrine 6. Again the holy Writ says God therefore took the Man and placed him in a paradise of Pleasure to work and keep it and He commanded him saying Of every Tree c. Though it be not expressely taught that the knowledge of God was infus'd into Man yet in that 't is said He breath'd into his face and again that He took him and commanded him 't is apparent enough that God was first known to him and by God his science was deriv'd to other things For his first object at the opening his Eyes was his Inspirer before his face Him therefore first he knew ador'd and lov'd and being shew'd by Him the Herbs and Plants the Beasts and Birds he distinguish'd both the Vertue natures of each received them of Him for his own Use Service 'T is plain therefore that he could not chuse but Believe God's sayings Hope in his Promises Love him as his Father 7. That he learnt of God the Vertue of Herbs and Plants 't is evident out of those words Thou shalt eat of every Tree c. for whilst He puts both an Universality and an exception he insinuates that Adam knew both Moreover those words where he 's said to be plac'd in Paradise to work and keep it which he could not doe unlesse he knew the nature of Plants argue that he knew them Lastly since 't is expressely said of the Beasts and Birds that by only seeing them he throughly saw into their nature in those words to see what he would call them and again whatever Adam call'd any living Soul that is its name since 't is most certain that the names were fitted to the natures of things and consequently were impos'd upon the knowledge of them 'T is clear that the inferiour natures too were as easily known to him 8. The sacred Authour adds But to Adam there was not found a helper like him the primitive expression is And to the Man he found not a help as it were before him or as others explicate as it were against him It appears therefore that the WOMAN was made not out of the necessity of nature alone but by the consent and will of Adam God governing Man a Reasonable Creature by perswasion and induction not by force and command that is according to the nature which he had given him 9. It appears again that the Man was not only in his Matter but even in his Mind the Authour and Superiour and as it were the Maker of the Woman 10. But since Adam had not yet felt the stings of the Flesh neither knew he as yet the need of a Woman as Woman but only he desir'd one to discourse with to whom he might declare his knowledge and conferre about his doubts This is that which was so grievous to the Man that God said 't was not good for him to be alone and provided not only for the present but for ever that he should have such as he might teach and converse with 12. Nor makes it against this that a Man may seem more proper for the conversation of a Man for 't is not true neither in regard of his Mind nor of his Body For 't is known that as to his Body a Man chuses to converse with the beauteous and Beauty is proper to Women as they are condistinguisht to Men And as for the Mind a knower chuses to converse with one that will learn acquiesce rather then one that will be refractory but Women are more credulous and obedient then Men And in respect to both Body and Mind the conversation is more sweet and agreeable with such as reciprocate love but Women are more obnoxious to love then Men. 12. And that she was requir'd for Conversation the very genuine expression shews in those words a help as it were against him For since the countenances of those that talk together are mutually turn'd towards one another and Man is made to be mov'd forward it appears that the faces of those that discourse together are as it were of entrers by opposite and contrary ways and consequently the faces themselves according to the same line are opposite and contrary Such a help therefore was not found amongst all the Animals whence 't was ill with Adam CHAP. X. An explication of the same concerning the Creation of WOMAN 1. GOd therefore cast the holy Text proceeds a sleep upon Adam the Propriety is and He made a sleep fall for sleep begins from the Brain and the Head