Selected quad for the lemma: earth_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	fix_a	motion_n	star_n	2,539	5	9.5176	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A05370	Ravvleigh his ghost. Or a feigned apparition of Syr VValter Rawleigh to a friend of his, for the translating into English, the booke of Leonard Lessius (that most learned man) entituled, De prouidentia numinis, & animi immortalitate: written against atheists, and polititians of these dayes. Translated by A. B.; De providentia numinis, et animi immortalitate. English	Lessius, Leonardus, 1554-1623.; Knott, Edward, 1582-1656.; Raleigh, Walter, Sir, 1552?-1618.	1631 (1631)	STC 15523; ESTC S102372	201,300	468

borrowing all its perfection from other things it therefore cannot haue its being of it selfe indepēdent of all other causes Now then from all this heretofore obserued it followeth demonstratiuely that no Sublunary body hath its being and essence from it selfe but that all things receaue their being from some efficient cause Now that this cause is incorporeall and intelligent or enioying Reason and Vnderstanding appeareth seuerall waies first because Materia prima could not be produced by any corporeall cause seing that euery action of a corporeall thing euer presupposeth the subiect into the which it is receaued as Aristotle and all Philosophers do teach but before Materia Prima was no subiect can be imagined seing it was the first and as I may tearme it the deepest and most fundamentall subiect Againe if this Cause were corporeall thē doubtlesly the heauēs should be this Cause since there remaineth no other corporeal Cause to the which it may be ascribed But the heauens could not produce this Materia prima both by reason that the Heauens worke not but by the mediation of light influence of the stars both which qualities require a subiect into the which they may be receaued as also because before this production the whole space in which now the Elements are was voyde as being destitute of any corporeall body and then it followeth that the heauens should produce this Materia prima in vacuo not hauing any precedent subiect matter to worke vpon and therefore should create it of nothing but this doth transcend the power and force of any corporall nature Therefore in regard of this absurdity it followeth that the cause of this Materia prima must be incorporall and most powerfull as being able to giue it an essence and being euen from nothing From which Collection it further followeth that this cause ought to be also intelligent as knowing what it doth or worketh both because euery incorporall substance is intelligent as the Philosophers teach as also in that it did not produce this Materia prima after a blynd and ignorant manner but with a certaine finall intention and determination to wit that of it all other things should be made and that it should be the subiect of all formes This poynt is made further euident in that to a cause which is so perfect high and potent the most perfect manner of working is to be giuen but the most perfect manner is by the vnderstanding and the will Againe the same is become more cleare in that there ought to be contained in the cause all the perfections of the effect and this magis emi●●nter more eminently then is in the effect I meane when the cause is of a different nature from the effect Wherefore seing Mans nature which is endued with reason and the diuers kynd of liuing Creatures which enioy sense are the effects of this incorporeall or spirituall cause it most consequently may be concluded that all the perfection of these to wit reason and sense are after an eminent manner contayned in the said cause That the heauenly bodies haue not their being from themselues appeareth first from their motions for if their motions do depēd of some other superiour Cause and that spirituall as is afore proued then can it be but acknowledged that their substance and figure are produced of the same cause for who is so voyd of consideratiō as to thinke that that Supreme cause should enter into the world as into an ample and maisterles house wherunto it can pretend no right or title and should challenge to it selfe the gouernment thereof Can it be thought to be so impotent as not to be able to frame to it selfe as it were a proper house of its owne If this house of the world belong not to this Cause why then doth it assume the regiment thereof Or why hath it stored this our inferiour world with such opulency abundance of riches of al kynd as of metals pretious stones hearbs trees birds fishes earthly creatures and all other variety of things whatsoeuer To conclude if thou considerest the stupendious power which this cause sheweth in the motions of these celestial Orbs thou canst not doubt but that the same Cause is the authour of this whole worke For although the Sunne be incomparably greater then the vniuesal● Globe of the earth and water as is euicted from the poynt of the shadow of the earth which reacheth not to the Orbe of Mars yea according to the iudment of the Astronomers the Sunne is an hundred sixty six tymes greater then the earth and water notwithstanding the Sūne with its whole orbe is carryed about with such a velocity and swiftnes that in compasse of one houre it goeth in its motion aboue ten hundred thousand myles wherupon it is certaine that in the same space of tyme it equalleth the compasse of the earth in its course aboue fifty tymes Among the fixed starres there are many which are 50. 70. 90. or 100. tymes greater then the whole earth as the Astronomers teach there is none of them which is not 18. tymes greater then the earth and yet they are carryed about with their whole Orbe with such a swiftnes as that such starres as are neare to the equinoctiall lyne do moue euery houre more then 40. millions of myles euery million being ten hundred thousand and so in one houre moueth more then comes to two thousand tymes the cōpasse of the earth Now who is he that will not here fall into an astonishing admiration of his boundles power who turneth about such vast and immense bodyes with so incomprehensible and impetuous a celerity Or what greater prints or intimations of Omnipotency can be then these are If any one of the starres should be carryed about neare vnto the earth with the like speed presently all things would be dissipated shiuered asunder the mountaines would be shaken and pulled vp as it were by the roots and turned with the earth and the sea into very dust The swiftnes of a bullet shot out of a great peece of ordināce seemes great and yet if one consider attentiuely supposing the bullet to be carryed the space of a hundred houres with one the same swiftnes yet would it not go so far as once the compasse of the earth For experience sheweth vs that in one minute of an houre it is carryed scarce three myles therefore in one houre 180. myles in an hūdred houres 18. thousand myles which wanteth of the compasse of the earth its circūference according to the more true iudgmēt of Astronomers being 19. thousand myles and 80. Wherfore from this we gather that the Sunne performeth a farre greater course in one houre thē a bullet would do in fiue thousand houres Now the celerity speed of the fixed starres about the Equinoctiall is forty tymes greater then the celerity of the Sunne Therefore that incorporeal power and vertue which doth so gouerne sterne the celestiall Orbes as that

the season and tyme of this world shal be carryed according to their owne peculiar motions and forces the reynes of working thus or not thus being freely granted to mans nature Therefore where greater industry or power is found though lesse iustice or equity there it is commonly accōpanyed with more happy and fortunate euents The reasons of Gods permission here in are aboue set downe and vnfoulded Ad hereto that though the endeauours of the wicked may for the tyme be ouer preuailing yet there is no perpetuity or continuance thereof for this prosperity is for the most part tempered or rather ouer ballanced with many aduersities and afflictions Seing many there are who either in their first beginnings or in their progresse at what tyme they hould themselues most free from all sudden conuulsiōs of misery and infelicity are vtterly ouerthrowne This appeareth first in the most celebrious famous Monarchies that euer haue flourished for we read that the Monarchy of the Assyrians was ouerthrowne by the Chaldeans that of the Chaldeans by the Persians and the Medes this of the Persians by the Grecians the monarchy of the Grecians by the Romans which is at this presēt much obscured of its former honour and brought to great straits Againe the same point is also made cleare in the persōs of the Monarchs themselues if we but cōsider the calamityes and miseryes which the most powerfull and most formidable among them haue sustained For Nabuchodonozor being placed vpon the highest pinacle of prosperity and after the ouerthrow of so many Countries and nations was suddēly stroken with a sentence from heauen and compelled to liue in desart places after the manner of beasts Baltasar nephew to the former being deuoted and giuen to epicurisme and sensuality was flame in that very night when his Citty was taken Cyrus when he had obtained the honour of so many victories was with the losle of his army pittifully massacred by the Scithians Xerxes with his forces consisting of three hundred thousand fighting men was shafully ouercome by the Grecians almost extinguished Alexander the great after the dissolution of the Persian Empire and subiugation of diuers other kingdomes to his command dyed without any heires and left his kingdomes to be shared by his Generals and Leaders who after through mutuall and inward afflictions so weakned and impouerished themselues as that in the end they were brought vnder the yo●ke of the Romans Now for the Romans with what sweating paynes and labours did they rise and grow dreadfull With what calamityes were they often worne out and wearyed With what intestine and ciuill warres were they afflicted What exorbitant and vnaccustomed crueltyes suffered they of their Generals and Emperours Finally how many of their Generals and Emperours after their incessant and indefatigable paines vndertakēfor the honour of their countries were ignominiously and basely handled and in the end cruelly butchered Certainly it were an infinite labour to insist in all the particulars of this kind For if a man will but peruse either the ancient or moderne and later historyes he shall find many in euery age whose vnlawfull attempts and labours though they were extraordinarily furnished and enabled with power forces had most vnfortunate and deplorable successes the Prouidence of God interposing it selfe and disturbing al their wicked motions endeauours according to that of the Psalme 32. Dominus dissipat cōsilia gentium c. THE THIRD ARGVMENT CHAP. XX. VVE see that all naturall things do euer proceed after one and the same manner and do retayne one course and order As the Sunne for exāple we obserue to ryse to set to runne or renew his circles and to make with his approach and departure the accustomed seasons of the yeare In like sort all sublunary bodyes to grow decay and one to be procreated and generated of another without end to the perpetuity or continuance of it species or kind Now all this procedure and carriage of things riseth from the force of nature which is accustomed to hold so perfect constant an order And therefore saith the Atheist no other Prouidence or Deity besides nature is to be sought after neither any rewards or punishments are to be expected I answere first say that the Atheists of these dayes do chiefly support themselues with this argument as S. Peter prophecyed in his second epistle c. 7. Venient in nouissimis diebus c. To the which point himselfe doth answere to wit that the promises of God by the which he hath promised his eternall kingdome are not to be accoūted as vaine because they seeme to be deferred for a lōg tyme since what is long in tyme to vs is most short to God for a thousand yeares to him who comprehendeth Eternity it selfe is but as one day or rather as a moment of tyme. Againe all that procrastination and delay proceedeth frō the benignity of God by the which he expecteth each mans saluation Furthermore they erre who affirme the world euer to continue in one the same state for long since it was ouerflowed with water and hereafter it shal be consumed with fyar then there shal be created new heauens and a new earth Besides all such things as may seeme to proceed by force of nature are indeed the workes of an intelligent mynd and of Prouidence for these two do not impugne the one the other for the motion of the heauens the situation of the stars the disposal of the earth mountaines riuers and seas the formes of liuing Creatures and plants as also their beginnings increase propagation are the works of Prouidence as aboue we haue fully demonstrated Neither is the constancy of things incompatible or repugnant to Prouidence seing this constācy is assigned to things by an intellectuall Prouidence that they may the more commodiously serue mankind vntill the end of this world appointed and determined by God be come THE FOVRTH ARGVMENT CHAP. XXI THE fourth argument is taken from the similitude of being borne of growing increasing waxing old and dying which is indifferenly common to men with beasts as also from the conformity of corporeall members in them both From which consideration the Atheist argueth that men are absolutely vtterly extinguished by death as well as vnreasonable creatures I answere that this illation is most inconsequēt for although man in respect of his affections or passions of the mind be like to beasts yet with referēce to the nature of his soule he is infinitly more excellent then they are In which consideration man approacheth more neere to God and incorporeall spirits then to beasts And therefore it is no wonder if the body being corrupted the soule remayneth immortall But this argument rather belōgeth to the second booke wherof the subiect is touching the Immortality of the soule though secondarily and by way of consequence only it impugneth the nature of Prouidence THE FIFTH ARGVMENT CHAP. XXII IF there be a Diuine Power it is credible that

earth would become dry barren depriued of all beauty ornaments of trees grasse hearbs and flowers and finally not fit and commodious for the habitatiō of man beasts Showers receaue their fecundity and fruitfulnes from a double cause first by the mixture of a viscous and fat matter which is exhaled and drawne vp with the vapours from the earth and the sea for the sea being fertil hath a certaine fatnes with the which fishes are nourished Therefore while the Sunne eleuateth vp the more thin parts of it which are vapours it withal attracteth a certaine oyle and fat matter which being mingled with the vapours after throgh cold conden sd and thickned into rayne doth water the earth The same thing also hapneth when vapours and exhalations are drawne vp through the Suns heat from a fenny earth frō gardēs fields woods Secondly showers take their fruitfulnes from the spirit and heat included and impressed in the cloud or shower by the beames of the Sunne for this spirit or heat causeth all things to grow and increase And to the end that the fall of showers should not ouerwhelme with an ouer great and impetuous force weight the tender buds and flowers therefore the diuyne prouidence hath ordayned that they do not fall ouer abundantly and precipitantly but that frō a great height they should distil by little little through a large tract of the ayre wherby they being deuided into infinite most small drops do be sprinkle the earth with a pleasing moisture and humidity And to the end that what is thus falen vpon the earth should not by the heat of the Sunne be instantly dryed vp consumed before it could penetrate and descend to the roots of plants therefore for the most part certaine dry remnants of clouds do intercept the beames of the Sunne vntill the earth do drinke and suck vp the raine and transmit it to the rootes for the better nourishing of the fruite which it bringeth forth Also Snow which is as it were the froth of clouds is accompanied with no small benefit for besides that it affords matter for the continuance of springs and riuers descending from the highest mountaines it doth couer the earth as it were with a fleece of wool and by this meanes keeping the heat of the earth within it hindreth that frosts penetrating ouer deeply the earth do not extinguish the seminall vertue resyding in rootes and thus Snow is one cause of the earths great fertility of plants Snow also hath in it selfe a fecundity and fruitfulnes in regard of the ayre included in it which shining with infinite bubles giueth that extraordinary whitenes to the Snow Frost in like manner is most profitable to all things for by a repercussion beating backe it keepeth within the spirit heat of the earth and of liuing creatures not suffering it to euaporate and vanish away And from this it cōmeth that in colder coūtryes and such as are subiect to frosts men are of a more robustious greater stature and longer lyued then in hoater regions Now these to wit Wynds showers snow frosts and the like come not promis●●ously in any tyme of the yeare but are so distributed by certaine seasons thereof as they most aptly agree and sort to the begetting growing increasing and perfecting of plants and liuing creatures and to the perpetuating of their species and kynds and further do serue most cōmodiously to Mens vses From all which it is euen demonstratiuely concluded that all these are ordained and instituted by a most wise and most powerfull mynd or spirit for the good and s●ruice of liuing creatures and chiefly of Man to whom all the rest are subiect And that the Elements are for the same cause made and do to that end enioy such their peculiar situations and their proper formes and figures which now they haue doth abundan●ly appeare from the consideration of the earth and water For if we consider precisely things as they should be in their owne nature the earth ought to be exactly round and the water ought on euery syde to couer encompasse the earth Seing all things that are ponderous and heauy ought to descend equally towards the Center of the earth and by how much one body is more heauy then another by so much it ought to be more neere to the center and lower in place then the other Therefore the earth ought to be vnder the waters and the waters specially to be powred about it But we see that these two Elements are far otherwise situated for a huge portion of the earth to wit all that which is not couered with the sea and all the immense weight and heape of mountaines is far higher and more remote from the Center then the water is For there rūneth a mighty vast channell through the middest of the earth of an infinite profundity deuided into seuerall passages which running diuers wayes and in some places of greater breadth in others of lesser do make Ilands Into this channell all the Element of water is receaued that only excepted which being extenuated and made thin turneth into vapours that so the earth as free from being couered with water might be made seruiceable for the habitation of men and other creatures and for the groth and increase of things Furthermore the Earth is so fashioned and brought into that forme that from the sea towards the mediterranean places it by insensible degrees lifteth it selfe vp riseth higher vntill it end into mountaines and rockes in which poynt consisteth a most admirable art of the diuyne Prouidence For first by this structure of the Earth it is made free from all perillous inundations which by little and little and in long processe of tyme by tne influence of the starres or force of the wynds might endanger al the Earth For we see by experience that such bordering parts of the earth as are neere to the sea and do not much exceed the Sea in height are often vtterly ouerflowed with the deaths of the Inhabitants and losse of all goods Furthermore if this easy ascent rysing of the Earth were not there could not be any riuers for if the superficies of the earth were equally distant from the Center as in a globe perfectly round then would there be no fall of riuers for the water cannot flow except it fynd places more low and neere to the Center And if the Earth should suddenly be lifted vp into steepe heights then would the fall of riuers be more impetuous and violent then were requisite neither could riuers being so precipitious and downfall be commodious to mans vse neither could they runne continually through defect of matter I here omit the danger of inundations which often do chance to the great losse and detriment of the inhabitants when abundance of raine aud melted snow being gathered together do suddenly and precipitantly fall from some great height Therfore the Earth ought to ryse in height by

little and little and by insensible increasings from the mouthes of the riuers where they runne and disgorge themselues into the sea euen to their springs and to other mediterranean places Now if we insist in the speculation of mountaines we shall fynd that in nature there is no necessity of them but only for the behoofe and benefit of man For they first serue to breake the force of wynds which might be very domageable to all creatures if all coasts were plaine euen and no hinderance were interposed to slacken their strength Hence it proceedeth that wynds are more impetuous and boysterous in the open Sea where all is plaine and eauen without any obstacle then in the middle places of the Earth Secondly Mountaynes high hils serue for bounds of regions and kingdomes for they are as it were the limits or closures of great kingdomes by the which the ambition of men and desire of further enlarging their Regality is bridled and restrained least it should incessantly exercise it selfe in vexing and subduing their bordering neighbours Therefore the safety of kingdomes is much preserued and the infinite miseries and pressures still attending vpō wares by the difficult inaccessible passages of the mountaines are much hindered Great hils do furthermore suppeditate and mini●●er matter for building as stones lyme wood tyle or slate with many other things either necessary or at least very commodious to mans life For almost all metals and diuers kynds of pretious stones are digged out of the bowels and veynes of mountaines There also do grow vpon mountaines diuers rootes of great vertue and infinite kynds of hearbs as also most excellent wynes and oliues Lastly they containe the origins and beginnings of springs and riuers and they perpetuate stil continue them by feeding thē with matter and store of water Now let vs next descend to the quality of the Earth and Sea For this is not found to be such as the nature of these Elements being considered in it selfe doth require but such as may best sort to the preseruation of liuing Creatures and commodity of man For if we precisely consider the nature of these bodyes the Elements ought to be simple or without mixture of other bodies vniforme and in euery place of the same vertue operation affectiō For the earth in its owne nature is vehemently dry and moderately cold the water extremly cold and moyst the ayre moyst and moderately hot and all these are naturally depriued and voyd of al sapour or tast colour and odour or smell But this poynt is far otherwise for there are many diuersities differences of soyles of the earth for they are hoat cold temperate such as may be crūled away or brokē into small peeces light ponderous fatty vnctious dry In colours blackish reddish yellow whyte as also of seuerall tasts ●nd odours or smels and fit and commodious for the bringing forth of seuerall things according to those verses Hic segetes illic veniunt faeliciùs vuae Arborei foetus alibi atque iniussa virescunt Gramina Nonne vides croceos vt Tmolus odores India mittit ebur molles sua thura Sabaei Therefore seuerall soyles earth haue their peculiar fecundity quality impressed in them by him who first created this Element Neither can we ascribe all this diuersity to the Sunne and the starres seing that vnder one and the same Climate there are some places more desert barren other most fertill and such of these places as are fertill do not bring forth the same kynds of plants other liuing Creatures though they receaue one and the same aspect influence from the Sunne and the starres In like sort the earth doth not produce all kinds of metals and minerals in one and the same place but diuers in diuers places For ●n one place it bringeth forth stones in another chalke red lead in a third brasse tyn and lead in others gold siluer pretious stones Therefore the earth in diuers places receaueth diuers vertues forces and operations that therby it may minister to Man all kynd of riches which not only cōduce to an absolute necessity of mans life but also to a greater conueniency delicacy and splendour thereof which poynt doth turne to the greater honour glory laud of so munificent a Creatour In lyke sort the Sea hath its fruitfulnes altogether most admirable this diuers according to the difference of places For not in each part of the Sea all kynds of fishes are found for some kynds do breed in the North others in the South seas Some also only in the East others in the West seas Furthermore all the sea meere contrary to the nature of that Element is of a strāge saltnes Now from whence doth this come Or what power vertue gaue this saltnes to it and to what end The reason is ridiculous and absurd which some Philosophers haue inuented hereof to wit that this saltnes cometh by reason of the Sunne beames by the which the bottome of the sea is scorched and burned and that adustion and burning causeth saltnes say they is proued from the experience in burnt ashes That this reason is most insufficient is euident for how cā the bottome or the groūd vnder the sea being couered with such an infinite store of waters that in some places it is 500. or a thousand cubits deepe be so burnt by the Sunne as that from them all the whole sea should contract such a bryny saltnes For the Sunne burneth not but only by reasō of its light which light doth not penetrate in the water further then 15. cubits as diuers Swimmers vnder water affirme and the light is so faynt that the heat thereof can hardly be felt but a little vnder the water Now that saltnes should proceed of adustion it is required that the adustion be so great as that it dissolueth the matter reduceth it to its beginning as experience showeth Neither doth adustion and burning properly cause salt in other things but rather openeth and discouereth it And therefore we see that of seuerall bodyes the salt is seuerall and taketh its seuerall vertues operations from the bodyes so strayned refyned as the Chymickes do experimentally proue In like manner the spirit of euery thing or the oyle which is extracted out of it by fyre doth aforehand lye hidden in the thing it selfe Furthermore if salsity or brynenes proceed from this adustion then ought the Sea to be dosy more and more salt wherupon it would ●ollow that the fishes as not ēduring that temperature would in the end dye as it hapneth in the Lake Asphaltites which is called Mare mortuū since the nature of fishes requires a certaine temperature of the waters To conclude the increase of this saltnes in the Sea would be noted at least in seuerall ages but no such augmentation hath hitherto bene obserued Of the lyke improbability is that sentence of the first origin of

showers heates coldes and from the foure Elements themselues Therefore a nature enioying a mind reason and vnderstanding is in this world as in its owne house furnished with al kind of prouision most fitting either for vse benefit or delight Hence it is gathered that it is an absurd opinion to maintayne this nature vtterly to perish and to be mortall since so it should follow that what is most excellēt in this world and what hath sole dominiō ouer other things and to whome all other things are subiect and serucieable should dye and become absolutly extinct an inference is warranted with no shew or colour of reason for if the earth sea and starres al which were created for the vse of this reasonable or intelligent nature do neuer decay but continue eternall and for euer permament thē with what tecture or pretext of reason can it be auerred that this intelligent nature which is the end scope and mistresse of the former should become mortall and passible If the Soule of man which is this intelligent Nature be so worthy in it selfe that those things which neuer shall decay and be ruined were created for its seruice then how can it stand with any probability that it selfe shall perish and resolue to nothing Certainly it is altogether vniust and vnlawful to affirme that nature to be mortall to the which things that are immortall become seruiceable THE ELEVENTH REASON CHAP. XII THE nature of man according to his Soule is infinitly more worthy then all other Creatures for it is of a higher degree then they are and extendeth it selfe to infinite things as appeareth out of the former considerations therefore it followeth that the Summum bonum or chiefe felicity of Mans nature ought to be infinitely more excellent then the summum bonum of beasts In like sort the action of Mās soule by the which it apprehendeth and feeleth its felicity and the pleasure that it taketh from thence ought infinitly to excell the action and pleasure of beasts in the fruition of their felicity For such ought the proportion to be betweene the obiects betweene the operations betweene the pleasures which is betweene the natures and the facultyes by the which the obiects are apprehended and perceaued But now if the Soule of man be extinguished together with the body then nothing is attended on with greater calamity then Mans nature since almost all the kinds of beasts would be more happy then Man For in this life mans nature stands obnoxious and subiect to innumerable afflictions from which beasts are most free For it is incessantly solicited with cares vexed with feares pyneth away through enuy worne out with griefe burned with desires alwayes anxious sorrowing and complaining neuer content with its owne state nor enioying any true tranquility of mind Besides it often endureth pouerty banishments prisons seruitude infamy the yoake of Matrimony bringing vp of children the losse of temporall goodes a repentance of actiōs past a solicitude and care of things to come many labours and paines taking that the poore flesh may be maintained and that it may be defended from the iniuryes of the ayre and weather to conclude it is encompassed with so many suspitions frauds calumnyes diseases languors and sicknesses as that it was worthily said of one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is Nothing is so grieuous and full of calamity The weight wherof mans nature cānot beare But now beasts are freed and deliuered almost from all these former calamityes liue in great peace quyetnes and liberty for they are not vexed with any cares with any feares of future euill or with any discontents through aduerse fortune Neither are they solicitous of things to come nor repent them of actions past nor dismayed at any imminent dangers They are not moued with ambition or enuy but rest quyet peaceable in the enioying of their owne states Besides nature doth prouide them of all things necessary for their lyues without any labour or toyle on their part Yf we consider the length of their age we find that many liuing creatures liue a longer tyme then Man as Harts Elephants Crowes If the place or Region wherein they liue what may be more desired then to liue in a high and eminent place farre distant from the durt or myre of the earth and to passe through a great part of the ayre by flying in a most short tyme If the habit or cloathing of the body it is farre more commodious to be couered with haire or feathers which are no hinderance to the agility of the body then to be oppressed with the weight of outward vestments fiually if the pleasures of the body be compared it is certaine that beasts do vse them more daily and freely then Man since they are giuen to their feeding by the space of whole dayes more frequently exercise the act of copulation and this without feare or shame from all which it is most clearly gathered that other liuing Creatures are far more happy then man if the Soule of man doth presently dye vpon the dissolutiō of the body from it THE TVVEFTH REASON CHAP. XIII It would not only follow from the former reason that all other liuing Creatures should be more happy then Man but it also would follow that among men themselues those should be more happy who were more wicked and more giuen ouer and addicted to the flesh and to sensuality and those more vnfortunate who contemning the pleasures of the body do imbrace vertue and iustice yea the best and most holy mē should be the most miserable who most estranging themselues from the pleasures of the body do afflict punish their flesh seuerall wayes Whereupon the Apostle in the first to the Corinthians c. 15. Si in hac vita c. If in this life only we haue hope in Christ that is if nothing remayneth after this life wee are of all men the most miserable and the reason hereof must be according to the Apostles mind because we are depriued of the goods pleasure both of this life and of the next and further we do endure daily labours and sharpe persecutions THE XIII REASON CHAP. XIIII VVE see that things are brought to that perfection whereof they are capable for example Plants and all other kinds of liuing Creatures do by little and little increase and are strengthened so farre forth as belong both to their body and to all the facultyes of the vegetatiue or sensitiue soule that so at the length they may come to that height of perfection whereof each kind of them is capable Therfore it must needes be expected that mans Soule should in like sort arriue and ascend to the highest top of its owne perfection for seing these inferiour and most vyle creatures do obtaine the perfection of their owne nature why should not then that which is most pretious and most worthy among them all in the end gaine the same But this the Soule of