they created A. The first that they might bee the beholders and admirers of Gods power and wisdome in creating the World Secondly They are called Angels of Heauen in Scripture not onely because they inhabit but also because they were created with the heauen the first day Thirdly This is manifest in Iob 38. where it is sayd that the Sonnes of God that is the Angels did sing and showte when God laid the foundations of the earth Q. Where were they created A. In Heauen for some of them fell from thence And Christ saw Satan like Lightning fall from Heauen therefore they are called the Host and Angels of Heauen Q. Why doth not Moses speake distinctly of the creation of Angels A. Because he did accomodate himselfe to the rude capacity of the Iewes therefore hee doth onely speake here of the creation of visible creatures Q. What is meant by Gods rest on the Sabbath day was he weary A. No but by his rest is vnderstood his desisting and ceasing to make other creatures Q. Did God rest from all his workes A. Yes of creation but not of preseruation for yet the Father worketh with the Son Iohn 5. Q. Did God create no other creatures since the Creation A. No for whatsoeuer seemes to be created since it was created before either in the matter thereof as Wormes Flies Bees and such like or else in that God gaue faculty to some creatures of diuers kindes to produce a third kinde as Mules of the Horse and Asse power he gaue to the Starres to produce some creatures of putrified matter yet some creatures he doth still produce either by generation as all particular men and other creatures that are generated or by creation either ordinary as the soules of men or extraordinary as the Starre that appeared to the Wise men and the Doue that descended on Christ so then God rested from creating new kindes of creatures but not from producing the indiuiduall creatures of those kinds that were made in the Beginning Q. Why is it sayd here that God ended his worke the seuenth day seeing they were ended the sixth day A. The creatures were perfected the sixth day in respect of their substance qualities and properties but in respect of their operation they were not perfected till the seuenth day for they did not beginne to produce effects till after the sixth day and seeing operation is the end of the forme they were not fully perfected till they began to worke Q. How do you vnderstand that God sanctified the Sabbath A. In that he separated it from the other dayes and consecrated it for holy vses hee would haue this to bee a Day of rest and wherein we might wholy addict our selues for his seruice Q. Did God inioyne Adam to keepe this day holy A. No but this was afterwards commanded by Moses for in that happy estate it had not bin needfull to appoint one day for Gods seruice seeing euery day should haue bene a day of rest and Sabbath for Adam to meditate on Gods workes Secondly it was not needfull for man then to rest from seruill workes because in that happinesse mans labour should not haue bene wearysome Thirdly wee read of no commandement that was giuen to Adam but only one concerning not eating the forbidden fruite Fourthly if this law had bene giuen to Adam it should haue tied all his posterity to the obseruation thereof but wee do not read that any one of the Fathers before Moses did obserue the Sabbath Fiftly if the Sabbath had bene kept by the Fathers Moses would haue mentioned the same as a strong argument to perswade the Iewes to keepe it Sixtly the soundest of the Fathers are of this opinion Q. What is meant here by the day wherein God made the heauen and the earth A. By the day is meant the whole 6. daies so often in the Scriptures day signifieth time as the day of saluation the day of iudgement Q. What is meant by a mist that watred the earth A. Not a fountaine but a vapour which is the matter of raine Q. What is meant by this that God made man of the dust of the earth A. By man is vnderstood his body by dust the matter of his body to put vs in minde of humility and of this bodies frailty by earth is vnderstood the 4 elements for man is perfectly composed of all but earth is only expressed because in mans body there is more earth then any other element Secondly when man dies his body is resolued into earth Thirdly he liues vpon the earth Fourthly he taketh his clothes and food from the earth Q. Why was not the body of man rather made of heauenly then earthly substance seeing the soule is so excellent A. Because the soule of man did require such a body as was capable of senses by the which as by instruments shee might worke in the body but the celestiall bodies are not capable of senses for they are not capable of the first qualities Q. Wherein doth the body of man exceed the bodies of other creatures A. First in that the body of man is made straight that he may behold heauen his country that his senses might vse their function the better his hands might bee imployed in working not in walking Secondly in that his senses are more perfect then of other creatures not in the quicker apprehension of the sensible obiect for other creatures haue perfecter senses in this regard but that man can discerne more perfecter by his senses the differences of obiects then other creatures Thirdly in that mans body is more perfectly compounded of the 4. elements then other bodies for the bodies of the creatures are more earthly or more waterish Q. Of what age created God Adam and Eua A. In the prime and flowre of their age First because God created all things in their perfect estate Secondly because God commanded them to increase and multiply which they could not haue done if they had not bin created of a ripe age Q. Whether was the body or the soule of man created first A. The body for God did keepe the same course in mans creation which nature doth now in mans generation for first the body is formed in the mothers wombe and then the soule is infused Q. Why is the creation of mans soule called a breathing A. First to shew vs that the soule was not taken out of the power of the matter but was created of nothing and infused in the body Secondly to teach vs Gods power who did as easily create the soule as man doth breathe Thirdly to shew the excellency of mans soule which seemeth as it were the breath of Gods owne mouth Q. Is the soule of man of the essence of God A. No if it were it should bee either a part thereof or the whole it is not a part for Gods essence cannot be deuided in parts neither is it the whole for then all men should be but one soule Secondly if mans soule were
foretell many things partly by Reuelation from God and partly because he is a subtile spirk and of long experience and hee makes those men foretell things to come rather by mouing their phantasies or by dreames or by offering to their eyes the shape or to their eares the words of those things he will foretell or by characters 2. They can foretell things to come because God permits them for the greater destruction of those that curiously consult Sooth-sayers so he suffered Balaam his Asse to prophesie 3. Men that are of subtile spirits may foretell some things by looking diligently into the life manners and dispositions of men as one may foretell that a tyrant oppressing his subiects shal be killed 4. They may foretell some things which may fall out true because of the credulity of those that consult with them for if they foretel good successe to any this ofttimes falls out because of the feruent desire and vsing of all meanes to attaine the same which doth fall out not because it was fore-told but because he to whom it was fore-told vsed the meanes to haue it Q. Is it not lawfull then to consult with Astrologers and Sooth-sayers A. No because in consulting with them we derogate from Gods glory and honour them in thinking that they can fore-tell all things which is proper only to God 2. If it bee vnlawfull to conuerse with an excommunicate person much lesse should we haue commerce with Satan who is excommunicated from heauen to the place of darkenesse and is the pernicious enemy of God and man Q. Whether are the beasts or fishes perfectest A. The beasts because they haue more perfect sences beget more perfect blood in our bodies then fishes haue more commerce with men and are docible in many things fishes are not Q. Why then were they created before the beasts A. As nature begins at that which is most imperfect in generation so God in the creation did keepe this course for man the little world and patterne of all the creatures was not created till the sixth day 2. God keepeth that course in the 3. last dayes which hee did in the 3. first in the first he created heauen and in the 4. did replenish it with starres the 2. hee made the seas the 5. replenished it with liuing creatures Q. Why speaketh Moses of the creation of some particular fishes and not of trees and beasts A. Because these fishes are greater then any earthly creatures therefore we should the more extoll Gods glory in considering them Q. How doe the waters bring forth the fishes A. The waters are not the efficient cause of the fishes but the materiall yet but in part for fishes are compounded of the foure elements notwithstanding the waters are the predominant matter of the fishes not in respect of their substance for that is earth but in respect of qualitie moist and cold Secondly The temperature of the fishes are waterish Thirdly Water is the place of habitation generation and conseruation for the fishes Q. Why were the birds created the fift day with the fishes and not the sixth A. Because they were created of the water as the fishes Secondly Because of the great resemblance betweene the birds and fishes both in respect of their place water and aire for both these elemēts are perspicuous humid moueable and easie to be changed one into the other Secondly In respect of their bodies for both are light and swift the sinnes of the fishes answere to the birds wings and their scales to birds feathers they both want eares paps milke bladder Thirdly Many kindes of birds dwell in the waters as the Sea-meawes Swans c. Fourthly their mouing is alike for as the fishes swim so the birds flie Fiftly They both vse their tayle to guide their flying and swimming Q. Were the birds created of the water A. Yes but not of the thickest of the water but rather of a watery vapour betweene water and aire therefore the birds conuerse in the water and aire Q. But it seemes the birds were created of the earth the sixt day by these words of the 2. Chapters And the Lord hauing formed out of the ground euery beast of the field and euery bird of the aire brought them to Adam A. If God had created them the sixt day of the ground Moses had not spoken of them the fift day Secondly in these words alleaged the coniunction and hath no reference to the word ground as though both had bene formed of the ground but to the word formed so the meaning is that not only the beasts that were formed of the ground but the birds also which God had created were brought to Adam Q. How doth the earth bring forth liuing creatures A. Not actiuely but passiuely for the earth is not the efficient but the materiall cause of earthly creatures Q. What difference is there betweene the beast cattel and creeping thing verse 25. A. By behemah in Hebrew is vnderstood the great beasts as Iob 40.15 By chaiah the wild beasts in whom there is seen most liuelinesse by remesh creeping things such as haue no feete at all as serpents and they that haue short and little feete as Ants. Q. Why did not God blesse the earthly creatures as he did the fishes A. Moses did omit this for breuities sake Secondly the blessing of the fishes doth belong also to the beasts Thirdly man is blessed and in him the beasts as when hee was cursed the earth was also Gen. 3. And when he was punished the beasts were punished also Genesis 7. Q. Why was man particularly blessed A. Not only for multiplication but also because of the elect And thirdly because mans copulation is oftentimes sinfull and inordinated Q. Did God create in the beginning imperfect creatures as Bees Waspes and such like A. He did not create them actually as hee did the perfect creatures but he created them in their causes as hee gaue that faculty to the flesh of an horse to beget Waspes beeing dead Q. Were Mules now created or not A. They were not First Because they were found out by Anah Genes 36. Secondly They are barren but God created all creatures with his blessing to be fruitfull c. Genes 1. Thirdly this kinde of procreation is against nature but God created euery thing according to his kinde Genes 1. Fourthly This is against his owne law Leuit 19. Q. Who was man and the cattell created in the some day A. First Because they both dwell in the earth Secondly The earthly creatures are more familiar with man then others Thirdly they are more profitable to man then other creatures Fourthly They are most like to man of all other creatures Q. How doth Gods goodnesse and wisedom appeare in the creatures A. Many wayes First In the variety of so many thousand diuers kindes of creatures Secondly In the comely order that is seene amongst them Thirdly in that all things that serue for the perfection of the world is
Psal 93. and 104. this is vnderstood in respect of the whole earth yet it is moued in respect of parts by earthquakes Iob 9. Q. Of what figure is the earth A. Round Esay the 40. This figure is most perfect capable ancient Q. Is the earth vnder the water or not A. Vnder because heauiest yet Exo. 20. Ps 24. and 136. it seemes the water is vnder the earth but it is to be vnderstood that a great part of the earth was made higher then the waters for mans habitation Q. Why cannot the whole earth moue A. Because hee is in his natural place which if it should moue it should ascend and this is against the nature of the earth Q. What is vnderstood by the spirit that moued vpon the waters A. A wind which often in Scripture is called a spirit or the holy Ghost or the power and mighty operation of God which also is often called by the name of Spirit in this sence the Spirit of God is sayd to carry Elias to heauen and to haue caught away Philip Acts 8. Q. Why is God brought in speaking in the creation A. To shew his absolute power whose word is his worke 2. The second person in Trinity the word essential of the Father by whom the world was created Q. Why was the light first created A. To beautifie al the rest of the creatures 2. The world was created in 6. daies which could not bee distinguished without the light and darkenes Q. Was this light spirituall such as God is sayd to inhabit as Christ is called the light of the world and the Apostles light the regenerate light A. No but corporall and sensible first the darkenes that went before was sensible ergo light 2. By this light the 3. dayes were distinguished before the creation of the sun but they were sensible 3. This Narration of Moses is historicall not allegoricall Q. Then what light was this A. Not the light of the elemental fire nor of a light cloud nor of water but of the sun which was the first day diffused through the whole hemisphere the 4. was collected into the globe of the sun we see The 1. day this light had but one common property to illuminate the 4. it had particular vertues to bring out particular effects 3. This light the 4. day began to bee cause of generation and corruption the measure of time the cause of increase and decrease in the moone Q. How did this light before the 4. day distinguish the day from night A. In moouing from east to west and from west to east by the motion of the 1. spheare Q. In what place of heauen was this light created A. In the east for this light returning to this same point of the east from which it went made a naturall day Q. VVhen was heauen and earth created A. Before the first day in respect of their substance and matter but in the sixe dayes in respect of their forme and perfection Q. What is meant by the firmament that separateth the waters from the waters A. The aire and starry heauens with all the spheres betweene which do separate the watry clouds from these waters below but properly the lower regiō of the aire doth separate these waters which are generated in the single region from the waters below which low region is called by the name of the whole firmament Q. What are these waters aboue the firmament A. Not Angels as Origen not waters properly so called aboue the stars as Basil would haue for their natural place is below and there is no vse of them aboue the starres neither the heauen called the Cristalline which hath neither the substance similitude or qualities of water but by these waters wee vnderstand the watery clouds aboue this lower region in the aire These waters in other places are sayd to be aboue the heauēs that is aboue the aire which in Scripture is called heauen Q. How made God the drie land to appeare A. By causing the earth which before was plaine to swell with mountaines 2. By the waters which before were spred ouer the whole earth to betake themselues to one place Q. Then were there mountaines before the flood A. Yes for the flood rose 15. cubits higher then the mountaines the mountaines are called eternall Psa 76. Wisedome is ancienter then the mountaines Pro. 8. They make the earth the comelier more fruiteful more commodious for man and beast they hold out the seas from ouer-flowing the earth out of them springs and riuers proceed they defend the valleies from the raging of the windes that without them the earth could not be before the flood Q. Is the earth or seas highest A. The earth for all riuers run into the seas naturally because they flow downewards 2. Men are said to go down into the seas in ships Psal 107. Again if the seas were higher ships should sayle swifter to the land then from it 4. The farther we were in the sea we should see the land the better Ob. But Psa 104. and 33. it seemes that the waters are higher then the earth A. In Ps 104. Dauid speaks of the springs that are generated in the mountaines or of the watery clouds that couer the hills in Psa 33. Dauid speakes of the miraculous standing of the red sea Q. Were briers thornes and poysonable hearbes created before mans fall A. Yes because these are parts of this world without which it is not perfect and although poysonable hearbs are not fit for meate they are good for physicke Q. In what time of the yeere was the world created A. In the Autumne because the Iewes before they departed from Egypt began their yeere in Autumne and also before the stood for the flood began in the second month that is about the month of Nouember 2. The Iewes Exod. 23. are commanded to keepe the feasts of Tabernacles in the end of the yeere that is in Autumne when fruits are ripe and also this same feast in the beginning of the yeere Chap. 34. nature also shews that Autumne is the end of the yeere by the maturity of the fruite and falling of the leaues from the trees It is also the beginning of the yeere as the yong seeds budding out of the earth do testifie Lastly in the creation the fruits of the trees were ripe and ready to be eaten Q. Were the starres created the fourth day A. Yes in respect of their light motions and operations but they were made the 1. day in respect of their substance for they are the thicker part of the spheres Q. Why were the stars created after the planets A. Because God will shew his power which in producing of plants doth not depend on the starres 2. To keepe the people from idolatrie whom he knew would be bent to worship the starres when they consider their beauty motion and operation in producing hearbs now they are inexcusable because this vertue they haue in producing hearbs is from God who in the beginning
dominion of man ouer man doth not agree to all as they are man but as wiser or better c. Q. Should the wife haue beene subiect to the man in that state of innocencie A. Yes but this subiection of the wife should not haue beene vnwilling bitter troublesome as is it fell out afterward by sinne Q. Should mankinde haue beene multiplied by â—â—â—nall copulation as now A. Yes but without sinne for the soule and her faculties should haue beene subiect to God and the body to the soule therfore God distinguished in man male and female secondly he saith Increase and multiply thirdly it is said They shall be both in one flesh which is onely in respect of copulation Q. Should man haue only eaten of the hearbs and not also flesh in Paradise A. Onely hearbs first because Gods permission is onely extended to the hearbs secondly the hearbs were most naturall and simple foode for that happy estate and man was not made for food but foode for man thirdly the hearbs were sufficient because before the earth was cursed there was great store of all soâ—â—â— of hearbs and those very powerfull and good to feed man but after the Fall they lost their force and former goodnesse Q. Should the wilde beasts such as Lions 〈◊〉 fed on flesh before the Fall as they do now A. No but on the hearbs onely first because heere is no flesh mentioned but onely hearbs secondly if it had bene permitted to them to eate flesh before the Floud then those rauening beasts that were in the Arke should haue eat flesh but in the Arke there was no flesh for them therefore they did feed on the hearbs Q. How comes it now that these kind of beasts do not feed on hearbs now but on flesh A. Because the earth doth not yeeld such comfortable and nourishing hearbs as then secondly the temperature of the creature is not so sound now as it was before the Floud Q. How is it vnderstood that all which God made was very good A. All things were good first in respect of their substance which is vnchangeable secondly in respect of their perfect estate they were created in thirdly in respect of their accidents or properties fourthly because of their operations which brought forth perfect effects Q. Why did not God see that all things were very good till man was created A. Because man is the end of all the creatures secondly in him as in a little world are to be seene all the creatures thirdly because Christ who is essentiall goodnesse was to sanctifie the nature of man in taking vpon him his flesh Questions on the second Chapter Q. DId God create the world at the same instant or in the space of sixe dayes A. In the space of sixe dayes first because Moses narration is historicall and therefore he speaketh of sixe distinct dayes secondly Moses Exodus 20. and 31. vrgeth the Iewes to worke sixe dayes and rest the seuenth because God created the world in sixe daies and rested the seuenth this reason had beene ridiculous if GOD had made the world in an instant thirdly if wee vnderstand Moses in this place allegorically then wee must make this whole historie an allegorie fourthly if the seuenth day had beene the first and in it God had created the world then how is it vnderstood that God rested the seuenth day fiftly how could so many diuers kindes of creatures be created in the same instant of time yea then we must say that man was created and brought into Paradise and was cast asleepe and Euah was formed of his rib the same instant Q. How then it that vnderstood Ecclesiast 18. He that liueth for euer created all things together A. It is to be vnderstood of that confused masse that God created in the beginning out of the which afterward hee created the rest of the creatures in their distinct dayes Q. Why did God spend so much time in making the world A. Not because he was weake and could not make it in lesse time but that we might the more seriously consider the order of the creation distinction and replenishing of the world and in these the omnipotencie wisedome and goodnesse of God Q. Did God make the world of necessitie or of his owne accord A. Of his owne free will because he made it at that time and manner he thought fittest secondly because he in creaâ—ing wrought otherwise than the course of Nature doth for he made the heauens without light then made light first imperfect afterward perfect and he made the hearbs before the Sunne Q. Can it be gaâ—hered from hence that as God created the world in sixe dayes and rested the seuenth so likewise the world shall continue sixe ages or sixe thousand yeeres and after shall be a perpetuall Sabbath A. No for this computation is but a coniecture or fiction of Elias not the Prophet but the Rabbin hauing no ground Secondly If this were true we should know how long the world should continue and fully know the time of Christs comming which cannot bee for his comming shal be as a theef in the night as Lightning his comming shall bee as the comming of the flood of this houre knoweth no man not the Angels the Father hath put in his owne power the times and seasons Q. Were the Angels created or are they eternall A. Created Psal 149. Reuel 4. 10. Colos 1. The Church confesseth the Fathers confirme and generall Councel establish this point Secondly Onely God is eternall Thirdly They are parts of the world therefore created Q. Are the Angels reall substances or onely good and bad motions in the minde as though the Sadduces A. They are indiuiduall substances First Their names doe shew this for they are called Messengers Watchmen c. Secondly Their actions and operations which onely belong to personall substances for they serue God come to vs comfort vs gather together the Elect an Angell wrestled with Iaacob conferred with Abraham they were receiued by Lot c. Angels declared Christs Natiuity to the shepheards his Resurrection to the women Thirdly Some of them stood some fell therefore substances Fourthly We shall bee like them Ergo they are not bare motions Q. What is meant here by the Host of Heauen and earth A. By those of Heauen is meant the Angels for they are called the heauenly host Luk. 2. also the Stars Esay 34. Therefore the Stars in their courses fought against Sisera Iudges 5. By the host of Earth is meant all the earthly creatures therefore God is called the Lord of hostes Q. Were the Angels created before this visible world A. No because God created all things in the beginning ergo Angels and not before or else this had beene no beginning Secondly They were created for the vse of man but man was not before the beginning ergo not Angels Q. Were they created after the sixe dayes A. No for God rested from all his worke the seuenth day Q. Then what day were