Selected quad for the lemma: nature_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
nature_n	cold_a	hot_a	moist_a	5,424	5	10.2024	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96797	Scarbrough Spaw, or, A description of the nature and vertues of the spaw at Scarbrough in Yorkshire. Also a treatise of the nature and use of water in general, and the several sorts thereof, as sea, rain, snow, pond, lake, spring, and river water, with the original causes and qualities. Where more largely the controversie among learned writers about the original of springs, is discussed. To which is added, a short discourse concerning mineral waters, especially that of the spaw. / By Robert Wittie, Dr. in Physick.	Wittie, Robert, 1613?-1684.	1660 (1660)	Wing W3231; Thomason E1830_2; ESTC R204108	73,129	263

distempers of the Nerves as the Palsie and Convulsion and is good to be put into the Bread of such as are troubled with the Palsie of the tongue If any require further satisfaction concerning the vertue of Nitre let them consult Galen Dioscorides P. Aegineta Oribasius Aetius and Serapio Salt or Melch as the Arabians call it is of two sorts ●alt viz. Fossile such as is digged out of Mines and Marine such as is made of the Sea-water or other brackish water the former is of a more gross earthy and compact substance then the latter yet they are both of one nature of a detersive cleansing resolving purging quality drying up superfluous humours and preserving from putrefaction kills all manner of worms and being heated becomes bitter in taste Many other vertues are reckoned up by Galen Serapio Dioscorides and others to be in Salt to whom I will rather ●efer the learned Reader then trouble him with a large recital at present because there is not much Salt in our Spring yet some there is which I think it receives from the Sea rather then from any salt Mineral It sufficeth to have said somwhat concerning the nature of these Minerals severally doubtless there must some qualities arise from their mixture and that with water which was not before in any one particular I shall now therefore hasten to Treat concerning the nature effects of this most excellent compound Mineral water and then say something concerning preparation to it and right ordering of the body in drinking and so conclude Sect. 13. Of the Spaw THe Spaw water according to its manifest qualities is cold moist and being drunk doth immediatly cool and moysten the body and quench thirst having those qualities which simple water hath as I have reckoned up at large in the second Section may indifferently be used for it Although having imbibed the aforesaid Minerals of Vitriol Iron Alom Nitre Salt it is impregnated with the qualities natures of the said Minerals consequently is hot and dry in operation being found by due and daily use thereof to correct cold moist bodies and cure such diseases as proceed from the excess of cold and moysture It s nature Nor let any startle at this assertion that I affirm this Spaw water to be cold and moist and also hot dry which are contrary qualities since it is cold moist actually in the instantaneous use of it but doth heat and dry virtually in process of time Who knows not that wine though it be cold moist actually yet is potentially hot dry the ordinary use whereof doth heat dry the body Now as all bodies incline to a preedominancy of these four qualities and most diseases consist in the excess of some one or more of them each quality so exceeding is tempered by its contrary in the water so as nature which is ever sollicitous for its own preservation closes with those qualities in the water as also in all other remedies which correct its own excess and arms it self unless it be very feeble against those other qualities that might increase its malady hence it is as D. French well observes that a distemper will rather be altered by its contrary then increased by its like But because these four first qualities are found in this water but in a remiss degree the heat and dryness being so corrected with cold moisture and the contrary that a forcible operation in respect of any of them cannot be expected from it I think sitter means may be found out for those intentions As if a man would only cool and moysten it may be better done with simple water which has no potential heat or dryness in it and may be found in every village or if he would only heat and dry up humors it may better be performed by other Medicines that are more eminently hot and dry then by this cold moyst water so as no man need goto Scarbrough for these intentions I therefore pass on to the other qualities of this water in which it doth eminently excell through its participation of the aforesaid Minerals An operation It is of thin parts peircing into the most narrow and secret passages of the body is excellent in opening obstructions which are the causes of most diseases It doth attenuate cut and dissolve viscous lentous clammy flegm in the stomack bowells mesentery reins and bladder and is also cleansing and deterging casting them forth both by siege and urine as it findes them by their position most to encline For such humours as are in primis viis in the bowells it purges out by siege and such as lye in the mesentery veins or venae lacteae porta liver reins or bladder it cleanses by urine and both ways so plentifully as if all the humours went but one way for it purges so well as if it would leave nothing to pass by urine and yet passes so plentifully by the bladder as if it found no vent by stool performing these two operations the more plentifully by reason of the quantity that is to be drunk And of such working it doth very rarely fail nor scarce ever unless in exceedingly constipated bodies although it be taken without any preparation as very many do though not so safely as shall be said in the next Section and this it doth without any griping at all casting forth plentifully both it selfe and the excrementitious humours wch I have often experimented both in my self and others An in●●ance I drank one morning without taking any preparative at all three quarts of the water factâ prius retrogradatione matutinâ pro solito having also weighed my self before I drank that I might discern what alteration it would make in my weight I drunk a pint every halfe hour walking about betwixt one draught and another till I had taken all the three quarts After I had taken three pints it began to work and so continued an evacuation both ways viz. seven times by siege liberally within eight hours I also measured the quantity of Urine which I had kept by it self so as within the space of five hours I had made a pottle of Urine within less then halfe a gill as clear as the Spaw Water it selfe having neither smel nor tast like Urine I took the Urine and evaporated it all away that I might try whether it had yet remaining in it any of the substance of the Minerals but it afforded nothing but a filthy slimy Sediment of a sandy colour Hence it may appear how diuretick this water is when two third parts or near hand should in so short a space passe through those secret crannyes of nature by Urine and yet at the same time work by siege so freely as I could not have expected from Pil. Coch. dram one Herein exceeding if I mistake not most of the waters of Europe not excepting the German Spaws some of which passe very well and

exceedingly keeping it in Earthen Vessels under the Earth and in their coolest Cellers that they may have it alwayes at hand Strabo saith l. 15. Geogr. c. ult that the Kings of Persia drank the water of the River Eulaeus constantly with whom it was in so high esteem that it was forbidden any of his Subjects to drink of the water of that River Lib. 1. Herodotus tells the same Story but calls it Choaspes which saith he flowes by the City Susa where the Kings of Persia were wont to keep their Courts in winter And Agath●eles in Athenaeus further describes it l. 12. Dypn c. 3. although he names not the River it seems to have been a small one whose water was called by the Persians aqua aurea So the Persian King● or the golden water which was fed by 70. Spring-heads of which it was treason and punished with death for any man to drink except the King and his eldest Son Water was accounted by the Ancients the fittest drink for all ages and Sexes However in this age of ours it is fallen under contempt Hence those Laws which Plato mentions that young men should not so much as taste any Wine till they were 18. years of age and women never which was observed by the Roman Matrones with very great devotion as saith Valerius Maximus Lib. 1. they usually drinking nothing but water or sometimes a drink called passum which is made of Raisins boyled in water when they are not well Athenaeus tells of a custome among the Roman women l. 10. Dypn c. 13. that they were wont at the first meeting with any of their husbands kindred to salute thē with a kiss who not knowing how soon they must meet some of them did drink no Wine at all least they should smell of it and so be discovered and have their names set up that woman being accounted to want no fault that would drink Wine And thus also the Italian Women drink nothing but Water Italians Ibid. concerning which I find a pretty Story mentioned by Athenaeus out of Alcuinus Siculus an old Italian Writer He saith that Hereùles as he was once travailing on the way towards Croton being thirsty turned into an House near the way side desiring some Wine to drink to quench his thirst now it happened that there was a Vessel of Wine in the House which the good Wife had broached for her own tooth her husband not knowing of it The Master of the House hearing when Hercules called for Wine bade his wife go and broach the eask and give him some the good Wife not being willing her Husband should know that it was already broached pretending what a deal of trouble it would be to them both did churhshly bid him drink Water Which Hercules standing at theh Door all the while hearing called the Husband to him and commended him for his good will and shewed him the womans deceit and the cask which now was turned into a stone This story is well known among the Italians and the stone is to be seen at this day saith my Author as a warning against the womens drinking of Wine Likewise at this day in France French it is accounted a foul crime for Virgins to drink any thing but water only their ancient women will mix a little wine with it which is called by some although with too much liberty of speech vinum baptizatum It were well if it were more in use in England especially among the younger sort as that drink which nature first assigned it would prevent drunkenness which Athenaeus calls the metropolis of all mischiefs lib. Dypn c. 1. ●5 de invent rev l. 3. c. 3. and Polydorus Virgilius the most filthy debauchment of the life of a man and the original of 600. other vices I suppose he intends a certain number for an uncertain and indeed is the shame of our Nation I know it is objected Ob. that the waters in England in regard of the coldness of the climate are more crude and not so pure and wholsome as those in Spain France and the hot Countries I confess great care ought to be had concerning the goodness of water Sol. of which by and by But certainly there is no cause for the objection since there is no Country but it affords wholesome water The waters of England are good even the most frozen Country of Greenland as I have heard from our Seamen of Hull who yearly continue there m●● moneths and use it wiho●● any the least harm I know the Objection arises from this that they think because of the coldness of our climate the water is not so well concocted with the heat of the Sun and so is hard of digestion 1. But they must know that the Sun by it's heat pierces no● far into the bowels of the earth in the hot Countries where they suppose the best water to be the heat thereof piercing not above 10. foot deep into the earth according to the judgment of the best Philosophers the Springs arising much deeper as we shall shew anon 2. Again the Sun and the Planets have an influence into the bowels of the earth where neither their heat nor their light can penetrate to the concocting of minerals that are above 100. fathome deep as I might manifest at large from the judgement of good Authors and therefore we need not doubt concerning water which perhaps lyes nearer the superfices and requires less concoction 3. Moreover water I mean Spring water which is in most ordinary use hath it's concoction and preparation according to the temperature of heat and cold that is in the earth Now if we may believe Philosophy which teaches that the earth is warmer in Winter in the low cavernes of it then in Summer because of the cold aire and frosts that shut the pores of it which is also ratifyed by our own experience that the Springs are warmer in winter frosty weather then in an hot Summer then it follows a pari that in our cold climate the Earth must be warmer then in those hot climates and consesequently the water rather better concocted 4. Besides it is a wrong to the God of nature whose beams of Divine love are equally extended in his common providence for the preservation of mankind throughout the whole universe as if we in England or they in other more Northern Countries had not as good a provision of water a thing so absolutely and generally necessary as they in the more Southern climates have For my own part I believe that our waters are as wholesome for our bodies as theirs are for them in those hot climates and much more then theirs would be for us and I think that fluxes and calentures which happen to Englishmen that travail into those hot climates do proceed rather from the ungreeableness of the waters to our bodies then from any other one cause that can be assigned 5. Again these medicinal waters with

which England doth abound more then any Country such as this at Scarbrough do certainly require more heat and concoction then any ordinary potable waters do of which since England affords so many if not better then others do it is without reason to question the concoction of other waters 6. And lastly the waters of England do agree fully and exactly with that description and those tokens of good water which I find laid down in the writings either of Philosophers or Physicians Grecian Arabian or Latine If any man require further satisfaction concerning this point I referre him to my ever honoured and intimate friend Dr. Primerose his Book of popular Errours lib. 3. c. 1. The sum of what they all say accounts to this Tokens of good water that there must be a concurrence of the Verdict of 3. Senses to prove the Water to be good viz. Sight Taste and Smell I will not trouble the Reader nor my self with many quotations To the Sight it must be exceeding transparent and clear without any sediment when it hath stood long and which being shaken hath no shreds of any shape whatsoever or motes or sand flying about To the Taste it must be void of all qualities neither sweet nor sowre nor salt nor acide nor must it have any other tast that can be discern'd by the tongue the formality thereof consisting in cold and moisture To the Smell it must have no smell at all nor yield any quality that can be discerned by the most accurate nose Paulus Zachias a learned Roman Physician l. 5. Med. leg qu. tit 4. will have the other two Senses to give verdict also even the sense of hearing accounting that bad which being poured from one vessel to another poures like oyle with out noise as being thick and unctuous on which account ●accius discommends the Water of Tiber lib. 1. de Tib. aq as also because it is thick and oyly to the touch To the which I will add one tryal more that which being boyled yields no scumme on the top nor sediment at the bottome but all evaporates into air there are other tokens which I shall reserve for their due place This saith Montanus is the common matter of all those things with which it is mixed And as the Astrologers say of Mercury among the Planets so I may say of water it is good with the good and bad with the bad it heats with hot things and cools with the cold yet it is to be observed it ever dulls the heat of hot things and such as do attenuate Good in many cases Now cold simple water is not only the common drink which the God of Nature hath provided for all his Creatures for the sustentation of them in their being but also it is most healthfull being taken inwardly and is prescribed by Physicians in many cases both to prevent and cure diseases and tends much to preserve us in our well being Concerning which one Hermannus vander Heyden a Dutch-man of very good worth hath writ a peculiar Tractate well worth the reading It tempers our natural heat Meth. med c. 5. which otherwise would scorch and dry up the humours of the body as saith Fernelius and doth excellently correct that preternatural heat which is caused by Fevers as Galen and Avicen do affirm and they both allow it to be drunk in a large quantity especially if there be signs of concoction in the veins which a learned Physician is able to judge of and then it helps the critical evacuations of nature by sweat seige or vomit Aristotle saith that they that use to drink water do see the most clearly which is agreeable to reason because it sends no hot fumes up into the brain but rather allayes them Eubulus commends it to help the invention and saith that such as drink water are the best inventers of new things whereas all strong drinks do dull the understanding lib. 2. din. c. 2. as Athenaeus cites him It is good against vomiting when it proceeds from bilious humours stayes the Hicket when it arises from choler that corrodes and vellicates the Tunicles of the stomach and stayes the flux and being drunk warm it causes vomitting A glass of cold water being drunk after meat is good for an hot stomack that concocts too fast and for such as Hippocrates calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but it is not safe when a man hath been toyling and is hot as Cornelius Celsus saith lib. 1. c. 3. nor can I approve of cold water for such as are old and have very feeble stomacks least it overcome their natural heat and they find the same fate that Aristophanes relates of Tiresias who drinking of the water of Tilphosa a famous Spring in Baeotia when he was very old Ath. lib. 2. cap. 2. dyed immediately the coldness of the water overcoming his feeble natural heat Water furthers procreation of the Species and therefore it is observable in those Countries where they drink altogether water they multiply more then else where and hence was the Law which I read of in Plato Dialog 2. de leg that those that were new marryed were to drink nothing but water They indeed that drink Wine are more salacious yet they are less prolifick Crato in Scoltzius tells of one Cons med 143. that by drinking every night and morning cold water found very much benefit in freeing him from his usual violent tormenting pain of the stone in the morning he swallowed some grains of Pepper in it unbruised to correct it's coldness which may very well be because it tempers the excessive heat of the kidneys and corrects the sharpness of urine Hermannus vander Heyden commends it highly against the Gout as a most soveraign remedy in his Book before cited It tempers the heat of the Liver but it hurts the Spleen being taken in too great a quantity and fills it with serous humours and therefore when we would use it for the hot distemper of the Liver we should have respect to the Spleen to remove it's obstructions as Capivaccius sayes well In Sco●t Cons med 156. And let this suffice concerning water in general to beget it a little more credit among us because of it's antiquity and usefulness Sect. 3. I come now to speak concerning the several sorts of water in particular as they lye in the order of nature and are or may be the causes of each other And first of Sea water Of Sea water as that which was first in Nature and very bri●fly not being of use to be taken inwardly yet falling into our consideration in the subsequent discourse The Sea makes one Globe with the Earth being yet not confused with it but divided from it and gathered together into one place by it self on the third day of the Creation Gen. 1.7 The Earth is the center of the Globe and contains the Sea water as in a vessel there being no water which is

falling sick of accute Fevers which at this season of the year are more frequent then at other times are wont to defer the looking for help a fault too common at all seasons because of the Dog days till that which at the beginning might easily have been cured by delay doth many times become incurable Sure I am Hippocrates never said or thought that the Dog days are unfit time for Physick Hippocrates explained nor did Galen in his Comment understand him in that sense He onely says purgation are difficult about that time of the year that is they cause ill Symptomes as Fevers Gripings dissolution of the Spirits which are already enfeebled by the excessive heat of the weather imputing it not to the influence of that Star but to the heat that is wont to happen at that time the heat also not arising in the least respect from the nature of the Star but from the Sun it self which is now again running over the same degrees of the Ecliptick in Leo that it had done before in Taurus in July and August which it did in Aprill and May. It cannot be from an extraordinary malignant influence that is in the Dog-star more then others Dog star has no malignant influence it being agreed on all hands by those that are versed in Astrology that there are many other constellations and parts of heaven which are more full of malignity then it is as Corscorpionis which arises with the Sun in the later end of November being also within a few degrees of the body of the Sun So Caput Medusae or Argol neer unto which the Sun pasles in the latter end of of Aprill And the Dragons Taile and imaginary point of heaven full of enmity by which the Sun transits once a year besides the monthly conjunction of the Moon with them all I say Hipocrates cannot be thought to intend the Malignant influence of the Dog Star to hinder the working of Physick while he that knew the rest as well as this never mentions them at all which if they were observed would imply the unfitnesse of every season and consequently very few days in the year would be proper for Physick It was indeed the heat of the weather which hee respected which happens with us about the Cosmicall rising of the Dog Star with the Sun to wit Phyfick may be used in the Dog days towards the later end of July But neither is the heat so intense in this our climate as that for it we should abstain from using remedies when there is need our July and August not being so hot as April and May are in the Island of Coos which is called in Maps Laugo and by its owners Turks Stancera not far from Rhodes where Hippocrates lived Now although nothing is more necessary to be observed by Physicians then the disposition rising and setting of eminent Stars the bodies and stomacks of men receiving mutation according to their motions to which respect is heedfully to be had in giving of Physick De aerc in principio as saith Hippocrates else where yet there is not so much regard to be had as that either this Star or the heat should make us wholly abstain when a disease requires it Learned Physicians knowing well enough how to muzzle that Dog and temper the heat with medicines sutable we having purging remedies as fit for hot weather as for cold and temperate such as if Hippocrates had known I verily think hee had never mentioned that Aphorisme his purging medicines being exceeding hot violent and of a malignant and coroding nature which wee have very rarely any occasion to use and then every better corrected and do wholly lay aside in the heat of Summer Neither is Hippocrates in that Aphorism laying down rules for giving of Physick but only reporting his observation concerning the māner of working of medicines wch he says is with some difficulty and bad Symptomes well might it be so wth his medicines in that Climate but what is that to us while our own observations are that ours do operate without any difficulty And whosoever shal observe the operations of medicines in the hand of any able Physician at this time of the Withgood success year shall acknowledge them as safe and successfull as that which he gives at any other season And more particularly this is found true in Mineral waters such as I am now treating of which are as I said the best in hot weather both in regard of their more eminent participation of the strength of the Minerals as also because of our bodies which are more open and free for their passage and we can also drink more plentifully in the Summer moneths which is necessarily to be done by such as go to the Spaws It any require further satisfaction concerning this point of the Dog-dayes I referre him to Dr Primerose his Book of Popular Errors Lib. 4. c. 11 as also to Doctor Browns elaborate and learned Tractate concerning Vulgar Errours Lib. 4. e. 13 where he may be abundantly convinced Nevertheless if any mans condition require his drinking in Winter Directions for such as drink in winter let the water be a little ayred that the extremity of the cold may be taken off and let a good fire be made to warm the Chamber least it happen to him as Fallopius found in himself andothers by drinking of the German Spaws in winter excessively cold who felt some paralytick and convulsive motions after it It any enquire of me whether this Spaw-water will endure to be carried into the Country at distance Quest and keep it vertue I answer Puriù ex ipso fonte bibuntur aquae Answ It is the best when it is drunk at the Fountain for I think some of its Spirits do evaporate being carried far it seeming to have a purer azure colour and a more acid taste also at the Fountain yet it may be carried many miles without out any sensible decay of its strength and operation being constantly brought by the Fishermen in Caggs It hath also been carryed to London and was found good as far as York and Hull which is thirty miles yea often many miles further It hath also been carried to London and was found good I have drunk of it after it had been ten days in the Cagge and have always found it to work very well and I think if it were filled at the Fountain into Bottles and well stopped it would keep its vertue and sweetness much longer being set in Sand or Earth in a cold Cellar and might be carried perhaps as far as the German Nevertheless I think it much better to drink it at Scarbrough for those that are able of body to travel thither and in purse especially for Students who being here withdrawn from their Books and all occasions of Study then which nothing is more prejudicial to such as drink waters or pursue any other course of Physick may enjoy the society

not bottemed by the Earth as naturalists averre The Water being a lighter Element lib. 2. met cap. 3. it 's proper place is to be above the Earth so as the greater part by far of the superfices of the Globe is covered with water notwithstanding which the higher places of the Earth stand out of the Water 2 Pet. 3.5 and appear above it giving bounds to the Water which it cannot pass over as the Scripture saith Psal v. 9. and so are become habitable for men and beasts It 's Nature Sea Water is Salt and hot in operation binds and dryes the body if it be drunk as do all salt waters according to the judgment of Hippocrates De aere aquis locis which he sayes are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 De remed l. 2 c. 53. indomicable and hard it rather increases then quenches thirst and hath been found deadly to such as have drunk of it being exceeding thirsty as saith Paulus Aegineta I would not be so understood as if I thought all salt waters were to be r●j●cted from inward use or as if no salt waters would purge the body The Sulphur Well at Knaresbrough a gallon whereof being vaporated away yields two ounces of salt is dayly used inwardly with very good success in many cases and purges the body as I know by experience and as Dr. Dean and Dr. French do both witness in their Books upon that Subject This Spring does the same and hath some salt in it Notwithstanding if salt waters do loose the body it is from other minerals of which they do participate and not from the salt on which account they rather dry up the humours and are singular good even in hydropick constitutions especially in the beginning the truth whereof I have proved by good experience in an Honourable Lady to whom I commended the use of the Sulphur Well before mentioned in the Dropsy with good success Hence it is that Hippocrates in the place afore cited blames them for their ignorance that upon any slight occasion use salt waters inwardly expecting to loose the body with them they having from the salt no such vertue but rather stay the belly and cause the body to break out in Scabs and make the fundament and lower parts troubled with checks De simpl c. 4. as Rasis saith The Sea water hath indeed some sweet parts in it which are thinner and lighter then the substance of the water is from whence it comes to pass that the flesh of those fishes that live in the Sea is as fresh as those that are taken in fresh waters If one distill Sea water in a cold Still it yields fresh water And I have read an experiment in Gamillus Flavius which is worthy a tryal Paraph. in Hip. de aq p. 43. and may be of use to such as go on long voyages and want sometimes fresh water He saith that if a bottle bee made of Wax and the mouth of it be close stopped so as no water can run into it and it be cast into the Sea and made to sink in a few dayes it will be found to have fresh water in it very pleasant and wholsome to be drunk I have inserted this for the Seamens sake to whom it may be beneficial Sect. 4. In the next place I come to treat of Rain water with it's original and qualities Of Rain the product or original is thus The Sun and the rest of the Heavenly bodies do by their heat exhale It s cause and draw forth out of the Sea and other moist bodies that are on the Earth the vapours which are the more rare and thin part of the water and bodyes these by their heat they do so rarify that through their levity they fly upward towards the upper region of the aire next to the Element of fire the proper place of such light bodies where they continue till according to the ordinary course of Providence by the influence of the Moon or some planetary Aspect out of signs of the watery Triplicity or some other cold and moist constellation they become more gross and moist and so by their weight descend into the middle region of the aire where by the excess of cold they are condensed into waters and now being become an heavy body do fall down upon the Earth in showers making thereby a kind of circulation in Nature through the ascent of vapours and descent of showers This I say is according to the ordinary course of Providence when notwithstanding without any of those previous influences of the Celestial bodies Almighty God who is a most free Agent and doth what he will in the Heavens and the Earth doth sometimes by a special Providence cause it to rain Exod. 9.18 and at other times also he doth so suspend the aforesaid influences Jam. 5.17 that it rains not at all Amos 4.7 as in the use of Elijahs prayer Thus as the Prophet observes he makes it to rain upon one City and not upon another and this he doeth that he may keep us in a constant dependance upon himself as upon the first and primary cause without whose concurrence secondary causes can produce no effects at all No this my judgment concerning the causes of rain is agreeable to what is writ upon that subject by the best Philosophers and Physicians the Scripture also being clear in it Amos 9.6 He calleth for the Waters of the Sea and poureth them out upon the face of the Earth to which add that in Job 36.27 28. He maketh small the drops of water they poure down rain according to the vapour thereof which the clouds do drop And that the rain doth falls or is with-held from us in ordinary providence according to the influence of the celestial bodyes is deducible from another place in Job Chap. 38. v. 25. and so forward where God expostulating with Iob concerning his mighty works of providence reads a Lecture to him concerning the Meteors of Rain Lightening Thunder Dew and Frost with their causes and in the 31. Verse he hath this question to him Canst thou bind or restrain the influence of the Pleiades or loose the bands of Orion with other expostulatory questions The meaning thereof is this Canst thou stay the rain and hinder it from falling or canst thou loose the frost and make it thaw The Pleiades being a moist constellation in the shoulder of the sign Taurus which brings wet and Orion a dry constellation in the last decade of Gemini arising in the evenings in the beginning of the Winter causing frosts I might enlarge concerning Mazaroth viz. the 12. signs and Arcturus which are mentioned in the 32. vers but I hasten Nor is this my own private interpretation but it 's agreeable to the judgment of the most learned Interpreters upon the place and particularly of those that were Members of the late reverend Assembly of Divines in that their excellent exposition upon the