I. (chat it to fay) Light and Water , is ihe root. the cube of Compoiinon.

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Sed. u MofaicaUTbihfofby. 75^
Or,the manner of generation and corruption is more plainly exprefled thus :
>i-t:::::::l>
Where the four elements remain in their fimplicity , as they were created com- plicitely in one watry nature , or rather catholick clement, called Aire^ which is the root from whence generation arifeth unto the period of perfeft compofition , by four degrees or fteps of alteration, namely > from the 4 to the 8. and whither tendeth retrogradely corruption, namely, from 8 to 4.
CHAP. VII.
That God (contrary nmo A.t[i\oth*s afertioit , with the ofmion of divers other Ethnick. Fhilofofhers'^ doth not operate ofnecejfui , for the creation and continuation of hit creatures i^ut of his proper tvil! , and benigne inclination,
WE tearm that proper Ijr Neceptrj, thatcanbenootherrvi^e: again^ we e [teem that hVtlcitT.lib.u as veil voluntary asfortuit > or happening^ by chance , which may be otherwife. c. 5. Csm.Thjf. Now there hath rifen and fprung up a great difpute among the Ethnick Philofo- phers, whether God operateth in this world voluntarily , or of necefitty, or as it were by compulfion : the greater part therefore ofthem are flatly of an opinion, that God adeth in this world , as well in the generation and confcrvation of things , as corruption ofthem , by neceflity, and not by any voluntary motion ; whereby it muft follow, that he was enforced to do or effeft what he doth from all eternity , by fome other nature , which was either coeternall with him , 'or pre- exitlent ; or elfe that he was excited orpufhed forward againlt his will , toeffeft this or that, by fome creature which he did make. All which, how erroneous and extravagant it is from the rules and center of truth , I will in few words exprelTc untoyou : For firtt of all. What (Ibefeech you) is of greater antiquity than God , being that he was before any thing ? What is in Geometry before, or in meafure lefle then a point ? or which among all the numbers of Arithmetick is of fo antienc altandingas is the unity? Wherefore it mult needs follow, that God is free and voluntary in his aftions , being that he was of himfelf, and didexill without any refpeft had unto any other, either precedent or coeternall principle from all be- ginning, and therefore was fufRcient in himfelf, andofhimfelf, to work and ope- rate by himfelf from all eternity- Bat the principall reafons of the forefaidEthnlck opinion, are two-fold; firft, becaufe God doth aft and operate by his proper e(\ence,and not by any acquired ver- tue ; then, forafmuch as the effefts in the world fcem to be neceflary, and hereupon they concl'ide, that they cannot come or proceed from any contingent , that is ro fay, fortuit or voluntary occafion of another- Unto the firit , me-thinks they feem to argue againft themfelves ; foras fie afteth by his proper eflence orfubftance.itis evident , that heis moved of his own accord , and confequently not by any exter- - nail compulfion, orinternall necelTity. Moreover,!nthe latitude of unity, there can be no compulfion orcoaftion , becaufe that Unity cannot fuffer. Again, it is not poffible that hefhould be urged to work by any externall or alien efficient caufe , becaufe that he remaining primarily fixed , and Ifedfaft in himfelf , and of himfelf, worketh as the originall fountain of all things by himfelf, emittinghis
formall
So Mofaicall Philefofby: Book 4,
formall and viviiying beams of life at hisplealure, and with-drawing them again when and where he pleafeth. Unto the fecond I fay , that necefl'ary cffeits do no way include any necelfuy in the firil efficient caufe , becaufe that fecun.Jary caufes (which /'A«o and other wife-men called Hand- maids or She-ilaves) do act at the • commandandincitingof him, which is thi unity of all multitude , and therefore nil in all, or by a neceflary order ; fothat anecelfityin worldly created things , dependeth upon the volunty and command of him who made them, the which or- der he accomplifheth and^niflieth at his pleafure : And therefore we find this Wild. 16. 21. vvrittenby the wife-man , Jgnemmitefcitn'e combureretymidj ignem il/efacit ardere inter aqn^',&c.HcmAhjihthe fijremildandget.tlejefi itfhauldburn lanlnow again he m^ksth it to burn betrceen the waters , yeiiy and ia the clouds of hail andjnow , without meliincofihent. Again, He ni'aketh the fire to forget hk dejiroying prrpsrtj , rha the righteous may be nonr.Jhed by it. It was alfo an evident argument, that God worketh notof neceility in or up^n this creature Gffire> whenthe three fervancs of the living Lord were untouched by the fire of the Chaldean furnace, although it was heated three times. This alfo is confirmed by that Hillory , white it is laid, that in the time of Jo/i^«'« the Sun Rood ftill for a wboledaies fpace; asalfothic in thedaiesof Hfi'f^'*/:', the Sun was made to go backward fifteen degrees , in the Horologe or Diall , without any evident reafon in nature. Moreover it is p ovcd and ve-ihed in that wonderful Edipfe of the Sun,which happened at thedeach and paffion of our Saviour , wherein the Sun of heaven was totally obfcured, whi^h al- fo chanced beyond f he expeilation or capacity of the Ailrologians & Naturaluis of this world; forafmuchas at theinflant of that Edipfeor paifionof the Sun , the Moon was neither in the head or tail of the Dragon , as Firmicus, that great artiit inAfltDnomy, doth witnefie ; and therefore it was effefted againlt the common courfe of nature: all which events could never have fallen out , ifGod had acted of necesfity in this world. It foUowerh therefore plainly , that God doth operate in this world ofhisownfreewill, not of necesfity, toefteii the ordinary or an- nuall courfe of things , according to the lawes and necesfities of nature , all whi.h alfoheeffe^lerh voluntarily, and ofhis own free-will, namely, as well for their creation and prefervation, as finall corrupti-m.
But come hither and hearken, O ye vainPhilofophers, whowouldhave God, which is theactor andordinator ofall things , tobeboundup by the lawes of ne- cesfity ; What honour and glory ran any man jultly attribute to God, for his wif- dom juilire, and clemency , i/he were cdnhrained of necesfity, not onely to cre- ate all things after this or that manner , but alfo to nourifh and lultain them, and afterward to b.ing them to corruption ? What thanks , or fervice , or adoration fliould we ovve him, if what he did for us .were of necesfity ? Wherefore, O Ari^o- r'lf, is it according unto thine affertion, that we fhould offer facrifice unto the roots of nature? or what availed it for us mortallmen, to pray and pour forth our fupplications unto God, (the which duty neverthelefle Plato, Porphyry, Jamblasf, and Proctm do teach us to be moft neceflary ) if that he could not be propitiated or appeafed by praying, 'ince that he worketh of necesfity ? Or wherefore did Soc atet and PythnnoYM ([hewhich,by theteftimonyof the Oracle, were elteemed the mo:t fage perfons of their t ime ) ufe accuflomarily tcfpour our their prayers unco God, if God were onely conftrained to a£t and operate whatfoever he did in the world ? pr t 8 Or why do'h the Prophet proclaimit, QiiodDeusf.tfolusinclam.'.nd: :- ' '°' * dus. That Gcd was onely tobecallednpon, andprayed unto , if there were any niCesfiry in God to acl: in the generation and confervation of things? Yea verily, it is evi- dently tobe demonRrstedby -^his which is already faid, that God, by the means of prayer, is acmilomariiy inclined to mifericord and pitty, and that it is in his free- will en deal either in fevericy or clemency with the world , and the creatu'-es there- of, and confequently that he isnotu'ged of necesfity , to operate or bring fo:rh efretts , as certain vain EthnickPhilofoohers have averred; amon^il thewhii h, I mult nominate a remarkable perfonage', and a follower of Arifto-les doctrine, n.imely , Grt >jr, that Prince of the Ethnick Phyfitians , who fpeikerh Atheilhcally in t hefe WOrd nc vfu pirthw. ^^^ (,o,vem fncere veht. Nos au'em non nafc-^timus^fsdconfiymanfis ^U-tdam- naruram [J . 2. r. 1 4. ^^^^^^ Minpojje, enqne Deum Me ajgrediommno ; (tdex his a-t.e faca-e poteft, lius ej} eli^ere. jam vera cum pills In palpebdsf.itius effet eqnMes fempe'- e(fe mannit'.i- dine & unnie o , non ipfttm ijttidtm hoc vohiiffc aff.rmMtus , illos mnxfiUos ft^^ffe, kc- cue enim /dfMer^potififett afJtrmAnnifqtiefi eos etram millies volii 'jfet,^!t>7qaf.m tamcn
t.iles
I
Seft. 1.°' Mofaicall Philofafbf. Si
tales futurts, ft ex cttte moRi produHi ftiijfent : Mofes did imaghe, that God otK do aS things, J ea, alt hough he would make a Horfe or an Oxe of ajhes. But I am of another opi- nion : For // things at all^ hut doth eleH: and make choice of the bejl of fuch things as he is able to ef- feii. No7v Jince that ft would be better f that the hair in th eic-brows jhould be alwates equall in magnitude and numbers I ajfrm that it is not he that would have it fo^ andthej were forthwith made^ neither could he do it; and I fay j thatif he would a thou fand times have them fo, yet would they never befuchy if they had been produced out of the foft skin, Lo how Atheiftically he fpeaketh, and how he would retrain the Omnipotency of God, and limit his a6lions with the main clog of necefsity, yea, and impotency in Power !
But there are certain other Philofophers , which do behave themfelves more modelHy in the beforefaid doubt. For Avicenna affirmeth , that thefe adlions are neither of necefsity, nor violent, butdoconfitl in a mediocrity betwixt thera both, and thereupon he concludeth, that it is in the volunty or will of the A^enc. In the which refolution he feemeth not much to vary from Scriptures, which°fayj Beus cafiigavh nos propter iniquitates noflras y ipfe jalvabit not propter mifericordiam Job. ta i fuam. Coti hath chafifed us for our iniquities, he wili fave us for his mercy's fake, Byvvhich,rhiseleftedveffell doth intimate, that there is a free volunty in God to punilh and to have mercy. But this is expreffed in plain words , after this man- ner, Dens juxta voluntatem fuamfacit^ tarn in coeli virtutibui, quam in habitatoribut tev r£ : Codoperateth according to htsfVill^ as well with the vertuts of heaven , as with D«n. 4) the Inhabitants of the earth. In which words, the Prophet doth evidently fliow that every operation in this world is eflFefted by the Will, and in or by the Word or Spirit of the Almighty, and therefore not of Necefsity, as -^rijtotle , Galen, and many other of the Etnnick Philofophers have averred , to the derogation from ' God, and blemiiliing of his Omnipotency. But that there is an undoubted ne- cefsity in the Organicall caufes, and in the effefts which iffue from God's kdii in them, it appearethmoft evidently : Wherefore the Prophet BaruchCakh , Deo cbedi tint per omnia, Sol, Luna, Sydera, fulgur, Vintus^ Nubes , &c- The Sun Moon, Starrs^ Lightning/^ TVtnds, Clouds, &c. do obey the Will and Command of God, that is, thejr are incited by his Word, and of necefsity provoked to effedt hispleafure: It followeth not therefore, that he that comniandeth, mudbecon- Hrained to do or aft in that imperious manner, being that he doth it as a firft mo- ver, who hath not any other aftor before it, or co-eternall with it, and confe- quently doth operateof afreewill, which is radically grounded in himfelf. And hereupon the ApoHle: Foluntati Dei quis ref fiat } H^hots able torefijl the will of God} KmC^i And the Prophet : Conplium meumfiabit, & omnii voluntas mea fiet : My couk- felipoa'lftand^ and my wdl jhall be accomplished. And Job: Deus quodcunque ve/uit^^**" '^' '*' hoc facit : What God would have done, that he effeEleth. And therefore he doth not i aft involuntarily or of necefsity, but voluntarily , and according unto his free *** Will.
We conclude therefore , that feeing what is Necejfarium or neceffary , is that which cannot happen otherwife, butmuft of neceflity be fo. So that which is contingent, may happen or be efFefted otherwife , as is that thing which is either fortuit or voluntary. Now that the Afts of God in this world are voluntary, and therefore cannot be tied up with the bands of NecefTity, it is proved in this , name- ly becaufe it may happen otherwife , then it is accuttomed to be by the laws or rules of nature. As when the will of God was that the Sun fhould ftand Hill, oc move retrogradingly, or that itlhouldbe eclipfed , when the Moon was in none of the points of the aniniall interfeftion ; that is , neither in the head or tayl of the Dragon, (^r.
M The
8 2 MoJaicaU Pbilofopby. BooL f J
The fifth Book ofthispefent Se&ion.
The Argument of this Book.
After that the Author had expre(j'ed the OriginAll nature of the two efjentiall properties i namely cf Heat and Cold ^ and had prozed the main (ffeBs thereof to he RarcfaBion andCondenfatiojt, tvherehy the Heavens and Elements were framed: He proceedeth now inthis Book unto the myflery of Meteorologim cdlimprejfioriS, heing the firft degree of Compofition, \l)em>: it the aB of the Divine Spirit , eff Bed in the cathoUck Element of the tporid's lower region^ and confequet.tly do not proceed from fuch accidental land external I grounds or beginnings^ as the Ptripateticks do fa/ly fi^rmfe. For this reafon therefore he hath compared the Afeteorolggicall doBrine 0/ Ariflotle, j^ith that of the holj Scripture. And fii^ally by producing the Pagan Philofofhy touching thefe aiery imprefions unto the Ltdtan tryall^ or teuch-jlone of Truth, he fndeth them to pro-ve falje fpuriom metal, yea andmeer dtt/fs, inrefpeH of the golden Truth.
.CHAP. I.
Herein ^oajhallfind, in few -words, a Repetition of the precedent Difcourfi:
Alfo an Ex^ofnim apon the word Mereoron or Meteor. And
lajily the A^ethod, which the Autho intendeth to ob-
ferve in this Boo'^, ii exprejfed.
«^>tE^:s«.' N my precedent difcourfe, I have briefly pointed a--, firlT: the (5^^vi^ Pci,nciples of things , namely the Root of every thing that was, viz,, the Dark or potentialluniry, from whi^h fprung fort;h the Light or ailuall unity. And I told you, that both of them were but one thing ineflence, forafmuch as Lighc wa^ unto the eternall unity all one withdarl;ncfs, though unto our weak capacities they are orpofite in property. Then I llgnified, that out of the firit obfiure unity, by his otherma- nit'elt property waters did appeare, arguing thereby that of or from this unity , by this unity, and in this unity, are all th'ng^. After that, I fliewed how water> were the materiall or patTive Principle of all things, as the illuminating and f rnull Spirit, wa^ rheaduall and informing beginning of every being ; both which iflu- ed, (as I laid before) out of one Root, which for that caufc is rightly faid to be all in all. TJien 1 evprelled unto you how that Cold was an eflentiall adherent unto privative rett , and the llout of'fpring and Champion unto darknefs. As contra- riwife. Heat way the immediate ill'ue and co tion, and the infeparable Champion or AiTiHant of Light. And then I told you how Humidity and Siccity, had theirOriginall from the muruUl prefenceor abfence of the fprefaid two aiiiveverrucoj- effentiall properties, Coldand Hea^ Laflly, I deckre that the main marter or Suhie^S: thereof, was the waters, but the catholick Aftor was and is the Word or Spirit of God, who a£leth firftin his Angelicall Organs, by the Starrs, and efpetinlly the Sun in Heaven above, and winds beneath , upon thegenerall fublunary Waters or Elements, according unto his volunty, altering of it after a four-fold manner, through theformall properties of the four Winds, and that either by Condenfation or Subtiliation, into divers {liape'; rnd difpofiti- onv. Now in th's Book I will open unto you, after a true and infallible manner, (fo-afmuch as ir fhall in all points agree with the contents of the holy Hillory:) how the blcdcd Wo-d or facred Spirit of the Lord doth by Condenfation and Ra- refaction produce and bring forth, in this our carholick fublunary Element, all Meteorological 1 bodies. But before I enter into this my difcourfe, it is 6t fo- me tocell you\\diattheAntientsdo mean by this word Meteor. Thofe Appirir'/^ns
which
Sed. I. Mofakall Philofofhy. 8)
which are feen in the airej are by the Greeks called Afeteora , not in regard of their - naturall efl'ences but by reafon ot their fublimity in poficion. Others tearm theni niore naturally, I mpreflions ; forafmuch as they are fliaped and imprintedabove in thecatholick element, called Air.
But in refpedt of their eflfenciall confinence, they are properly called Corpora im. perfetJi mixta ant comfofca. Bodies that are imferfeilly mixed or compounded ; and that either becaufe of their unexpected generation , being that they are procreated and appear fuddainly, and at a lliort warning, or elfe becaufe their compofition ap- peareth not to be according unto the mutation or change of fubftance, oralterati- on of quality; or elfe in regard they arc not fo exaftly compofed, as other anima- ted bodies which are perfectly mixed. Or lafUy, thefe impresfions arefo called , forafmuch as they have not attained unto any perfe^ft form ; neither feems there to be in this kind of compofition any great alteration of parts ; feeing that the mem- bers of the elemenrfo altered , are confufed with one another. Howfoever,itap- peareth, that fuch names are ashgned unto this kind of impreflion , after the fancy or conceit ofthisorthat Philofopher, when in verity they are ma^natia Dei ; a mylHcall body, I fay, framed and falliioned by the finger of God, out of the bowels ofthecatholick fublunary element , to effeft his will upon the earth, either to judgment or mercy , as fhall be more at large expreffed hereafter. So that in this fenfethey may rightlybe rearmed , thecharaders or fignes of Gods benignity and mifericord, or vengeance and feverity upon the earth. My purpofe therefore in this Meteoroloficail xd3.tior),\s, to direit you into the path of true wifdom, for the better fcanning and decyphring-out offo greatamyllery, asisthe meteorologi- call ad^ of the Spirit cf God, and to lead you by that means out of the mire and puddle of Ethnick or pagan Philofophy , in which we Chriftians , even unto our immortallfliame, do Hick fart, and like b ■itilli fwine do willingly wallow. The which that I m.^y the better effed, I will compare the abfurdities of the faife Peri- pateticall Philofophy , with the infallible verity ofthe holy Text, that thereby each Chridian, pondering in the ballance of jultice, thecontradiftion which fhall be exprefled between the one and the other , may open his intelleiluall eyes , and follow fincerely that which is good , andforfakerhebad , betaking himfelf unto the truth, and flying from that which is preliigious and falfe,and may by that means at the la(t difcern with open eyes , that main difference which is between the wif- dom and Philofophy of this world, which in verity (for the Spirit of God hath pronounced it fo) is meer foolifhneffe, and that of God , which is the reall andef- fentiaU truth. Thus therefore you may difcern, and that in few words > the manner or order of my method in this Book, not determining with my felf robeover-te- diou'^ unto you in it , but to finifli briefly that A^eteoro/ogicali w'Mom , which in regard of its own worth , deferveth to be enrolled in the everlarting monument of afar grearer volume; and to be poliflied orburniflied overwith the luftreof a more elegant ftyle, and refined manner of fpeech.
CHAP. II.
««-
/« this Chapter the true my fiery ofthe Winds is difcovered and fet dorvn , according to the intention ofthe d'lVine Spirit's tefUmom ; and vo'ithall , thefalfe andpre/l,m giOKsfpiritol Ariftctle, and his Peripateticall adherents , touching that fubjecif is UHmasked and made manifeft,
THat I may the better expreffe that difference , which is between the falfe wif- dom and philofophy of this world , and that which, becaufe it is of God,muft be true indeed , nay, verity and truth it felf , my mindeand purpofe is in the firft place, tofer down the opinion ofthe Peripateticall fadlion, and then afterward to compare and examine it with the touchftone ot the divine Word or Scripture, thereby to make a tryall, whether it be right and found or not; that is, whether it will bear warer,orfhrinckin the wetting. Now becaufe (as I faid) the four cardi- nal! and collaterall winds ofthe heavens , with their angelicall Prehdents, are the aftorsin the transformation ofthe catholickMercuriall element, or Protean fub- lunary waters, from one fhapc into another, I think it moft neceflary to begin this my ftoryordifcourfe with the profound mylkry ofthewindsingenerall, foraf- much as they are noted to be the principles of all the other Meteors. And firfl: I
M a will
g^ Mofaicatt Phibfopby^ Book ]^^
will exprerte what the pagan Peripateticks, and their Chriftian followers ^ have [and do determine concerning rhem.
The Paripateticall Philolophets are of opinion, that the wind is a hot and dry exhalation, being d'.flicukly enflamed, which arileth out of the earth , and foareth up unto the middle region oftheaire, from whence it being forthwith repelled downwards, by reafon of the coldnefle of that region ; and again it re-indeavouring upwards, doch partly in regard of its levity , and partly by other afcending exhala- tions, which it meeteth in his violent and coafted defcent , move laterally in the lowerregion of the aire, the which aire it doth ventilate and agitate , lelt that for want of motion or tUrring,it lliouldputrifie.This isthefum of their opinion con- cerning the generation of the winds. I will therefore inlilt upon this Peripateti- call or Ariliotelian definition, or rather defcription of the winds.
Firrt, becaufe that the fpurious Chriltian Philofophers, as if they were incited ihereuntoby akind of unbridled madneffe , do not liick to defend , and by their beft endeavours uphold this his opinion, as well in their publick Schools, and private negotiations or liudies , as by their writings ; and that with fuch an aflTured obllinacy , as if it had been divinely publifhed unto worldlings, or uttered and pronouncedby the facred Oracle of truth it felf.
Secondly 5 becaufe the place wherein this imaginary exhalation is faid to be in- gendered, and from whence it is derived , is by it efteemed to be the earth ; and the feat unto which it coveteth to afcend, is (according unto their doftrin) the middle region of the aire, into the which, by reafon ofthe cold temper thereof, it is not permitted to enter or penetrate , but the medittm or mean (forfooth) in the which it moveth naturally upward , and by compulfion, or againft nature , downwards ; and laltly, by juRling or Itrugling together, of other afcending exhalations, and the forcible defcending fumes laterally, that is to fay, towards the right or left hand, is the lower region ofthe aire.
Thirdly, for that they feem to avert , as it appearethby this definition, thatthe agent , mover, or efficient caufer of this exhalation, as well downwards as lateral- ly, is double or two-fold, namely, the cold ofthe middle region ofthe airs, which forceth and preffeth downward towards the earth, that fcarce imaginable fume, and the other is the troop of other afcending exhalations , orfubtle fmoaks , which fuccesiivly do rife out ofthe earth, which in their motion upwards, meeting with that fume which is forced to defcend, do ftrive, and, as it were, wreflle with it, and confequcntly by that means do make a noifein the aire, which is called the Wind. f And rhis is the Peripateticall Philofopher*s windy fi£f ion, which in the condu- fion,after a due examination, will prove to be but a bubble, or vain puff of wind ; that is to fay, meerly words, without any fubrtance. Now the finall end or caufe why their nature hath ordained thefe windy motions in the aire , is, ( as their defi- nition doth teltifie) that by this manner ofventilation, the aire may be preferved , cleared, and purged from all putrefa^Sion, and corrupt difpofition. But whofoever will give credit unto this Eihnick definition , efpecially if he be a true lover of wifdom , I counfell him, firil, to examine every particular member of it » and ha- ving made a diligent enquiry therein, let him fee and difcern , whethsr they agree with the lawes of true reafon and wifdom.
In the firll rank and order therefore, let us mark or obferve , whether in the for- mer member of his defcription, there be any probability of verity to be found: By it we are told and taught , rhat the materiall fubltance ofthe winde is a hor and dry exhalation, arifmg and furging out ofthe earth: Bur by holy Scripture (which all true Chriliians ought to credit before all things) wearetaught, thatthe winde harh his o'iginall or beginning from the Spirit or breath o'lJEHOl^AH : A flat » Exod. ij.8. narium tr'orum (faith 1'fofgs) coacerv-itx func ae^fict, Havi^i veytto tHo&ofe^nit eos mare : By the breath of thy nojhiUs thewnters were feathered toaether ; thou d'dflblorv with thy winde, and the Ceftcove-'-ed them. Knd Job^d/ae-'entedit Deusve^to fua, flame Job. 17. 9- Deo coficrefcit qel'A : God doth brin^ forth the ice with hif bre ith • when he doth blow-, the i8. ly. frofl andiceiceis inoendcred. Dcus factt fondttsvefito , Ciod ^iveth proportion unto the
Pfal 104-4. aire or winde, AndthzVrO'phctDavid^QH/fic'tanore/osventoSyO-M/n'firosptosif. tiem urentem: Who makf'h hu upon fuch learned perfonages and D flors, as are profoundly feen and dived into the mytieries ofthe true nature, d ^ averre, rhar the externall ofthe Angels is aire , or the fubtle humid nature of the world ; and that their inrernall or fom^all portion, is a hidden divine fire. Andfor this caufe, St. Denis dot\i teatm the An- gels,
Seft. I.' Mofakdl Philofofhy. S^
geh, A/gamntha , that is to fay , clear Mirrours, or looking-Glaffes , vvhkh do re- ceive the fplendour or I'ght ot God , and do reprefent his image. And therefore the Prophet, in the place above rnenrioned , dothdefcribc both the hidden and in- vihblewinde, and that which is fiery , and doth manifelHy appear in the form of lightning, to be an angelicall fpirit, animated by the divine fire, or bright emana- tion from God. All which being rightly contidered,\ve muft either confefle, that the Spirit of the noltrills or mouth of JEHQI^A , is a hot and dry exhalation , fubjed untopreternaturall pallions , andarillngout ofche earth, ( which vvould appear too profanely uttered out of a ChriRian's mouth)or that this member of the Peripateticall definition is molf falfe and erroneous. But this Dull be difcoyered more plainly in my enquiry, and laying open of the other members.
The fecond member of this definition doth intimate unto us, that the place wherein that exhalation , which is the materiall caufe of the winde, is incendred and from the which it is derived, is the earth ; but the place or feat unto the which it tendech( faith it ) is the middle region of the aire; and the medium and fpace in which that moveth , as well upward and downward, as laterally, is the lower re- gion of the aire. In the which aflertion of this Ethnick Philofopher , I will make plain, and prove evidently, that there will be found divers groffe errours, and pal- pable abfurdities. But that we may the better effeft our enquiry , and hunt after thetruthofthebulinefle, thatistofay, for the exader examinations caufe, it will be neccffary for us 1 to divide this member or claufe into three parts; in the firft whereofwe ought ferioufly to confider, whether the matter ofrhe winds beex- traitedout oftheearth orno. Inthefecond, ifthac fubftancedoonely foarup, and make his way unto the concave fuperficies of the middle region of the aire one- ly. In the third, whether the placein which the wind movethrbe onely the lower region of the aire. Tothe former quelHon or doubt we fay. That either the facred Bible (which is the fountain of truth) is falfe , or this particle of the fecond mem- ber muft be moft erroneous ; for, faith St. John ^ Spiritus ubivult fpirat, cr vocem T h ? ? at-tsatidiS'ifediiefcLsundevenhit, aut qno vad^t : The wind or (pint: i/owcth where ic Tvill, and thou hear eft his voice, bnt thou k^ioweft not from whence it commeth^ or whither itgoeth, Whichbeing rightly pondered by wife-men, they muft conclude, that either y4riftot/e£i\v further into the mylteries of God and nature , than the Evan- gelift. who was atrue and fincere Chriftian Philofopher and Theofopher , and then Si. John muft be proved a lyar in his doftrine , which were a great impiety in any ChrilHan to imagine'; or elfe the aflertion of -^riftotle mult clearly be found falfe, and in all things contradidory unto the truth, -^riftotleimh, that the matter ofthe winde doth move from the earth, and afcendeth into the middle region of the aire, and from thence is repelled downward. But St. ^ohn fairh, that the winde moveth not conltrainedly , thatistofay,bycoa(Sion, nor any accidentallcom- pulfion, but voluntarily, and accordmg unto its own pleafure and appetite ; for his words are , Spiritusfpirat tthi vult. It bloweth where it will ; and that althouoh the voiceand noife of it be familiar unto theears, yet neverthelefl'e it is not known from whence it commeth , or whither it will. This dottrine ofthe Evanoelift , which fo mainly differeth from that of Anfiotle , is maintained out of divers places of holy Writ: for theroyallPfalmift , with the Prophet J^r^w;', faith, Depromit ventos e thefattrii fms. He drAweth forth the windj out of- his treafurtes. But the Scrip- Pf»'- 1 3 ?.?. cures prove, that the earth is not the feat or place of Gods treafure, where it fpea-J"^™- 5i- if. keththus, Aperiettibi JEHOVAH thefattrumfufim optimum , ccelos^dandop/uvlam terra fm tempore : JEHOVA will open umo thee his befl treafure , the heavens, g^iving- '^"'* *8j2. rain unto tie earth in hii dne time. He doth not fiy the earth , but the heavens- fo that between thefe two there is a great difference, as between night and day. Wherefore ir is evident , that the heaven or catholick element of air , is the fecrec cabinet of thefe meteorologica Dei magnalia, or meteorologick wonders. Hereupon it is faid in another place, JanttM coelorum Aperu'n pluens Manna, &c. He opened the gates ofhe.iV:n, raining down Adanna.. Again, it is fo hard a thing for a mortall man, Pf*'- 78.*B« that is not illuminated with the fpirit of wifdom , to find out or difgover this ar- cane treafury of God, that JEHOVAH himfelf fpeaketh unto Job ^ thouoh he Were a ]u(t man, and one that feared God, much more he pointeth at the wife-man or Philofopher of this world, whenever vyas acquainted With the divine Word, in this manner, Pcrvemfime in thefanros niv's,et in thefauros grand:nis i-^fpeciionem^^^-'^^-^*' habes} Cameft thott ever into the treajury of the fnowyor haft thou any inftoht into tfje treafury of the hail ? Arguing, that without his Spirit had (hewed or revealed his
treafury.
85 MofakallPbilofofhj/. Book 5-
treafury, it was impoiTible to know it. And for this caufe So'omon faiih. Corpus i»- feilant corrupclene aggravat antmam, & vixconjicimtts ea qua ;>; terra funt : qu Wird. J.iy- temin cjt lis funt qnn tnvejl'.gavit, niji tu dedcris fapteMtiam} 7 be body which isfubjeti unto corruptiofj-, doth agar av Me ariddeprefs thejoul ; and we fcirceljr c$r>]eliHre or gtie^Je WiH. 7«17« at thu^e thin gi which are upm the earth : who hath found out or difccvered the things which are in heaven , ttnlefje thott give and btfiow upon him Wifaom ? Now So oman confeffeth, that he knew the force of the elements, and power of the winds, and confequently of their reall originall or beginning , for, Sapiemia (faith he) onti-.tttnt artifex ms docnit , Mifdomthe worker of all thtngs taught him. Now Artfiotles falfe Philofophy , and his Ethnick and worldly vvifdom fheweth, that he never attained unto the vvifdom which defcendeth from above, even from the Father of light. But to proceed unto the doub[,which is, Whether according unto Ariflotles intention, the originall matter of the wirLd be of the earth, and his tirli: motion from the earth into heaven ? A man more learned and wife by far in the myfteries of nature, than" Ecd 1 1. J. Ar'ijhtle ever was, anfvvereth in this manner , Vent'i viam (faith he ) ignarai homo , ignorat homo opus ipjius Dei , quaviafaciathicc omnia i A^anknoweJ: not ihe wajf or path of thewlnds ^ man kneweth net the work^ofGod , namely , by what meayis he ejfeileth the fe things. But ^>-;y?tfr/^ was a man, yea , and an Ethnick man, and therefore couldfomuch the leffe judge rightly of fuchabiirufe things, as are rhefe; where- fore JEHOVAH feeming to deride theboldneffeoffucha worldling, and as it Job 58. x4. vvere m reprehending of him, fpeaketh in thefe words, Nojline ubinamjit via, in qua dividittir exhalatio qua fpargit venium fuper terram} Knowefi than inhere is the way wherein the exhalation is -divided , which fpreadeth the wind upon the earth } Argu- ing hereupon , theimpofTibility for a worldly mans capacity , to conceive orun- derliand thefe things , unleffeh^ be taught andinltruftedby the Spirit of wifdom , who teacheth all things ;the which Spirit is beftowed by God on whom he pleafeth. And yet -^rifiot e feemeth impudently to anfvver God, and fay, I know it well, for the way of this exhalation is from the earth upward, unto the middle region of the aire, wherepartlyby an Antiperillafiscaufed of cold, drivingit downward again, and partly by other exhalations, which are fuccelTivly afcending , the exhalation is compelled to move laterally upon the face of the earth, &c. But I will fliew the impoinbility of this reafon,by that which followeth immediately hereafter.
To the fecond and third part of this claufe,! fay, that the ruedi.'im by the which the winds are carried or moved, is, by far, more valt and large , then that which Ariftotle aiTignes unto it ; for the winde doth not blow and ad onely in the lower , but alfo in the middle , yea, and in the upper region of the aire. If therefore the winde do blow in the middle region of the aire , then will the vigour oiAriflotle's definition be taken away , forafmuch as the efficacy thereof doth chiefly conlili in this, namely, that fucha hot and dry exhalation, as is the caufe of the wind , is noc permitted to penetrate the middle region of the aire, but is reverberated , precipi- tated, and beaten down again, by the vertue of the middle region's cold, which re- fifteth the heat of the fuhlimed exhalation. Now if there be any wind in the middle regionof the aire, this caufe of the winde will be taken away, forafmuch as then the exhalation will not be repelled downwards into the lower region, where it fhould meet other afcending exhilations to make a noife , and to be difperfed laterally on the earth ; for the exhalation which caufeth a wind in the middle region, vvill noc be driven down by the cold, but is obferved to blow, and tomove the clouds and thunders in the middle of that fphear;yea, it is mademanifeft by daily experience , that as well theupperorhigherclouds which are white and yellow, and therefore more light andfubtle,by reafon of their fiery brightnefle , as'the lower, which are groflerand moreobfcure, are driven andpufhed by the winds , from any quarter of the world unto rheoppofite ; for except the Tvinds were alfoprefent in that re- gion, they could never m.oveas on the wings of the winds in that manner. Do we not alfo obferve, that the fouth-wind bloweth from the fouthcrn horizon, and an- other from the next, which is northern , fothat both winds have dominion in ei- ther of the horizons, at all one and the fame time , whereupon it often happeneth, that great and dark clouds, moving from each oppofire quarter , by four of thofe contrary angelicall fpirits, do meet in the point of each Horizon , and caufe one made or huge fea of clouds, ferving as a Tabernacle unro the great fpirit ofwon- dcrs , which worketh or caufeth thefe things : whereupon there followeth great ' lightnings and thunders, by the concourfe of oppofite angelicall natures, being
themeffengers, minilkrs, and voice of the Almighty, which never could have
been
i
Sed.i. MojaicallPhilofofby. gy
been c{{c{kcd, unlcfs tha-winds by the will of the Almighc y, had moved impetu- oufly the one againll the other in the middle-region of the aire. And this we har - alCo confirmed our of Scripture, where it is faid : ^fcei.dit funms e naribm j, - HOy^/E i carboy.i's /tccuiji funt ab eo , hdinavit cccles, & defcendh, & caltgo fb ^-^^ ^^ g fedib:is eJHS^^afcendu fuper Cherubin, &V9lav!t & lapf:isefl fnpnfennMvemi.Fo-' fuit tenebras »i c.rciiitK fiso/atib.'ili-inf^ cribra»s aquas de n^btbns cce'orum^ pra f ^la-ore in conffe^ti ejtss nubts fucccr,f£ fnnt ^tonabat de cosCo Domhfts, &C. Smo'iil_ afcended out of the fioftrils of JEIJOrA , coaUsarek'/jdledby him. He iacU/ied or bowed doven the heavens and dtfcended , afjd djrknefswas under bis feet , andhe ajcended upr.i the Che- rhbin^ atidd'id flie,iiKdglide ttpon thewh/gs of the wind. He put the darktieffe round about him ^ to ferve for to hide him, fftJna out vpaters from the clouds of heave>7^ be-, fore his face ;■ for at hisprcfence the clouds were jet ok fire, airJihe Lord did thunder from heaven, &c. Out of which fpeech we gather , that not only the Clouds, and Thunder, and Lightnings, are moved by the v/indy minifiers or Angels of the Lord : but alio that Divinity it felf, being compared about with dark clowds in the middle region of the aire, is carried upon the airy Cherubin , and ufeth the wings of the winds as organs to move on : Whereby each wife man may eafily per- ceive, that the worldly wifdome or Peripateticall Philofophy is plain foolirtinefs: being that it would falQy perfvvade the world , that fuch effentiall Afts% as are the Angelicall winds, (whofe inward eflence is the bright Spirit of the Lord) are caufed accidentally, and are moved and ftirred up by externall violence: when by the doctrine of the true v/ifdome , it is evident that they are indued with mod effentiall internall Agents, and therefore do move where and when they lilt, according unto that before-mentioned of St. John: For (faith he) Spiritus fpirar. ubi vu/t : The Spirit blotresh ivhere it lifis.Wh'ichht'in^^ to, ^S is ap- parent, that the wind hath allum, forraam , & princlpium internum : Anejfenti.ill and intvard,att , form , and Principle, at the motion whereof it is moved or can fed yvhich may the invard mover pleafcth, and therefore the Text faith , Sp!rat ubi vulf. It blervetb where it will, and confequently it is indued with a volunty or will: whereby each man may fee how extravagant from the Truth is the Peripateticks reafon touching this p)int, who admit noellentiall and internall form unto the Winds, but make ita thingmeerly accidentally. As for example , the Starrs by their heat (Vir or draw up a fmoak out of the Earth, this fmoak foring on high , is by the c^^'dnefs of the placepullied down again, thenbyorher afcending fumes it is forced to move fide-long, I befeech you (that are wife and unpartiall ) teach me which of all thefe externall accidents in the procreation of the winds, can be eReemed for that internall or eflentiall principle, which can caufeavolunryor vo- luntary motion in the winds, or can produce any Angeli:aU aft in the aire? For the Text faith, SpirituifpiratubivfJt. If there be no fuch effentiall volunty, or internall or centrall agent to be found or really imagined in AriflotWs fitlon or fained wind; then let hi^ brearh that teacheth unto Chriilians fuch falfhond, be as vainly elleem-d, as his Doilrine is prefiigious in it felf. Was not the unlikely- hood of Arilloreticall affertion , the reafon that hath made fome of the wifelt of his Phyficalldif.iples to ftart and doubt, yea, and plainly to avert their opinions from this vain doctrin of their Malier, touching the winds ? Among the which JehnFregui, a man well feen in the Philofophy of A-nfiotle, after he had made mention of thecaufesof the Meteors, dothforthwith Itartfrom the mind of his Malter, touching the winds , and breaketh forth into thefe terms : OiiaKquam to- t-z difpntatio de ven:is, ficut de a^'us Meteoris plena fit admirabilium operum Dei, quorum nt'.Ue firm£ (t fuffcientes iiinatura caufi proferri pojfunt , tamen prodefl videre quo- t'.fqtte humana ratio progred'i pefftt. Sacra quidem liter £ dtcum Deiim ventos producer e, dethefa>iris fuisunde ipfmflat;:saudim:!s, fed unde vemant ant quo vad^nt nefcimus, Httc Freg.//^, 25. in caufa f^eatori'.m : Although the whole difputeof thewinds , as al- fo of thereft of the Meteors., be f:. II of the admirable workj of God, of the which thrre can be produce dne firm, or certain can fcs in nature: yet it is commodious an i fa to try andlo\into this myflery , as far as nt-rns reafon is able to fee or penetrate. The holy Scriprure doth fay , that God prohuceth the winds out of his treafurj , whereupon we hear their blafls. But h^ow not from whence they come or whither they will. Thus fac Freaius, in his 25. Book, upon thecaufe of the Winds.
Butlwfll proceed a li'-tle further in this my inquiry. Ariftotle andhis Peripa- teticall Difciples aver , that th^liormy and tempelluous wind, c^WzdEcnephia, as alfo the Whul-wind, are certain repentine or fuddain winds , which are forcibly
expel-
S8 Mofdcall Pbihfofby.' Book %.
expelled out of the clowds, and yet forfooth he will not admit, that a hot and dry exhalation can penetrate into the middle region, by reafon of the coldnefs thereof: but that we may dive a little deeper into the «byfle of his abfurdities , he con- felVeth that the caufeof all fiery Meteors and Comets, is a hot and dry exhalation, which is terreftiall, crafle, fat, and unftuou fet on fire: now he afsigneth the place of Generation of comets, to be the higher region of the aire, and yet he denieth paffageunto the exhalation , which cauleththewinds, into the middle region, which is not inflamable , but thin and light. Can any man be fo ignorant in naturall effe(fts, as not to judge and imagine that cold will more fuddainly refift, and withltand that which is inflamable and of an ai^uall fiery nature, as is the exhalation, which caufeth the Comets, then that which is neither adually inflamable or fiery of it felf, namely the fumes , which is faidtobe the Original of the winds i Again, ic appeareth by his defcriprion of Comets, that their materiallfubftance is heavier, more terrefliall , crafs , thick or compadl:ed, then that of the winds, and therefore it muft needs be lefs apt toafcend and penetrate (for as much as all ponderous things , 'by a naturall inclination, tend downward); then that of the winds, which is more light, fubtill and thin, and confequently more apt to clime upward : wherefore it were impofsible that the grofTer fumes, \'vhichcaufethe Comets fhould afcend and penetrate into the upper region, as wellby reafon of their inflamable heat, as compaiilt and ponderous na- ture, and yet the fumes of the winds, whofe heat is not aftually inflamable but light and penetrative, by reafon of their fubtility, fhould be debarred from paf- fing higher.
But I come unto the examination of the third member, and although I have al- ready fpokenfomewhat concerning it , yet it is fit, that touching this point I ut- ter my mind a little m.ore at large in this place, becaufe it is molt pertinent unto our deredion of this worldly wifdome's folly and errour. He defcnbeth therefore in this member a double a6l of the wind,both whichhebut makerhaccidenrsjasif a man fhould fay, that they do not move from an internall and eflenriall principle, but nuhcr by externall accidents, namely by the heat of the Sun or Starrs, by the cold of the middle region of the aire, and the jultling or encounter of other afcen- dent fumes : whereby he concludeth, that it moveth the aire allaterally and by confequence it happ;;nethby chance, and through externall means. Whataglit- tering and golden lie is this , much like one of thofe fabulous figments of the an- tient Poets: a thing, I fay, which maketh afairefhew, but is, in verityj without fubftance : Forby thisaffertion he maketh the winds nothing elfe but ^.-/'^ /jo- ^c- cidens , when contrarily the mouth of Truth flatly concradicteth fuch a falfliood, affirming that the wind proceedethprimordially, from the Divine Spirit or breath of God": yea, and it is termed by it an Angel 1 , which is dilated and fent forth every where to efteft the will of him that animateth it. Qui fac'n Aftgelos vemos : Pfal. 104. 4. faith David, pvho maketh his Angells winds; that is, he animateth them effentially g , with his breath, and fendeth them forth as his meffengers to do his will. And
" °' therefore the fame Prophet faithin another place : yi»£eli Dei ejficawt verbum ejus:
Pfal. loj. The^ingelsof God ejfeU: his word. And the Prophet £.tr«c7j: rentus f.idt mand^. turn Dei : The wind accomp/ifhnh the Commandentem of God. And in another , fen- In Cancic. tus frocellofus effteii'-s verbum Dei : The flormy or Tempefiiious wifiddoth effett the Word of God. And the three Children in the fiery furnace : O venti benediciie Domifw & ex- altate eum fu per omnia in jierfetnttm : Oyewinh hiefs the Lord and exa't him above all things evsrlafitnaly. What fay our Chriftian Peripateticks unto this ? What ? do they think that if the winds were fuch accidentall things , as their great Mailer doth make them, that God would employ them to effeft his words , or if they had no internall principle in them could they laud the Lord , or move at pleafure to perform the will of him that fendeth them out ? Nay verily , we will prove that the internall mover in the winds, istheeffentiallinfpiration or breath proceeding Exod i^ immediarly from God: ylff/atu »ariHmt>{arumcoacerv4ta ffi>n 4^U!t, f.av:(fi' vema t'fOy (^ operuiteos mare. The waters were gatke'-ed together intthe.io by the breath of thynofirils. Ihou didfi blow vith thy wifid^ and the Sea did covn- them. And Job, Job. Flar.teDeoconcrefcit gelu: j^henGodbloweth from the North the yce is made. Alfoihat
Apoc. 7. the winds are Divinclyanimated with a p°rfeft life and intellig.'ncej it is made evi- Ettk. 3. denrby the four Angels, which are prehdent over the four winds, and that uni- v^rfall Spirit which was called from the four winds , to breathe life into the dead carcafles, of which we will fpeak forthwith. And yen for all this the Ethnick
Prince
Sed. I. MofdcaUPhilofdfby. 8p
Prince of our Philofophers will not blufh (forfooth)tofay , that the witideis 4 fome-thing meerly accidentall , and that it hath his motion onely from external! principles, and not from that centrall and internall agent , which is th^ aftor and operator of, and in all things , and confequently it could not blow or breathe where it lilkch, nor yet to hear the voice of the Lord , when it was commanded to come from the four winds. He, according unto his fancy, faith , that this his fig- ment is extracted out ot the earth , when Scriptures fay, that it is the molt lively and agil creature of God , which hebringeth out of the heavens, (that are his treafure-houfe ) for in this, both the Prophets, Jeremy and David, do confent. But in this member of his definition, he concludeth, that the lateral! motion of the winde is caufed through that relilknce and impediment, which is made by fnch ex- halations as afcend. O poor argument of fo mighty a Philofopher ! as if fuch a ventall motion as that is, from the north unto the fouth, and fo forth, could be fo certain and direct in his courfe, being guided by fo uncertain an agent, as is an ac- cidentall rtriving and contention made between afcending and defcending fumes ?
1 befcech you tell me (my quaint Peripateticks) what manner of exhalation did rife out of the earth, and ftioulder or lliove and rehft one another , in that emiflioti of Spirit, which happened when the Prophet faid, A quatuor vemis adveni, SpirittiSi Come from the fo-^r winds, O ff hit , me-thinks that I fee the Chriftian pages or dif- gtek. sf* ciples of ^rz/^of/f , to becleanmute, anddeftituteof'tongues toanfwer ; and if they Ihould fay , that it was a miraculous winde, and not a naturall , I anfwer , that I know no more efficient caufes in nature, or out of nature , but onely one; and th.;refore it is faid in the production of Meteors, namely, in the common courfe ofthis world nature, Godbloweth from the north, Godproducethbyhis breath frolt , fnow, ice. God thundereth from heaven. God melteth the tnick clouds into rain. God fends lightning from his throne, and coles of fire out of his mouch. God maketh the dark clouds his hiding place. God commeth from the fouth in thunder. The voice of the Lord maketh the cedars of mount LibAnus to Hoop, and the hinds to mifcarry of their young ones. God is a confuming fire. Who can Hand or refilt the cold of God ? and fo forth , in many places more , as well of the new as old Tellament. And, to conclude, that God operateth all in all » and that he vivifieth all, &c. But our Peripateticall Philofophers come with their School-tricks, and idle diltindions, and fay, 'Tis true indeed, that he is caufaeffi^ eie»s p> tncipalis • but there are many fecondary and fubalternate caufes in nature, which do zi\ of themfelves. I fay. Plain dealing is a jewell , and truth being one fimpleelTence, hateth double dealing; let us imitate her in plainneffe and fimpli- city in underftanding; whith we cannot attain unto , unJelTe we abftract our minds from the fubde multiplicity of worldly Philofophy, and vain fallacy, (of which
. St. Pan/hiddcth us to beware) for in multitude lurketh an infinity of errours, but in unity confift^th that unique verity , which is true wifdom. Why then fhould we dittra£l mens thoughts from the fimple fenfe of Sciiprure , by a multiplicity of diftindions, which feem to wrelf it, like a nofe of wax, a hundred waies. Scrip- tures fay, 0/7;;»w, I')' him, and in him are a// things. The holj fpirit of wifdom filleth the world. The incorruptible Spirit is m all things. Chrifi filleth every thing. Hevivi-^^^-^^' fieth all things. He operateth all in all. He giveth life andinfpiration, and all things, -^''^^•jaj ll ,, things are from the Father hy our Lord Jefiis Chrifi. All things are >» Chrifi ^ and by ^pi^'^^ ( hrifi , as well vifble as invifib.'e, and he in all things. He benreth Andfuflaineth all i Tim. 6. things by the word of his venue. God is the Father of all , who is ab»ve all , and in all. i Cor. la. And an infinite ofotherteflimonies of Scriptures? which confirm the divine ef-'^^* '7- fence to be all in all , and to zQc all things univerfally without exception. And \^\ {'* yet our Peripateticks will perfwade us , that the creatures aftions are divided from Heb". i. th; ail of God, fo that they do and can adt of themfelves , through an active vertue Eph. 4* given untothimby God,but not now of God;which alTertion of theirs,wereittrue indeed, I will fhew you how great an abfurdity will follow, namely, that there muft confequently be a divihon made in the divine efl'ence , which axiom, true di-
■ vinity will never admit , for Athanafius his Creed doth teach us, that it hfaniia & ind vidua! rin'tas, the haly and undivided Trinity • and therefore what a(ft the crea- ture hath received, i^ not divided from the Giver, neither is there any fuch need, beino the Giver of that formall vertue is by reafon of that gift ever prefenr^ and not divided from the gift , and confequently a£tethall in all , and that immediately. Andforthatcaufeitis rightly faid by the divine Philofopher Hertites , to be the
N center
jl0 Mofakall Fhihfofby. Book ^,
center of all things , whofe circumference is every where ; fo that it is in all, buc nocasapart of any thing, but asacompoferof all pares, and a container of them. Wherefore let it fuffice our Peripateticks , that the creatures are onely or- ganicallcaufes J in which one onely catholick Spirit worketh and operateth , ac- cording unto the variety of his property, which is annexed unco his will ; and therefore he onely worketh in them, and by them, according unto his will, and that immediately and abfolutely; and this is that which the Apoltle intendeth, when he faith. Dens operatur omnia, in omnibtts, God, worketh all in all. But to return unto my purpofe. How deaf and furd had this invocation of the wife Solomon been , if the effence and life of the winds had been no other, then that which is fet forth by Ari- ftotle : Evlgtla (faith he)yiqnilo,& vent AHfier,& perfiahorcnm meum; Awake north- Tvindy and come thou, Ofouth-wind^ and blow upon my garden. To conclude, if the winds had been procreated after yirijiotle's invention or imagination , whence comethit, that eachwinde is endued with a various and divers condition or pro- perty, infomuch as the one is hot and moifl: , the other cold and dry , thethircihoc and dry, and the laft cold and moift ? It were imposfible that this difference and va- riety fhould happen , if all winds were framed and fafhioned onely after one fafhi- on, that is, if they did move laterally by compulfion , isArifiotle telleth the tale.
I come now unto the laftdaufeor member of the Peripateticall definition, which doth touch the finallend orrcafonof the production or creation of the winds. His opinion is, that his nature doth producethis manner of ventilation, for the purging and purifying ofthe aire, and fortheprefervation thereof. But we are taught by experience, that this is not true , being that we with Galen and Hippocra- tes do difcern,that the foutherly winds are contagious and psftiferousjforafmuch as they render the aire thick , and make it putrid and rotten by their malignant heat,
p-.. and lax humidity : And this alfo we have confirmed by the facred Text , ATe (;>»«»
( faith D^f/i)/ ) aluefeudttmoyiwvafiantewmeridte, tear not the pefliUnce o'- corrupt
Abik. J. ddfuoii which eommeth from the fouth. And Habacuck^^ Dee a meridio venicnte fra.cejfit
{vel ante-]vh^ eumfeftis & antrax adfedes ip/ius. God comming from the font h, the pefii^ IcKce went before him , and at his feet tvent the boch or carbuncle. Yea verily , and all winds in a generality , asalfo the other meteors of heaven , are ordained by the Creator, as well for a whip and fcourge, as to asfift, preferve and fave the creature, as by many places of Scripture we are certified, andjc^in expreffe rearms hath
Job 37. 14. taught us. And therefore -r4r;'/?e;/ caufe ofthe winds, as well as in the reft.
We may jufily hereupon conclude , that this definition of our pagan Peripate- tick, whom we ChrilVians do adore, and follow with fuch devotion and reverence, is altogether falfe and of no validity, becaufethewind^ are creatures of a nature more effentially eminent and divine 5 than either >^r//?w/f, ot any of his faftious feft did ever underftand ; forafmuchasthey arenot things without internall lights andeffences, and do not confiUonelyof externall andadventitiousmorions, that is to fay, arenot made of fumes or exhalations , arifing by accident or chance out
Itch.e.i, oftheearth. But, as Z^cArf^"*/*^ doth teach us, they are created and animated by an angelicall fpirit, and ftand beforethe Lord of all tne earth, and are hid in the power or treafury of their Lord, our of the which he calleththemat his pleafure , to do and accomplifh his will and pleafure upon the earth, and upon the feas , either ad v:n iiSlamfeu pn»)tionemy to revenge and punifh : or elfe, niiatem creaturis prtbendnm, to fhew unto the creatures his mercy and benignity.
CHAP. III.
The true and eJfsniiaU defnitlonof the wind is divers waies , and that according unto thefenfe and affertlon ofthe holy Scr p'uret, expre^edin this Chapter,
NOw me-thinksl hear fome of the Peripateticall fadion to murmur againll me, and reply. If this definition of ^n/?or/f be not good, as by your proof it appeareth, affigne us a better if you can. Tell us therefore effentially what isthe winde, or how you define or defcribe it rightly, by the warrant of holy Writ ? To this I anfwer , that it may be efFefted many waies, under one and the felf-fame eflence : And firft of all we may defcribe it, and that not impertinently , after this manner : The
Seft.!.' MofaicallPhilofofby. 51
Thewindeis an airy fpirit, of ameanconfiftence , infpired and animated by the breath or infpiration of JEHOVA, the which he drawethforch of his treafury, to execute his will and pleafure , either by the way of malediftion and venge- ance, or of benedidion and mifericord.
Every particle of this definition is proved out of convenient places of holy Scriptures; and firft, that his externall is aire, of a mean conlilience, it is made ma- nifelt, in that the words Q aire, winde , and fpirit ] are expreffed in many places of Scriptures, by all one Hebrew word, namely, by Ruach. Again, that his internall or moving foul, and centrall aft, is the divine Spirit or infpiration, it is proved and confirmed by the places which are cited before : -^ flattt narmm tuarnm (faith Mores') coAcerviita f»yit aqua, flavifit vento wo, & operait eos mare: By the breath of thy Exod, i j. $. t2oftriUs the rvaters were gathered in a heap , thott dtdfi blow With thy wind, aitdthefea did$over them> And again, Glaciem D.'iis fortis edit flatu fuo, 1 he mighty God bring- eth forth Ice with his breath, &c. as if they had faid , God infpired the aire with his v^^ Spirit. So that there appeareth no difference between an angelicall creature , and the aire, fo divinely infpired ; for the aire is faid to be the externall, or manifeft of an Angell, as well good as bad, animated by God, for the effefting of his will, ei- ther to punifh, or to extend and (hew forth his benigne mercy or clemency ; as his internall and occult portion is the immediate breath of God; andtberefore (as I faid before) they are by St. Denis tearmed Algamatha, that is to fay, clear mirrours or looking- gl afles , which receive the light of God. Is it not in plain words ex- preffed by t>-fvid J Quod angelos fnosfecerit ventos , that he made his angels winds J where by his angels is meant,the emiffions from his throne,and they being incorpo- rated with the aire, are tearmed angelicall natures. Again, JEHOVA faid of the Angel that went before the Ifraelites, tocondudlthem in thewilderneffe , Noliie , exacerbare eiim, nam nonferet defeEiiones veflras , qHoniant nomen meum ej} in eo : D» 'not an ^er him, for he will not bear your err ours, becaufe that my name is in him : t ha t is tofay^Thebrightimpreffionof my word. Forthefonof^^r-^r/jfaid, ihntwifdom went before them in a pillar of cloud , and wot a light unto them in the night , and ajhi- Ecclcf. 9, dow cr cloud ;■« the day, to keep them from the extream heat. For this reafon therefore , the fame Angell is called in many places of that book , fometimes Jehovah, in re- gard of his inward andincreatedeffentiallaft; and fometimes yingelus, in regard of hisalterity, orcompolitionof two, orashe was a creature ; andtberefore as God is identity, namely, an abfolute, fimple, pure, and increated effence , fo an Angell isby the wifcrRabbies tearmed Alteritas, to wit, as he is compared of the uniform infpirationof God, and the humidor aery nature oftheworld, that is, ofacreated fpirit, or a created aire, which made the Pfalmift fay,that which is above cited, Qui facit angelos ventos, & miniftros fuos ignem urentem. For in this faying, he feemeth Pfal. 104. to include both the occult and manifeft nature.
As concerning the next claufe of this definition , which is, that God doth draw or call his angelicall winds out of his treafury, to effeil his will , we have it confir- med from the pens of the Prophets, David and Jeremy, Depromit (fay they) ventos e yg*j^' \\ thefaurisfu.'s.
Laftly , touchingthe ufe of the winds, or the finall caufe why they were created , or fent forth, Scriptures do largely inform us : Femus facit mandatum D^-/, faith ^^-.Baruch '5.^0. ruch , IhewinddoththecommandementofG^d. And the Pfalmift, S/KV/Vaifrofi?///!- Pfa. 148. 8. rum facit verbum ejus. The fpirit of the Jiorms effeEl his word. And again, AngeliDii ^J?> 'oS- valid fflm Tobore ejfcientesverbnm & placitHmfttum • The angels of the Lordwh'.ch are ^^ lije Jtrong i» power, do ejfeEt his word and will. And agAin, He maketh the angels I i^ht' ningf^or corufcations his mini fieri. And Jtf^ faith, FnlgHrantinqitid mittet & ibnnt & revertentia tibi dice>Jt,Adfumus, WtltthoH not fend forth thy lightnings, and they will go their wates^ and returning back^ again they will fay, JVe are here. Where he mea- neth of thofe Angels, which reveal their occult beauty j forinthis regard, God is alfotennedaconfumingfire.Moreover,heaffirmethinanotherplace,that the wind, . thewhirlwind, the ice,froft, clouds, and the lightnings, are ready at his command, J° ' ' • wbatfoever the will of the Creator is that they fhall do , they are prepared to per- form, either upon the fuperficies of the earth, or for to punifh and afflift the wic- ked, or to fhew mercy unto the righteous.
To conclude, T have ex-preffed in the precedent definition , firft, what is the ma- tcriail caufe of the winde: namely, an airy fubftance of a mean confiftency. Then I told you, that the eternall form, or effentiall aft thereof, was the bright afpiration
. N a ox .
^z MqfMcallPbikfofky* Book 5.
or fplracleof the Almighty, which did by his prefetrce animate, agitate, and move themateriall aire. Thirdly, that the place wherein the winds are kept and referved untill it pleafeth the Creator of them to employ and makeufe of them, was the heavens or aire, whichis the cabinet of his treafures. And laRly, that the ufe and end of them was to accomplifh the will of their Creator , when he did command them: and that either in their outward and airly enate, without revealing their cenrrall and formall fire, namely when the winds do blow, but are invifible; or elfe by emitting of their internall and effentiall light , as when they appeare and move in the form of Lightnings or corufcations : and this is proved evidently by the above-mentioned place, of the royall David.
For thefe reafons therefore, and upon thefe grounds , we have framed oucthefe Definitions of the vvind which follow.
The Wind is an invifible aire or fpirit, which is vivified and animated by the di- vine Light, which iffuech from the face of JEHOVA, as a breath out of his noflrills, to perform and accomplifh his will and pleafure as well in Heaven above, as on the earth and waters beneath. Or after this manner.
The Wind is a certain Angelicall Spirit, or fubcill aire, which is infpired or ani- mated by the fiery Spirit of JEHOVA, appearing fometimes vilibly inthe form of Lightning, and fometimes being invifible and occult, as when it is onely heard and not feen , and is ordained and fent forth by him from fome corner of the earth, toefteftand accomplifh his will , either in his pofitive and benign property , or privative and dertruitive difpofition. OrthuSj The Wind is an invifible or occult Spirit , indued with a fiery foul or form from above, and infpired by God in an Angelicall manner, the which is carried this way and that way , according unto the pleafure of him which infpired it, being moved or wafted on invifible wings, and carrying fometime their Creator on their airy plumes, to effect his will and pleafure. t Jiing. It. e. For itis faid, J£HO^-^ afcenditfuferCherHbin & voUvitfeu lapfus efi fttfer fennat vennx GodafcendeJi upon the Cherubin , and did flic or glide ttpon the wi?7gs of the wind. Now the Cherubin is an airy Angell j as the Seraphin is a fiery Spirit or In- telligence. Or elfe in this form.
The Wind is a certain Angelicall creature, being made and produced by JE- HOVA, of aire, as being his matter agitated , and Light being his inter- nall and effentiall form , the which being derived or extra6led out of his heavenly Treafury, is fent out this way or that way, either to plague and punifh, or to folace and recreate the creature. Or thus.
The Wind is an Angelicall Spirit doathed with aire, whichmoveth occultly, and invifibly this way and that way , according unto the fecretwill of him that created it, whofe voice although it be heard , yet is the place from whence ic came, or the mark whither it tendeth, unknown of mortall men. John}. 8. Spiritus (faith St. John)Hbivaltfp}rat,&vi>cemejus audit homo ; fed tiefcit nude
venlat aut mo vadat • The Spirit or wind bloweth where it will y .and man heareth the voie^of it, but kyowethmt from whence it commeth or whiiher it will. Again, Scrip- tures do affirm elfcwherc that the way of God , andtiie place whither he intcnd- • eth, is unknown unto mortall men. Or after this manner more briefly, and that according unto the mind of our Sa- viour. The Wind is a Spirit that bloweth where it will , whofe voice although it be heard, yet is the mark at which it aimeth unknown, and the place uncertain from whence it cometh. Or thus, according unto the words oi Ddvid above mentioned, the Angelicall winds as well apparent as occult, are defcribed after this manner. The Winds are the Angels of the Lord, ftrong in power , which effeft the Word of God, and lillen unto his voice, and his flaming Minilters which ac- complifh his pleafure. P&l. 102. 10. ^*i?yli DeivAdiJfimi robore ( faith David) efficieutes ^erbum ejui^ aHfcuhamci ' voci ejus, efficientes placitftm ejus : The Aitgeh of the Lord, ftrong in power^ tfeilmr
Sed. I. Mrfaicall Pbilofaflyl j|
ha- word; l':ftmK^ tnto hu voice ; accomplijhing of his flenfure. And in the Pfalitl following; Qui facii Angelas tuosventos J & minifiros tms fiamrHamHrentem•,who'ih\,^9^,i^ do ft tuAke thyAngels wifids > "fd thy Min-jlers flaming' fires.
By this therefore, each wife man may obferve, how oppofic the falfe Ethnkk Philofophy and doctrine , which is grounded upon the wifdome of this world , is unto this true Philofophy or wifdome which is extrafted out from the Fountain of Truth. Hereupon therefore it may appeare unto wife men, how impoflible ic is for a ChriiHan Philofopher, who doth rirmly adhere unco AriftotlPs documents to be radicatly converfant in the true Catholick Faith : ye carmot ( faith our Savi- viour) faithfully ferve two Mafters. And for this reafon, Sc. /' before) doth admonifh us to beware of Philofophy and vain Fallacic, which is grounded upon the traditions of men, and Elements of this world , and not up- on Chrill, in whom is all the plenitude of Divinity corporally, vVho is the head of dominations and poteftates, and confequently the life and animator of all An- gelicall Spirits.
Wherefore we may conclude, that this falfe Ariftoteticall Philofophy, is the cJiiefert organ of theDevill, to diltrad worldly men from the true knowledg of God : Forasmuch as partly by the fophifticaced craft thereof, and partly by other vain temptations, he feeketh to withdraw the good intentions of Chriftian men, from the true Symphony and Sympathy , which ought to be between God and his creatures , and to allure him unto his own falfe,difc^rdant ,and antipatheticall Har- mon]^. For it is proved, that this Spurious and mundane Philofophy, is oppofrt and contradiftory in all things unto the true wifdome, vVhich defcendeth from the Father of Light, (z'iSt. James teachethus) and therfore it is terrene, animal!, and diabolicall : For which caufe it fhould be efchewed rather of all wife Chriflians, then any way followed andobferved with fuch fervency, andfuperftitious devos tion : Being it is the main caufe , that men even of this our Age, howfoever par- . takers of the divine mentallbeame , being altogether forgetful! of his excellent and thrice noble beginning and divine race, (forafnluch as they are masked or guil- ded over with the prertigioufly appearing light of privative ignorance,) become fo rude and unskilfull, not onely in the true Arts, but alio lame in the Rudiments ofTheofophy ; infomuch that they neither underftand God truly, by and in his Works, as he ought to be known, nor yet can conceive rightly the myftery of his creatures, whofe Corner-ftone is thebrightneffe of the all-animating and inform- ing Word.
But I will make ufe of my Experimentall inrtrumenr, to prove a great deal of this which I have uttered by an ocular demonttration or eye-witnefs.
CHAP. IV.
if ere the Author doth ocitlarly demonfirtue tht reajin of the Ammall South vind's hgintihig.
NOwbecaufe all this which is faid, may by fome feeming Arillotelian Chrifti- ans appear fabulous, (as either not believing, orelfe imagining, that things are not uuderltood rightly, which arc fpoken in Scriptures, for fomefuch there are, (and that learned appearing Chriltians of this Nation) 1 thing it neceflary to prove all this which is related unto you, by an ocular demonftration , produced from out Experimentall Inllrumenr, commonly termed the Weather or Calender-Glafs. Into the which praclicalldifcourfe, before we enter , I would wifli each Reader to remember diligently, what hath hitherto been faid , and to give an attentive, care unto this Preamble which I will fet before it.
Yon ought ferioufly to remember, and confider, that the catholick informing Light, by whichthe Spirit of the Lord, that was carried upon the univerfall wa» ters impartinguntothemtheSpirit of life, did inform, illuminate, and animate the catholick matter of the world, was by the confent of moft of the antieiic Fathers, in TA«»/a fly, faid to be, the fourth day, contracted into the body of the Sun, and for that reafon it is faid , Gloridi Domini plenum eft opus Solis omnia ;//«- Ecdus. 4», (Iran t is : The -work^of the San which inlightneth all things is full of the glory of the Lord. Hereupon alfo it may be underftood : ^nod Dens indmtur Inmine fuaft ve- fiimtttto : Cod is cloathed with Light as with A veftiment. And in another place ( the
o4 Mojakall Pbilofofby. BooL %
which interpretation we have maintained to be good, in the precedent Book of PCll. i«. this ditcourfe ) Pofnit Deus tabernaculumfittim inj'ole , He put his taberMac/e in the
y«a: Whereby it is evident , thatit was theplealureofGod, the Creator of all things, that this vefsellfhould be rich and abundant in his Spirit, that from it, be- ing placed in the center, heart, diapafon, orperfe Its vertuous harmony and life, order and govern the animall courfe, and teniporall difpofition , of generable and corruptible things on the earth , in the leas, and ca- tholick fublunary element, namely, the univerfall aire, which as it is the vehicle of life in every fublunary thing, fo aUo ic is necefsary to coniider, that the aire is ani- mated and infpired by it , as the higher angelicall natures receive their light and beingfrom the Creator, before whole face they are alwaies prelent. 1 do not fay, that the Sun giveth life , but the increated vertue in the Sun , which hath eleded thepalaceof the Sunforhis treafure-houfe, or cabinet of his vertue. And there- fore it is faid , that Sol efi gloru Domini , feu virtmis & ejfentia divina , p/enus ; The fun is fall of the glory, and divine vertue of the Lord. And again it is tcarmed, I'^as Ad- Ecckf. 4J. mirabile, opus Excel fi. An admirable veffell, the work, of the mvfl High, Now that this divine vertue in the Sun dothguide the aire , and makeit agenerall angelicall fpi- rit, or winde, that is an aire animated by divinity , whiLh is ape to move according. Ecckf. 6. to the motion of the mover, we are taught by thefe words of Solomon , Solluflrans tiniverf* in tiicnittf, per git Spirjtus O" tn ctrculqs fuos revertitur : The Sun il- luminating all the w}rld , the fpirit or aire whes'eth about with if, and returneth his circuit. Arguing thereby, that the Sun by his prefence, doth animate , make mobil and agil by fubtiliation and quickening of fpirits , that aire which was quiet and (iill. Now I would not that any man fhould miltake me, and think that Imean, that the whole Spirit of the Lord is included in the Sun; for, as I faid, Chrill was by Scripture reported to be rich and full of the Spirit. So God imparted unto the Sun abundance ofhis illumipating, pofitive, generative, and vivifying vertue; and yet nevertheleffe he fiUeth all things, but not after one man- ner, neither in one and the fame property or proportion; for according unto that common courfe which he hath ordained , for the difpofuion or ordering of the an- nuall or yearly temper, where the Sun or his actuall tabernacle is more or lelTe ab- fent or far removed; there is the memia divina^or the cold privative Spirit of God, moreorlelfe in operation, for there it aftethuniverfally. As for example, When the Sun is abfent, and under the earth , it caufeth darknefle, coldneffe, dulneffe of aire, and agroffefpiflitudetobeprefent. As for example, When the Sun is beyond the .£quinoftiall , in moving toward the Tropick oiCapnccm , cold, froft, fnow, ice, Qiort daies, thick, clowdy, and rainy aire is prefent , and foutherly winds arc moft frequent ;for then the privative property of God hath dominion over the northern hemifphear; whereupon the plants, herbs, and trees are naked, and ha- ving their fpirits and humours congealed , appearas dead , the earth forfaketh his viridity, and likeafteril and barren widow beginneth to mourn. Butasfoonas the funny Chariot, with his Princely Lord, doth approach unto our hemifphear, and enter into this northern world, by the fiery andiron or martiall gate of -^>'if -f , which is in the Spring-time , then thefe almoli dead creatures, being before , as it were, mortified , by thecruell cold of northern privation , be^in to revive , the nights grow fliort, the cold diminiflieth , the congealed and hx'd fpirits in the plants, relent, liquifie, and become animated and fluent ; thebirdsrejoyce and are quickened, and the dull and fenflefle aire is by little and little refrefhed, and taketh flight into the fouthem regions , for reafons I will fhew you in my demonfirative poiitions, immediately following. And yet forall the abfence of the bright and in- aftinp Spirit in the Sun , it followeth , t5ut that one and the felf-fame Spirit which filleth all, may alter his privative property when and where he lift; for we fee often- times, quite contrary unto thecommon conftitution of the year , that by it, thun- ders and lightnings are effefted in the niidft and hardeft of the winters ; and the winds which are moft aftive , namely, theeaftand fonth, blow beyond ex peftati- on; all which is effected by him at his pleafure , who operateth all in all , how, and by what means, and where and when he lift. This therefore being well pondered, I enter into the ftare of this my demonftration.
rht
Seft. I.' Mofaicall Philofiply. ^
The demonJlrMion or proof, how the Annuall rv'indt are wovedf hy the vivifying fpir it which 16 tn the Shu.
I have told you, that the whole effeft of the divine a6lion in the humid nature of this imeriour world , did confill in Congelation andRarefa(5lion , and that the firft was caufed by the privative and northern aft of Gods Spirit , which doth ope- rate by cold; and the other by his pofitive operation, which is guided by heat. Now asthefe twdhave their dominion or depreffion by theprefence orabience of the Sun, fo alfo iHhe univerfall aire more cold, fpifle , opake, and fluggifli or ftupid , when the Sun is&theft off; and again, more hot, fubtle, bright, tranfparent, agilj and aftive, when the Sun is nearelt. Mark therefore the properties of the aire in- cluded in theglazen vel!eTtofTheCaTeDde,r-InItrument , and remember, thatitis but one and the fame Spirit in effence, that worketh as well privativly as pofuivly • for it was one and the fame Spirit which w^ called by the Prophet from the north and fouth,for the Text faith, FenifpiriiM ^quatuor vemis, Sec. wherefore this Spi- rit is it , that governeth the univerfall fublunary aire , as well privatively as pofi- tively. And although this Spirit be molt plentifully in the Sun , yet it being never- theleffe every where, is able at all times , and in every place, to expreffe himfelf in both properties. I come therefor^ unto the point or mark.
In the firll Chapter of the firll Book of this prefent Seftion , I have moft clearly demonllrated unto you, that the aite includedin the Weather-glaffe, hath in every refpeft a relation unto the aire, or catholick element of the great world ; where al- fo u is proved, that the aeriall humidnaturedothasexadly fill every place of the vaulted world,whcre the earth or water are not,letl any vacuity fhould be found in the cavity thereof, no otherwife than the dilated aire in the head and neck of the Weather-glafle doth fill the cavity thereof; and therefore as the aire included in the glafle doth work by dilatation at the prefenceof the Sun, namely, in the Summer-* feafon, when the externall aire is heated ; fo alfo, and after the felf-fame manner , will the aire of this northern hemifphear be dilated, when the Sun is prefent , yea, and the nearer the Sun is , and the more perpendicular his beams are , the greater will the generall aire's rarefaction be , and confequently of that particular aire whichisintheglafle. On the other fide, when the Sun is abfent from the Boreall hemifphear, namely, when it moveth beyond the TEquinodiall, then will the com- mon aire in that hemifphear wax cold , and becontradled and condenfed, and con- fequently the particular aire in the glaffe will be contrafted after the fame propor- tion, which may eafily be meafured or conceived , by the degrees of afcent of the water intheglalTe, astherarefa£lion may be coUeded by the defcent thereof. This therefore being well conceived or underft ood, and that the caufe of this rarefafti- on is the prefence of this divine aft , in the funny tabernacle, and that the reafon of the condenfation, is theabfence or remoteneffe of the faidaft, or operating and emanating Spirit, and confequently the prefence of the divine puiflfance, which is darknefle; for (as we faid) the abfence of heat is the prefence of cold , which is the eflentiall worker in the divine puiflance ; and again, the prefence of heat is the ab- fence of cold. So alfo the abfence of pofitive light conceiveth privative dark- neffe, and the abfence of privative darknefle impartech theprefence of pofitive light.
Wemay eafily hereupon colleft the reafon of the annuall winds, and perceive what their externall is ; and how that aire is animated by the vivifying Spirit, which is fent out from the Sun. Confider therefore, that when the Sun is prefent with us, the Summer is created by his prefence , the aire is calefafted by the bright beams of his Spirit, andby calefaition is rarified, and by reafon of rarefaftion of parts, requi- reth a larger place for his exigency. As for example. We put two pound of Vitreol into a Retort, and faften the n^fe thereof unto a huge Recipient or Receiver, flop- ping the joynts fart, thatthe fpirits do no way expire. We force out the Spirit from the Retort into theReceiver,and wefindit tried by experience,that part oftheVi- treol being dilated into fpirits , thofe fpirits finding rhe ample Receiver not fufEci* ent to contain them, do violently break the Receiver into an infinity of pieces. Whereby it is made plain, that a thing which is condenfed, will occupy but afmall place; but when it is dilated, it will require a very large continent for his exirtence. All this is argued plainly by our experimental! Inftrument ; for when the Sun is prefent , the aire included is forthwith dilated more or leire,according unto the vi- gour
o5 MofmaUVhilofojbj. Book 5*
•^our ofthefolarfpirits, and winds that blow ; but when it is dilated , it requireth by fo much the more a larger place to be contained in , by how much the more it is dilated or ratified ; and that is proved thus , namely, becaufe the water is thruft down by fo many degrees lower, by how many the aire excelleth in rarity. So that it is evident, that theonelyreafon why the water is precipitated more and more downwards, is, becaufe being by degrees fubtiliated, it maketh it felf a larger room to abide in.
Now that I have (Viewed you thus much , mark, that when the Sun commeth newly into an hemifphear , where winter did reigne, or had dominion , and there- fore the cold did incrafs and thicken the aire, as tor example, when it pafseth from us into the fouthern hemifphear, to convert the winter ertate of that part into fummer; it doth forthwithbegin to attenuate the aire of that part of the world, and that aire fo rarified being animated , and, as it were, revived , by the operating beams of the Suns bright fpirit , becommeth light-winged or feathered , wherefore it flyeth away from the fouth, and feeketh a larger place for his abode or entertain- ment , being that the auftrall hemifphear is not fufficient to receive his dilated bo- dy: For this reafon, it is forced to pafs a-traverfe the Aquinof^iall, andtovifitby a fuccelTive motion the northern hemifphear , and at its entrance therein, to make a windy noife, by reafon of the thicknefs and coldnefs of the aire , which refilkih the hot vaporous, and lately difsolved or rarified aire, which is animated with the fouthern light, from whence it receiveth his agility. And this aire thus animated andforcedby the divine aft, in the Sunny tabernacle, to fly from the fouth unto the north, is that which we call the foutnern winde , whicn for this reafon hap- peneth fo frequently among us in th^ beginning of winter, namely, immediately after the Sun hath pafsed the Aquinodiallj that is to fay, through Libra'xmo Scor- fio : This is the reafon, that the fouthern winds (I fay) arc fo plentifuU among us \r\OUoher,Nove»il>er^ ^nd December -^ andconfequently, that we are falutedwith fuch fouthern fliowersjby reafon that the northern coldnefs doth condenfe thefu* gitive fouthern aire into clouds , as fliall be told you in the defcription of the clouds.
All this is demonftrated out of the Weather-glafs ; for at the heat of onely a mans hand,being placed on the head of the Weather-glafs, the included aire is ra- rified, and fo dilateth it felf, and flyeth to an oppofite Pole, namely, unto the heat of the cold water, the which it beareth down before it.
On the other (ide, the northern winds, and the ice and fnow which are more fre- quent in winter, are caufed by that breach or fpirit , which is fent forth from God in his potentiall and privative nature, the which he doth exercife or put in executi- on in this world, when the treafure houfeof his adtuall power is fartheft; and there- fore he hath ordained the Magazin or ftore-houfe of his cold, in the poles of theworld,beingfartheft off from the yEquinoftiall . Forthis reafon, it isfaidin _ . Scriptures, that cold commeth from the mrth ^ and that ^f/ir; thecoldofGodvphoca»
■'*' ' conjili ? and that ths breath of God maketh ice arid frofi. And again, Hafi than
Job J 8. come into the treafure-houfe of thefnowes , or hafl thou any kjjowledge in the treafHry of
the hail ? Neither is Gods aftuall light fevered or diftinguiflied from him, tnough he breathe at his pleafure from the north , in his potentiall or privative property ; for darkneffe unto him is as light. And for this reafon alfo when he is difpleafed , Exek. I. hebrearheth from the north as ri ell in lightning and thunder, as in fnow and hail. Whereupon Ejcekjel{a.\d , Behold^ avphirl'Tvinde came out of the north , and a great clo'fdinvolved with fire, ice. And yet both the cold, fnow, hail, and froft, and the lighrnings and melting heats, proceed but from one and the fame fpirit, though di- Exck. 3 winds 5 that is to fay, one and the fame word in effence, but multi-form in proper- ty; Of which the Pfalmill, God fendtng forth his wordufon the earth, by it he fonreth duvpn fnovf on the earth like tvooly anddifperjeth thefrofHikj ajhes, who can rcf'fi againfl his cold ? Sofoonas he fendeth out his word , it doth litjuifethtm ; fo foon as he blon>eth J.. forth his winde, the water s beg^'tn to flow, and the fnow, froft, and ice to melt. Whereby
it isevident,that Cod isever oneinhimfelfe J wherefoever he be , namely , be he in the north, where he operateth privation ; or in the Sun, in which he doth ex- p-efle his aftuall glory. Yet doth his Volunty as well as his Nolunty, that is, his pofitive property as well as his privative , accompany the unity of his eflence. As for example, His negative property in his pofitive was difcerned , when he made the Sun to ftand ftill at Jojlmab's prayer,and to go backwards, or become retrograde,
for
Sed.i.' MofaicallPhilofifby^, p7
forthecoofirraadon of //^e death of our Saviour he conrracted his raatiifefted bright glory into thq center : So that the Sun became as black as pitch. I conclude therfore, that when this po- tentiall property of the Divine Spirit doth move or aft in the aire , the aire is fuc- ked towards the pole or center, and fo is made F roll. Snow, &c. Jn which fpace our experimentali Inftrument fheweth a nature quite contraryfrom the precedent: For after the imitation or the aire in the great world , it is contrafted and fucked upinto the bolts-head , as to the cold pole, and this then demonihateth, that the catholick externall aire, doth alfo work after the fame faOiion. It appeareth there- fore, that the rcafon of this emitted Spirit is occult, and not known unto any of us tltit are drowned in the abyffe of Ignorauce , but onely is made known unto him, who hath been fo happy as to be inltruiled by the true Wifdome of God , which Solomon confeffeth to be the worker of allthings , and therefore the moll faithfull Schoole-miltrefs to teach all myfteries.
But I will proceed further in chefearch and inquiry of this Eihnick Peripatetick man's skill in the Science and knowledg of Meteorology. And firll, 1 will fee what hecanfay, touching the Generation of the clowds and the rain.
CHAP. V.
Hovf Ariftotle'J Decirine touching the 'Generation of the Clowds, and
frodtt^ttjn of the Drops cfRam^'is found to he altogether con-
tradiilorj tinto the trne fVifdome's Inji:tntivns.
WE will now come unto our inquiry and examination oi yiriflotle'^ skill, in the watry Meteors : and becaufe that the caufes of milts , called A'f- i«/.«, and thinner clowds termed A^«^ec«/iS, are comprehended under the title of iVl«^w or Clowds, I will onely infift upon the Myrtery of the clowdy impref- fion : Forlpurpofenot to make any great Volume of words, to weary your eies with reading them over, butonelyto touch with brevity fuch kinds of principall Meteors, as may in their generality include by their defcriptions, every fpeciality that may be comprehended under them. I will therefore briefly begin with ^^ri- fiotle's opinion, and then compare it with the Tettimony of holy Writ, that there- by the elfence of it may beexamined with the fire of verity, to fee whether it will indure theTeft, orwithRand the rryalls of Truth's touch-ftoneor no.
His opinion therefore with that of his Chriftian followers, is, that, A clowd is £^-^°^^f'^^' produced of a vapour, which is elevated from the earth and water, into the middle ")[,'^^" ^ region of the aire, by the attraftive power of the Sun or Starrs , where it is con- traded, andasit werecongealedintotheconfilknce of a vifible clowd , by ver- tueof the extreamecoldneife of the place; the which clowd is afterwards partly by the heat of the Sun , and partly by the force of the winds , carried or forced this way and that way, through the middle region of theaire. Lothis istheSub- ftanceof thePeripateticalldefinition of a clowd !
Now that we may rhe better gather and underftand the truth of this bufinefs, and find out whether ^^-//^of/f be a true or a falfe Prophet in this his defcripcion; Let us here conHder, what the Book or Bible of verity (hall teach us concerning the Generation of a cloud, and how the members or claufes of this our definiti- on do agree with the intention of it: which that we may more didindtly, and with _ the exader method effeft, wepurpofein this place to compare their minds and fenfes together, that each perfon, though but meanly literated, may eafily judge and determine of the cafe, as truly it Ibndeth.
In the precedent Definition, he maketh the efficient and procreating caufe , tht heat or aft of the Sun, faying, that by the attraftive vertue thereof, the vapour whichisthematterorfubftance of the clowd, is drawn out of the earth and wa- ter, and fublimed into the middle region of theaire; averring alfo, thatpartlyby the motion of the Sun, and partly by the winds it is moved this way and that way. Again, he furmifeth that the caufe of the contraftion, or condenfation of the va- pour into the confidence of a cloud, isthecoldnefs of the middle region of the aire. So that unto the confiftenceof the clowd, hefainerhthat two Agents quire contrary in nature and condition unto one another, do concur and meet together, namely the heat of the Sun, and coldnefs of the middle region of the aire : but he
O afligneth
^ M^akaUPbilofifl^l Book 5*
afligneth no intcrnall caufeof motion unco the clowdj cfteeming it as a thing dead, and without an aftive fpirit .
For this canfe therefore , there do offer themfelves unto each wife-man's con[i- deration, fundrydoubcsin this Definition to be throughly refolved and determi- ned of, before he will be able rightly to judge the verity thereof, namely, firft whether the heat of the Sun do draw and attrad vapours out of the earth and wa- ters, into the middle region of the aire, for the compofingand fhaping out of a dowdy Meteor. Secondly, whether the coldnefs of the middle region of the aire, betheoccafionof thecondcnfation, orthickning of a thin vaporous fub- ftance, into the confirtence of a well compailed dowd. Thirdly , whether the clowdsbeonly moved byexternall efficient Agents, namely by the winds aqd Sun, as being deftitute of any incernall aftive principle or central! Agents or elfe if it be moved and animated oy an internall Spirit. Unto either of tliefe three queftions or doubts, I purpofe here to anfvver, in order as they are propofed.
Unto the firlt Objedtion therefore I fay : That it is a moli fahe and errone- ous Tenent of the Peripateticks , that the Sun , Starrs , or fire , do draw unto ihemany vapours or exhalations : For it is proved by experience, that they rather expell and diffipate from them fuch things as are rarified by them, than draw and al- lure them unto them: neither is it true as moft men falfty dream and furmifc, that the Sun draweth fumes upward, or that the fire fucketh the vaporous fubllance of the attenuated water unto it ; but their office is to ratify and fubtiliate the waters and to reduce the moifter part of the earth into vapour : And then it is naturally incident unto thofe light Subltances, of their own inclinations, to afcend and mount upwards, without any other externall agent. But all this we have plainly demonlhated by our experimental! Inltrument : For if you fet your hand upon ' the bolts head or round glaffe, on the top the aire will dilate icfelf, andprefencly fly away from the rarifying agent that dilateth it, and therefore much lefs will that agent fuck or draw it unto it (elf. By which it is evident , that whereas it feemed intheeies of worldly wife-men , that becaufe a vapour or fume afcendeth up- wards? therforethat motion from the Earth muft needs proceed from the attra- ftivevertue of the Summer heat; nowin theconduhon, it is proved to be itark falfe and erroneous, being that the nature of Heat and Light are clean contrary unto the attraction: forafmuch as they expell by dilatarion, anddodiiTipate, and enlarge, which is contrary unto the condition of attra and condenfation, which are the properties of cold, as is mainfetkdby our ex- perimentall Afachin.
But now to prove that Ar'iftotle'% ^rounds aremoft extravagant unto the Truth, who affirmeth that the clowds are made of a vapour drawn or elevated up into the middle region of the aire , we muff underftand , that the Opinion of the holy Scripturesisflatlyadverfeandcontrary unto this claufe or member of his defini- tion , or defcripcion, being that firlt it iseafilytobe gathered by this Text of St. Vaul^ That we ought to believe by Faith, that things vijtble rvere fiift made of fuch Heb. I. things which vpere not feen : and therefore it is neither the vifible earth nor water,
that"can be the Originall of the clowds, but rather the invifible aire. And this is Job 18. iA. alfo maintained by divers plain Teftimonies of Scriptures: Dius fapiemia fua ap- Job z6, 9. tat pondits a'erl, & appendlt aquas in menfura : Ligat eas in den [is ntihibHS , facit plu- vi£fiatuta, & viam fulgetro tomtruurm God by his Spirit oflVifdome, doth five a weight and proportion u»to tl^e aire ; and hangeth or baUanceth the waters by nieajure; tieth them in the thifk^clowds ; giveth laws Knto the rain, and ajfigneth a way unto the Light- ning of the Thunder, In which fpeech the wife and patient Job doth feem to con- firm. Firfl , that God is the Father and Head, from whence this work, and all other, doth radically proceed; andthe eternal! efficient inftrument , by which he a£teth, is his Spirit of Wifdome: which alfo accordeth with this of the Ap^iHe: I Cor. 8. Nobis efl unus Deus Patera quo omnia, & unus Dominus Jefus Chrijius per quern omnia: To us there is hut one Cod the Father, of whom are all things:, andoneonely L»rd Jefus Chrifl, bj whom are all things. Secondly, That the aire is the main Subjeft as well of the watery as fiery Meteors , f'^r by thickning or condenfing of it, it gi- veth a confidence unto the clowds, and fuch-like Meteors , which are eafily af- terward refolved into water and rain, andthenbyattenuatingit extreamly, it be- comethlighrning : Not that I fay, that the aft of Lightning is of the Subtlance of the aire, but is rather an adtiirable Light, clothed with the aire as with aveffi- ment» And in the very fame fenfe the Text faith, Itidntus lumme qitafi -veJUmentoi
He
Sgfit. I. Mofakall FHlcfofby, pp
Be is e»di:cdwi[h light as rvith a vefttment. And again, the wife Philofopher » ftt tum'me numen^in numlne lumen. So that the thinner the aire is, the hotter it is, and confequently the richer in ccxleftiall fire, vvhofe centrall aft is divinity. Now that the aire is the fubftance or materiall fubjeft of the watry Meteors , the precedent Text beareth it in thefe words , God by hi wisdom aJfigncth,orfetteth hj pofortton, n weight unto the aire ; that is,he thickenech ic into clowds, for the words following importeth fo much, which are, ylpfendit aquas feu nuhes in menfura^ He hatigeth or ballanceth the waters or clovfds by weafure, or attenuateth it into light nings , as the words following do witneiTe. So that he feemeth to aver, that the invilible aire is altered according to weight and meafure, into the bodies or fubftances of the vi- fibleclowdsjwhich afterwards are refolved into rain, and fiery lightnings, which by compreirion do appear. Again, that it is neither the earth nor waters from which the exiltence or fubltance of a dowd is made, but onely the aire , we plainly do ga- ther cut of thefe words in Deuteronomy , AperiettibijEHOf^yi thepturum fuum of' p^ut. »8 1 1. ttn/Hm.ecsloiydmdo p/uviam terrx tuafuo tempore: jEHOf^A will open his befl treafury^ the heavens, g: zing rain unto thy earth in duefeafon. Que of which words obferve , firft , that by the heavens is meant the Aire, for in the aire the clowds are procrea- ted; and again, the aire is called heaven in many places of Scripture, as, volati/ia cvli,the fouls or birds of heaven. And therefore this is the facr avium divinumj tht divine treafury or treafure-houfe,out of the whichGod ac his pleafureproduceth and fafhioneth the clowds. Secondly, that the aire is called his belt treafury, and there- _
foreit isout ofir, that not onely hedothextraft his meteorologicall creatures » but alfo that wife-men do enquire after their mylUcall fummum bomtm , and Chri - ftian Philofophers that are well grounded , the charafter of the divine wifdom. Again, it is faid in another place, Propter e a apertijunt thejuur.-, & evolarunt nubes & j^dgf 4* i* nebula^ ficittaves'. Therefore his tre.i[nries are opened ^ and the c'orvds did fly oft like birds. But this is made yet moreevident, bythefeplain \yo^ds oi fob-, Subith aer joh if.it, condenfabitttr innubes, & ver.tns tranfensfugabit eas : T he airewill fuddenty be con- denfed orthiikjitd into clowds y undthe movingwinde will drive them before it. By which words it is apparent, that the aire is the fubjeft out of the which rhe-clovvds are compared and framed , and thattheheavensare the onely treafury, outofthc which they are collefted, and therefore neither the earth nor the water, as Anflotle would have it; which if it were true indeed , mark what an abfurd impoflibility muft follow. Forthen whereas the Sun doth attenuate the aire inthefummer-fea- fon, it would contrary unto reafon condenfe it , by the continuall raifing of va- pours ; jnd then agrcarer abfurdity would follow on the neck of this , to dellroy Ariftotles tenenr, touching the generation of the clowds, for then we ftiould have more clowds and rain in rhe fummer, than winter, being that there are made more vapours at that fealon , by the Suns heat and empnying of ponds and rivers, then in thewinter, which experience proveth falfe. And lalily, it is neither the heat ofthe Sun nor Stars , but theeternall Spirit of JEHOVA, whofe dominion is over the angelicall winds, by which he moveth and operateth all rhefe alterations in the air, and by the aire,as l"hall be told you hereafter. Aiid therefore it was faid, By hiswij- dsm he giveth weight unto the aire , and hangeth the clowds in meafure , and affi^neth rules umo the rain^ and proportioneth a way or paffage unto the lightnings and thunders^ CTc But I come unro the fecond Doubt.
To the refolution ofthe fecond doubt, I fay, that there is another manner of reafon, for theincraffation and condenfation of an invifible vapour, or the aire, in- to a cloud, than that which Ariflotle and his followers have afflgned, and fet down; for whereas hefairh, that this feat is performed , by the contractive cold ofthe middle region ofthe aire , it may be wondered at , why this effeft is not wrought as well at other times , as when the winds do blow from their certain quarters of the earth; for when the foutherly winds have dominion , then dowe fee clouds to multiply, and the rain to poure down in the greatell abundance. I wouldfain know of thefe Peripateticks, why the vapours fhould be raifed fo thick, jult at that time when the vvind bloweth from the fouth , to make a greater abundance of clowds in the aire, then at another feafon , namely, when they have no dominion ? Or why fliould the cold ofthe middleregion ofthe aire, be apter to coagulate or curdle va- pours at that time, than at othertimes, being that tne warm clouds, or denfe aire , which is driven from the jfiquinoftiall , do moderate the middle region's cold, through which they glide by reafon of their hot temper? Verily I know, that they are ignorant what to anfwer touching this point , and therefore I will prefle them
O t 00
lop Mojakall Philofopbfi Book, f
no further. But I will cell you ofanexparitnenc of mine own, whereby I 'was in- duced unto the truth, concerning the generation of the mifts and clouds : When in mytravellsl went or journeyed from f^i^wc* unco Augufla, or Aufburgy in Germany, as 1 travelled between the high mountains and rocks of the Alps, upon a certain day when the heavens were palling dear, and without any cloud to be feen in the Horizon, the Sun alfo (asinthefetimes it muft needs) being pafling bright ; I efpied on the top of a (kepy mountain, on the which the Sun-beams did ftrong- ly beat, a certain fogg or milt by little and litde co arife , and ever it thickned more and more , untill it grew from a fleight vapour unto a milt , and from a foggy mift at the lati unto a thick cloud^and all this while the aire was every where clear,excepc only on that fide thehill, trom the top unto the bottom, which we beheld. It made me a little to marvell,andthereforealighting from ourCoachjI took fomegrarte and flung it into the aire, to try which way the wind did blow, and I found it to be full upon or againli that eminent hill , which was advanced towards the heavens above his fellows. Whereupon I did ftreight-way gather, that the degrees of progrefTion from a vapour unto a mirt 5 and from a mili unto a fogg, and fo forward unto the confiltence of a clowd, was by comprefTion of the common aire , which was chafed before the winde by little and little, againft the lofty rock or mountain , winch binderingof it initspaffageor flight , was the caufethat the confequent-aire was added unto the precedent, and foby adding and comprefTing of parts of the aire un- to other parts , aperfe6lclowd , onely conformable unto that part of the moun- tain, was made, which forthwith , when it became ponderous , and apt co endure the reflexion of the Sun, didrefolveit felf for four miles fpace on this fide the rock into rain, all the relt of the aire ren^aining rtill clear, and without any clowd. Whereby 1 did forthwith conceive, that clowds were not ingendered after tfia manner defcribedby the Peripateticks, "thatis, bythevspours rifing oucof the earth.md waters , but by the infpiflation or incraflation of the thin andinvifible aire, into a thick, denfe, and vifible clowd , according unto the before-mentioned place of Jif^, Stibh'o aercoyidenfabiturin nubcs &tranfiensvei!tri.ffuga[;iteas. But then Iwas a little troubled, when I remembred, that mountains and high rocks' cannot by their refift.mce, and flopping of the fugitive aire,bealvvaies the caufe of the clowds; being that we find , that clowds do every where appear , yea, in the plain deferts, and open feas, where no hills are. Whereupon after that I had a little while conlidered, and well pondered this ohjeftion with my felf, I did quickly con- ceive an infallible anfwer and refolution of rhis doubt , confidering, that there is not a winde that blowerh in the heaven or tranfverfall winde which bloweth with ir, th-^ugh it be not difcerned by reafon that the mightier winde doth darken or obfcure the a£l:ion of the weaker, even as in the openSun acandleis f:arcely ro be difrerned.Now that at one and the fame time two or more winds do blow, I will prove it by common experience ; for being of- ten on the feas , 1 have obferved , that when the predominant winde hath fallen a little in his force by fits, and hath urged thefayl ofthe Ship but weikly, an oppo- fite winde bath immediately bewrayed it felf, and moved the fail the contrary way , untill the other rifing again, did replenifh and fill up the fail towards our determi- ned mark, which made for ourpurpofe.But we have alfo Scriptures to teftifie,thac oppofite winds do often blow at one and the fame inflantjfor firfl,the felf fame Spi- Fzckiei tT. rit was evoked from the quarters of thefour winds,by Eif^/c/and Daniel, Ecce qua- Dan 7. taor vtnti cn/i pitafjaba-iit in mart maono , Bchcli, the fonr ivi'rds didfaht together in a
great pa. And %(tcharia(, Ifll ejuntuor equi fimt quatuor venti ccel'i qui e^iredmntur & Zach. tf. I (l am curar/i Dvminatore omris car-nis: Thefe four horfes are the four wiud-f ofthe heAve», which goe forth and ft-dndbefo-e the Lord of all flefh. Whereby it is evident, that not one or two winds , but many winds may blow in the heavens at once; for by their oppofite blafls, clowds, whirl-winds, tempefts , lightning, and thunders, are commonly effeded. All which the profound Poet Homer feemeth to include in a few Verfes, tranflated thus into Latin :
Tantus coslefii rumor fercrebult Aula , Cftmfceva alterni ruerent in pralia Divl Neptunum contra bellabatVhahyx?, ApoUo, Adverftis Marteiti cenabatVA\z.% Athenx.
Great
Sed.i.' MojdkallTbilofofbf. loi
Great nolfe VAS raifed tn the EHfian hall, JVhengods with gods did enter crttell tvars : PhTebus Apollo there tvith Neptune ; Pallas of Atheas foul with Mars doth fall.
'Where he underltandeth by the gods the oppolite angelicall fpirits , which iffue from the winds, who at their meeting in the open aeriall fea , do fight, and tetnpe- ftuoufly ftrive with one another , according unto the fenfe of the precedent text' of Daniel: ForbyA'' are cold, moilt, and waterifli; and by Phahns he intendeth the oricntall prefidenc, vvhofeblarts are hot, dry, and fiery ; but by /l^^^i'-j is fisnified the thunder and light- ning. Alfo Ovid doth mort notably expreffe the comoat which is effefted amongft ,the winds, in thefe verfes,fpeaking in the perfon of Boreas ^ or the north-winde.
Idem ego ^tmmfratres coelo fum naBtu Aperto Nam mihi campus is e^, tanto moUmine luBor Ut medim nojlris concujjibus mfotxt fy£ther Exillantque ca vis elift nnbibus ignes.
when as I meet my brethren in the aire , {vvhich IS my field) I tvrefile rvithfiich ire , That middle heavens do Eccbe at our fare , And hollow clorvds do vent forth Jiafh.'ng fire.
Where by Fraires , Boreas, or the North-wind , undsrftandeth the Southern blall , and the other cardinall winds , the which when Boreas meetech in the aire , do produce by their contentious ftruglings and wraftlings, thunder, whirl-winds, and fuch like tempeftuous florms. And therefore we ought not to make any doubt , but that two or more winds do blow at one and the fame time , either oppofitely , or tranfverfally in the open aire, whereby the intermediate invifible aire is by comr prelTion thickened, or condcnfedfromthe exiltenceofamean aire, intoafcarce vifible vaporous fubltance, and fo unto a more vifible mifty corpulency; and laftly, into a moft apparent and vifibleclowd, the which dowd neverthelefle is pufhed and driven forward by that wind in the heaven , which hath the greateft dominion and denomination; for his power confirming in every point that which is fpoken hy Job, and cited before, Subito aer condenfabittir'tn nubes & ventns tranfensf(tgabit*°°if' **• eas:The airewiUfuddenly be thickened into clouds , andthewinde which moveth inthe aire will drive them before it. So that it is eafil y to be gathered, that a clowd is fra- med of the aire after this fafhion; The aire filling the whole vaulty heaven, and therefore thcfublunary world is violently forced to move before the. breath of ope winde, and being encountered in its flight by an oppofite winde unto the firtt , though of a weaker force , it refilts the chafed aire in its motion , and by that refi- nance, aire being joyned unto aire, doth thicken by degrees, even as I told you the fteep mountain or rock denying palTage unto the aire, which flyed a«d efchewed the perfecut ing windcj was the caufe of his condenfation.
This therefore being rightly confidered, it is apparent, that the Peripatet'icall afv fertlon is unjuft and erroneous, forafmuch as it averreth , that a vapour raifed ouc out ofthe earth and water, up to the middle region of the aire, is by the coldnelfe of the place meramorphofed or changed into the form and fubftance of a clowd; the whi(.h alfo (as is already proved) is moft improbable , becaufe the foutherly winds, which are the chiefeft parents of the dowds , and rain in abundance, feeing that they are hot , by reafon of the places temper from whence they are fent , would rather qualifie (as is already faid) by their warmth , thecoldnefle ofthe re- gion, through which rhey march or pafle , and therefore would either difannull the effea of that property of cold, or eU'e fo weaken and dull the power of it, that if ic produced any clovvds, they would prove more thin and fmallones, then any other ofthe cold winds ; as alfo the winde Eurus would effetl: rhe fame, by reafon of his great heat- And yet we find all this quite contrary by experience, for the foutherly •; ■.
winds do incraflate and produce clowds, that are in generall more moirt and thick, then any ofthe other are accuftomed to do ; yeaverily, thefouth winde doth fo ,v-^-
condenfe the aire by his prefence, that fts //^«r«f doth affirm) kmaketh obje ■' appear
102. Mofaicall Pbihfofby. Book^,
appear greater unto the fighc then indeed they are. 1 come now unto the Refolu- txon ot the third Doubt.
Touchingthe third and laft doubt, which is. Whether the clouds be onely Su- perficially moved by externall winds, and the heat of the Sun , as Arijlctle's nxuc^ cination is, and not by any centrall agent, which rulcth it , as it pleafcth, and at whofe Command the winds themfelves are obedient. Verily I anfwer, thar, con- trary untothe intention of the Peripateticks, the clowds have their inward agen', the which callcth the winds to efted his will, andpufh and move forward hi; clowdy vehicle or Chariot, when, where, and which way he pleafeth : For as this Agent is catholick , fo is he not abfent from the Spirit of the winds , though centrally prefent in the cloud: For he being prefent with, and in the fpirit of, the winds, doth in and by the Angelicall Spirits of the winds, operate centrally in the aire, and by the contrading aft in himfelf , gathering the aire together intoa clowd, which he maketh his vehicle or Chariot. Therefore it is faid in one place?
Pf 8 Nubibus denjhobteglt Dhhs calos y quit comparent terra p/uviam; qui facit Mt prefc
' '* " ra*itmoritesfa»tim,& dent ]Umentii cihttm-.God filUth the heavens with clowds, that thej
might bring forth rain unto the earth , that thereby hay or grafs may fpyng forth , for
t he nouriihrnent of Cattle. Out of which fpeech we may gather : Firit, that God
by his windy Minilters doth condenfeand ihape out the aire into clowds (For the
Pf«l. 148. itormy winds are faid to effc6t the Will and Word of God). Then, that this was no miraculous work, but a common work in nature , being that it is daily eftefted to produce grafs, herbs, and plants, for the futlenance of living creatures. And Job-.
Job ra. If. Dcnfa nubes tu^ur'mm ejus: 1 he thick^clowds are hisdrvelUngp/ace, And David: Nu- bent expA'fidlt Dens pro tegumemo : God fpreadeth abroad the clowd for a covertncr,
Pfal. 105, 39. And Mofes: Defcendlt Domintts Innube, & locjHut'is efl adeum : The Lord defcended in a clowd and {pake unto hint. But all this which is faid touchingthis point, is no-
^"•^''''^''tably exprefled inthefewordsof5 Cr caligo fub jedibfts fjM, & afcenditpt per Cher tibin , & volavtt , & lapfns eft fuper prnnfis vtnti : Pofnittenebrasin circuitHfiio la:ibHlHrHy cribranf aquas de niibibus calom rfim,prit fu/gorein ccnfpe^Kejus nubes accenfafant : jEHQl^A didbow dovn or in-
iKing.n.B. fJifjg({,eheavensandafcended, and darknejfe was stnder his feet, and he afcendedupon ^ Cherubin, and did fly and glide upon the wings of the wind: He made dark^nejfe his hi- din^ place, fiftintr out waters from the clowds of heaveny and the clowds are fet on fire at the fight of h)M, &c. In which relation of holy Writ , what I have fpoken be- fore is notably fet forth. Forfirft it is faid , that God afcended or mounted on theCherubin, which is an airy Angell; then that he did glide upon the wings of thewind: arguing thereby thatthe aire being animated by the Angelicall Spirit was mndea wind , in the which the Word or Spirit of G'^d did move: and then af- ter this, he in and by the wind did fhape out his dark Tabernacle : For it is faid: He madedarknefs his hiding place; that is, he made the dark clowds his Chariot : For
P»l. 104. 3. David hath it thus, Nubes denfs vshtculum, feti currus Der, qui itat fuper alas zetti:
P&l it 17 ^^' thick^clowds are a vehicle or Chariot ofGod,whe rideth or walkeih upon the w'»c t sf the winds.ln:inoihQ}:j)\ncc\zlscz\\Q6MoHsDeicoagrilatw,in quo bene placitu^u efi Deo inhabitare: 1 he cor^denfed, curdled, or coagulated A fountain of God, in which it « p/efftngunto himto dwel. So that it is evident, that the Spirit of God moveth the Angelicall Spirit, the Angelicall Spirit exciteth and informeth the aire with a win- dy nature : Forafmuch asby his movinginir, the aire is made a windy fpirit , and therefore r he Prophet faid. Qui facis Angelas ventct izhm, that animated aire by rppofit Angelicall Spirits, incited by one and the fame Diviniry, doth reduce the commonaireinrodowds , which are the Chariots of him, who eflcnti^lly doth aft and operate all thefe things, by divers Organs one within another, which vary in digniry from one another: For by how much the more internall a thing is, the more worthy, and noble, or veraous it is elkemed, becaufe they app-oacTi nearell unto that edcnre in Divinity, which afteth and operateth centrally all in all. That God dorh move in the Thunders, fpeaketh out of the whirl-wind and clowds, andisat hispleafureaconfumingfire ; and that he operareth centrally in thewinds, clowds. Snow, and TempeHs , and that all thefe areeftefted by his Spirit of Wifdome; the Scriptures do here and there in moft places exprefs. And thereforcitis vainly faid that the clowds only move by the Sun-beams , or the ex- ternall pufhing winds, caufedof fo vain impoffible Principles as Ar/fiotletd\tth us, when it is the Tabernacle in which that Ecernall Spiritis pleated to abide , or a Chariot in which he is delighted to ride, whofe horfcs ( as Zachary faith) are the
winds.
Sed.i.^ MofakaWPhilofofbyl loj
winds, or rarher the Cherubinicall Spirits, which he doth animate. So that the volunty or centrall principle of the motion is intheclowd, butthe Angells and winds aretheMinilkrs or organicall Agents, which move according unto the wil- ier, wherefore though we proved before that the aire was thickned into clowds^ and that the following wind did drive them before it , yet thewillerandcomman- *
der of this Generation of clowds by the winds, was the onely and eflentiall inter- nall principle or centrall mover in the clowds, which by his will made his Mini- . Hers to move him, where or to what purpofe he pleafed. And, therefore Solomon; Prov.jo. i6,' Sapientia ejus abjjjl ruperumfefe, & cxli dtftillant rorem : By his jvifdome the abyjfe ^rake forth, and did ra'iK down the dew. And, Flame Deo concrefcit geln : God blow- 4°l '?* }>i£, the Ice is gathered together. Again, Sttpietttia aptat po»dus aeri ^ & appendit a- '
(juas i» men fur A : iVifdome doth proportion the weight of the aire , and hangeth the »> ten in meajkre^ &c.
We may therefore boldy conclude againlt both -^/•(y? of the Echnicks, that neither the earth nor the water are the immediate fountains of the clowds, but the heavens or aire which is the Treafure-houfe of God; nei- ther is it the cold of the middle region of theaire, which condenfeth any imagina- ry furging or afcending vapours arifmg from beneath ; but that centrall animating Spirit born or gliding on the wings of the wind , reading but not inclufively in the cloud, who according unto his pleafure, by the means of his organicall Mini- fters, the Angelicall winds, fafhioneth forth the clouds, to ferve as a cover or ta- bernacle unto it. And therefore the cloud a£leth not by the heat of the Sun, but by the Divine Light that is centrally in it, which, as an Emperour , fitteth upon the Cherubinsj which are airy and windy Angels, as the Seraphins are fiery Spirits, and fomoveth upon the wings of the wind or aire, which his Angelicall Cheru- bin doth animate. Sothatinandby the windy Organ , he is faidto blow when and where he lift. It is (I fay) the Eteruall Spirit of Wifdome, which is in^jfj - brightnefs and vertue more noble then the Sun of Heaven, as 5o/owo« teftifieth: For as much as it alfo giveth life and fplendor unto the Sun. And therefore it is faid to excelithe Sun in brighcnefs, which is the onely efficient caufe, or formall and effentiall Agent in this bufinefs , and confequently neither the Sun, or any other of the created hoil of Heaven. It is (I fay again) the all-creating Spirit, and not the created^ which is the generall a£t, and onely formall mover in the Me- teors, whom his Angelicall Minifters (which do ever ftand before this Lord of all the earth, that I may fpeak with the Prophet Zachary') arc ready to afTift as Organs or inftrumentall caufes to execute his will. It is (I fay) the effentiall wind or Spirit, which bloweth from the center of the cloud, and moveth or inciteth his fpirituall created Organs, according unto his will : For by it his Spirit alfo moveth in the Angels and winds, caufing them to effeft his Command; according unto Davi'h airertion : Wherefore we may fee by this which is faid, how incongruous is this opinion of the EthnickPeripatetick, unto the Truth, and how far it dero- gaterh from the right of God's Word , and confequently what an errour it is in our Chriftian Philofophers, to follow and imitate his learning, with fuch a devotion and fervency, zslUhzy were TheodldaHi, taught by God himfelf- when in verity his doftrine doth rather dirfwade Chriftians fromthe knowledg of him in his works, then inftru6l rhem therein, being it perfwadeth them, that things are efFetfted both in heaven above, and in the earth, and in the waters beneath, by vain waies and ac- cidentally; that is to fay, meerlybynaturall caufesonely, and fo would blemifli the honour and reputation of Him, who in verity is all in all, and operateth all in all; andthacnotbyconftraint, asthevainPeripatetickimagineth, but according unco his Will, as it is proved before.
CHAP. VI.
The true and ejfentiall Definition , 'or rather defcriftion of a Cloud is fet forth in this Chapter.
WEU then, will they reply, Let us underftand how you can better define, or defcribe the nature of a clowd, according unto that holy Philofophy , and true Wifdom which you feem to profefs. To the which I anfwer: that I am willing, and that after a divers manner, though agreeingin one unity of ElTence.
104 MqfaicaU Philofophy. Book. ^,
Aclowdis the revealing and making nianifellof the invifible mundan fpiric, which is hidden in the treafury of Cjod, namely, the heavens , by the cencrall operation of the divine wifdom, andhis windy minilters, being incited there- unto by the will ot'God, into a vaporous heap or clowdy fubftance, which the fiid fpirit of wifdom ereiSteth for his fecret place or vehicle , to move in ; and for the effecting of his will, as well in heaven above , as in the earth and wa- ters beneath. Or, after this manner;
A clowdisthe reducing of the invifible aire, into a-vifible, thick, and gloomy conliftence, which is by the will of God eflfefted, through the concurrence or meeting together ofoppofiteor tranfveriall winds, fortheaccomplifhmenc of his fecret will and pleafure. Orelfe,chus;
Aclowdis a certain vifiblecondenfed heap of aire, the which the Spirit of wif- dom being expanfed every where, doth make and compcfe as it were of no- thing, that is to fay, of an airy invifible fomewhat, which it extrai^erh out of his myUicall trealury, to do and effeit the will of God , as well in heaven as inearth.
In which definitions, or rather defcriptions , the materiall fubHance feemeth to be a coagulated mift , or condenfedmalfeor heapofaire, the formall caufe is fee out in the fbapeand form of the clowd; the efficient caufe, or centrall agent, is the eflentiall a£t of the divine wifdom, who employeth and exciteth his windy mini- Iters, to work externally by the way of compreifion. We have alfo the magazine or treafury, out of which the fubllance of the winds is produced, namely, the hea- vens or airCj which is termed, -^rca Dei tbefAurar,a, The chift or cabinet of Gods trea- /«rw. To conclude, the finall caufe is manifefted in this , that the clowd is ordai- ned to brino forth the efFe6ts , as well of Gods clemency and benignity, as of his feverity and anger.
Now for the defence of the firft part of thefedefcriptions,vvefind it thus written, DcHs fafie»tia fua aftat fondus aeri & affe>idit atjHas ;'w menfnra , facitplnviafintftta & viamfft/^eiro (oniiruum, &c. Cod doth by his wifdom proporitonate the weight of the Job 28. * J- aire^ and hangeth the waters or clowds in meafure, affigneih Lnves unto the ra'n^ and nta- keth a way mno the lifhtaings of the thunder. That is to fay, according unto the will and ordination of the divineSpirit,the aire or fubftance of heaven is changed from a lighter or thinnet eftate or weight, unto a heavier or thicker, the degrees of which mutation arc exprefled in the words following ; for firft it was aire, then clowds , then rain, or vulgar water. Alfo the Text dorhfeem to make the lightnings inter- nall or formall light of the clowd, which is not revealed , but by the violation or ruption of the compound, and ablation of darknefs. Again, it is faid by Jo^, (as is teclui 4? already related) yier condei^fabttur in tiuhes^ & ventns tranfiens fugab'.t eas ; The aire will be thickned into clowds. And touching the clowds of fnow, Cw??-(f^^// r'.'j afpergif nivem , The aire heing gathered together , doth fcatter the fnow on the earth.
Touching the efficient caufe, it appeareth to be God , or the eternall Wifdom ; and therefore in the precedent Text it is faid , Dens fapiemla fta aptat pondtts aeri , & append'! t aqtiM vcl Ktibesinmenfurai God by his wifdom hangeth or ballanceth the waters or clowds in meafure. And again , Nubibns denfis cbtegit Detts calos, God cove~ pial. 147. • retb the heavens with thlck^clowds. But all this is fufficiently expreffed before. As for the finall caufe , fet down in the forefaid definitions , it is confirmed by Scrip- tures in this fafhion , Pro irrigationefatigatDeH^denfamntibenty & difpsrg't lucem Job'?. 4 etidam bene ficentiam ejfciet utprefto fit. Godwcarieth the thick clowd for the watering of the earth , and he difperfeth every where the light of hii clowdy whatfoever he cam - mandeth thtm to be done upon the earth, whether it be for afcourge, or elfe in favour and lacuchf. e"©. benignity, he mal^eth them tobe ready to accompliih it. And Earfichtmh^ When God commandeih the clowds that they pajfe over the whole earth, they perform what is com^ mandedthem. So that we fee , thefe creatures are drawn out of their fecret dwel- ling"?, to do the will of him that created them.
CHAP.
Sed. I. Mofaicall Pbilojbpbf. ic^
CHAP. VII.
Ji^TP by our experime»tiill I'nJlrHment , the reaf n of the cotHf option ofdowds is ocitlorlf demon firated, ^ [j i" ih.s,the Sn.w u depnedfa/Jl^ and truly,
NOw I think ic moft fie to demonltrateunco you, how the clowds are procrea- ted, by the oppoliteblalt of two winds of a contrary nature, namely, of the Southerly wind in eminency and dominion , and a Northerly fpiiit which alfo bloweth, but infenlibly. I told you in the Chapter, where I did demonltrate by our experimental! Intirument,the reaion of the Southerly winds which happen in win- ter, tliat as the aire includedin the Weather-glalTe, didbytheonely touch of i warm hand dilate it felf,and in dilatation fly from the hand of thetouther,untothe cold region of the water, which was evidently proved and maintained, becaufe the water did fuddainly thereupon move downward : So alfo the groffe winter aire in the fourhern hemilphear, did at the approach of rhe Sun unto the pares beyond the Line, dilate it felf, by vertueofthat ever-ai^in^and fubtiliatin^ fpirit, which put his tabernacle in the Sun ; fo that the fouthern dilated aire pofteaapace , or flew ha- itilyaway, to feek a larger place; but comming into the northern hemifphear, (which by reafon of the Sun's abfence,becamc brumall or wintry) the conftant aire of that re§ionb:ingnowcontraftedby the northern cold, and rhe north- wind, by reafon of the colds dominion, blowing more or leffe, though infenfibly, it meeting with the warmfcutherly fpirit, condenfeth it with the refl into clowds ; and this is the reason, that alwaiesalmoft, (and that is, where no northern blafls aredifcer- ned) that the foutherly winds do bring abundance ofdowds and rain with them , forthat the hot foutherly vertue of the divine agent , doth more and more fubtili- ate and rarifie the winter aire which it found there , till it had by rarefaction puri- fied ir, and reduced it unto the nature of a true Sum Tier aire; fothat the fuperflu- ous parts of the aireafrer rarefadion , were chafed away (as is faid) into the nor- thern region, where it is condenfed again , partly by the privative ait of the divine puirtance, and partly by the fpiffitudc of the northern aire, which denyeth it free pafl'age into the form of clowds: Fot the cold fpifle aire of the northern hemifphear, agitated and animaredby the northern bh!t or property, refilkththe hot vaporotts aire, and fo ic condenfeth by little and little.
To conclude, I could here fet down the Arirtotelian definitions of the fnow, frort, hail , ice, andfuch like other meteors ; and then check and contradiil them mainly, by other true defcripcions of them, proved by rhe ceftimony of holy writ. As for example , j4rijlatle feemeth to aver, that the fnow is a clowd , congealed by the great cold , which before it be perfeftly dilfolved into water by a vapo'ous dif- pofifion , it is changed into a fnowy fubftance. In which definition, becaufe he is jgnoranr, a'; h.ithb;enp-oved al-eady , inthefabrickof aclowd , we oughr in no cafe believe him. Again, he digrefferh from the tenour of Scriptures, according un- to the mind whereof, we have defined the fnow thus.
The Snow is a meteor which God draweth forth of his hidden treafury , in the form of wool, to efFeft his will upon the earth , eitherby way of puniflimenc or clemency. Or thus. The Snow is a creature produced out of the air, or heavenl y treafury of God, by the cold breath orblalt of the divine fpirit , in the form of wool, to perform his will on the earth.
Where the fountain of his originall fubftance is made the aire , or the matter of the heavens ; and therefore the Text hath it, Congre^attofptn'tfts afperait mvem. The £j(.ju5 . . ^atherin^ to q ether or condenfauon of the fpirit, in gender eth and fprln^^leth the fnow upon the earth. And Job, Perveni 'line in thefdnrii »!vis? Cameji thou Into tie treafurj of the Job j 8. fy.ow} Alfo the form and efficient caufeisexprefledrhus, D - Pfal. 143. i^. lit pent lanam , coram friaore eyts (juis con ft fiat > God by his vpord fendeth o'-tt thefiorp lik^e wool, who is able to reft ft his coin'} So that God by his Word, which doth operate in his privative property by his cold , is the effentiall, efficient, and omnipoteuc aftor, in theproduftionofthefnow. • /
I could (I fay) effe-5l all this at large>but becaufe my minde is not to dwell up-'
P on
jo5 Mofaicall Vbilofojhy. Book. 5.
on thefe particulars, forafmuch as inthedefcriprionofthe dowd, I haveTuffici- encly poinced at the reft, I will proceed unco my enquiry touching Arifi-otlc$ opi- nion,concerning the beginning of fountains , that we may perceive thereby, whe- ther he have erred as far in that myftery, as he hath done in the reft.
CHAP. Vlll.
fVhat Ariftotle'-f o^'wlon isjcouching the generation of FeiiKtams and Rivtrs ,a»drvheiher he hi his opinion dothjHmp with the verity of ihi true wifdom.
Since therefore it is apparent , that >^r{/?»r/.e/do(ftrine is erroneous and deceipt- fuU, touching the generation and effence of the winds and clowds , we purpofe" "in the third place to bring his judgment and opmion, concerningthe beginning and originall of founcaines and rivers, unto thetouch-Uone of truth , that thereby we may perceive, vvhecher it will endure the tryall, and not fhrink ( as the proverb is ) in the wetting.
The Peripateticks, as well Chriftians as Gentiles, are as much deceived in their meteorological 1 grounds, concemiugthe generation of fountains and rivers, as in rhe reft, of which we have fpoken before ; and therefore their Mafler Arlftotle ( all things belug well pondered in the ballance of juftice) ought to be accounted of all true Chriftians, for a feducerand deceiver of the world ; and confequently hisdo- ftrine touching this pointjought of right to be repudiated and rejected.
Ariftotle, with his peripateticall feti orfaiiion, are of opinion , that being the belly or bowellsofthe earth is full of cavities , and hollow paflTages ; vapours, to avoid vacuity , muft needs afcend from the center or bottom of it, the which cleaving in their afcentuntothefidesof the hollow vaults , and ftreighter paflages orveines of theeartb, do refolve into water , which diftilling down by drops, do ingender fountaines and rivers.
In the which opinion of theirs they conclude, that the mat:er of fountains is no- thing elfe, but a vapour arifing from the bottom ofcheearch, andrcfolvedjliqueS- ed, or condenfedinto water, throughcoldandheat together within the earth ; no otherwife then after their faying, the dowd, rain, fnow, and hail do arife , and are generated in the aire of a vapour, firft condenfed, and afterwards liquefied.
But if we {ball duely examine every member of this their defcription , we fliall perceive, that they require as well a double matter , as formall agent in this gene- ration of fountaines ; for they faign , that the remote matter is a vapour, aud then the near and immediate matter they imagine to be drops of water , which are cau- fed by the concretion or condenfation of that vapour. Alfo they make their two efficient caufes, cold and heat jforjfay they, it is the ofBceof coldtocondenfeand congeal the included vapour into water , and that it is the heat and cold together, which maketh the water fluxible and moovsble. Let it therefore be law- full for me {judicious Reader ) to anfwerthefePeripatetickPhilofopher- , with an over -worn axiom of their own , and confequently to fight with them at their own weapons. Theiraxiomis , Frnfirafit per ptur a (^nod fieri potefi per pandora. That is ijainlj done ir ejf work in the producing of fountains , may be performed moft conveniently by one andrhefelf-famefubjeft ofvvater, without the altering of it, firft, into vapour by fubtiliation , and afterward by condenfing again that fubcle vapour into water; Then I makeno doubt but you will conclude with me , that this Peripacetick defi- nition is vain, imaginary, and fophifticall, by their own rules. Butl willmakeit apparent hereafter, by an ocular demonftration, that it is polVible by a courfe in na- ture onely, that water without any alteration of hisconfiftence , maybythefecrec veines, andclofepartagesor conduits of the earth , be drawn or fucked up out of the huge feas , uncothe toporfummity of the mountains , after by his foaking through the fands , and poryfubftance of the earth , it hath left his fait nature be- hind it ; which appearingevidcntly to every mans fenfe, the vanity of y^r//f*f/e^ in- vention will foon be difcovered unro wife men. Befides all this, rhe fterility of his reafon or invention, whichwould faign, that thefe vapours cleaving unto the fides of the caverns or hollow places,and tha: therei'forfoothjthey muftbe converted in- to drops of water, which from thence muft ifiue forth into rivers, will be palpable and manifeft , if we confider, that thefe drops fo made , are apter cocirculate , and
readi-
SeSt, u MofakaUThikfofhyi 107
readier to fall down again into thebovvells of the earth, from whence they came, by thofe felf-fairic vauky pafiages or hollow veines, through which they afcended, than to ilTue forth of the ground allaterally,becaufe that every heavy thing is more prone to dcfcend, then to move lidelong. And therefore it is likely , that either all the waters fomade, or the greater part mult needs return downward by the way it came or afcended in the form of vapour. But omitting thefe reafons for a while, wemurtfeeif the Text, which is conteined in the Book of Verity, do con(ent in this Opinion with Arijiotle and his faftion , yea or no.
We find in the hrl} place, that it is not an accidentall and imaginary heat or cold, that a3:eth in this Meteor's Generation, but God who operateth by his An- gelicall Spirits , and folar ad in the accomplilliment of this bufmefs. And al- though that in his aftion, as well privative as politive, cold and heat do exprefle fhemfelves as his Minilters: For the Text faith, Coram frigore ejus qnls confiftat-.ivho canfiandagAi'tft h'^ cold? Yet it is his catholick pofitive aft, which he extendeth out of his funny Tabernacle, and hotter winds, and privative vertue, which- ^..a- nifelleth in the longinquity and abfence of his bright Tabernacle, froii-, the region pointed at, and the propinquity of the polar feat of the colder winds, to alter annually the created Element. And therefore it is God which by his Spi- rituall Organs , as well in Heaven above , as Earth and Water beneath , that operateth all things , and amongll therelt, produceth the Fountains of which the rivers are made. And confequently we ought to efteem it the Aft of Wifd, i. ' God's Spirit which fiUeth the earth, {as Solomon faith) and operateth all the naturalleffefts therein. Which alfo D^Wdoth teRify in thefe words : 0«/^^'" *°** ^°' emittis fortes per valles, tit inter monies ambaknt & potismfr£bea»t omnibni atiimantibns aori^franoant Onagri fitimfH/im: Ofiiirrigat mantes e canacu lis fuu\ factens Ht (rer- minetfinHmady.'.mentt, dr herbam adhominis ufum : li'hofendeth forth the fountains through the valleys, that they majrrtin between the mountains , and five drmk_Hr,to eve^. ry living creature of the f eld, that the Affemay (jaench histhirj} , and that they may water the mountains from their ce/lsy canfing the graft to grow for the ttfe of the Oxe, mdtheherb for the benefit of man. Sec. So that here we have the fole catholick Agent, and therefore the Operator of fountains as is proved by this Text. Again, here we have the finall cau{e fet down , for the which they were created and con- tinued in fuccelTion by God, namely to water the earth ; for the giving drink unto all cattell , and living creatures, and for the multiplying of graffe, herbs, trees, and fruit, for the ufe as well of man as beaff. But will our Peripateticks fay, we hear no news out of Scripture , for the contradifting of our matter aligned for the compolition, or conlirtence of Fountains, whichwefay tobea vapour , and not water, in its naturall fubftance : Neverthelefle, to qualify this their imagina- tion, and ro make them behold the Truth without Speftacles , Icounfell them to give eare unco this aflertion of Solomon : Omnia flttmina (faith he) intrant in mare, df mare mn redundat, ad locum ttnde exeunt revertuntur ut iternm fluant ; All rivers enter into the Sea, and it is never the bigger, they return unto the place from whence they came, that they might flow again. By the which Speech of the wife-man, exprelfing Ecdef, i. themateriallcaufeof Fountains, the forefaid definition oi Arifiotie is utterly o- thrown , for this doth evidently prove, that it is one and the felf-fame water, and that in the plain form of water, without any tranfmutation of it out of water into vapour, and then from vapour into water again, as he doth erroneoufly alledge, which moveth from the Sea unto the Mountains, and from the Mountains unto the Sea again : Infomuch that for this onely errour , fome of his earneft difciples have become Apoltates, or renegado's unto his doftrine : For Joannes Velcnrm, (a learned man in the worldly Philofophy , and one who hath fweat and taken great pains in the AriRotelian doftrine: infomuch that he wrote a Comment on his Phy- ilcks) when he cometh to fpeak of the Generation of Fountains , he feemeth to ^., ^ confefs and publifl-i his Mafter's folly in thefe words : Non conveniunt plane Sacra p;jy/; j^^ 4' Scriptttra c»m Phyfcts de ortu fluminum (^fontium ; ejHte ex mart per varies alveos meatuftjHe fittere ac adfrtosfoniesrefluere (^'EcclcC. i.) teffatur dicens. Omnia flumi- na intrant in mare, & mare non redundat; a i locum unde exeunt fitimlna rete ttintur fit iterum fluant. Cdterum Phyfici dicuvt materiam ejfe vaporem refotutum in aquam,^ ItejuefaBum a frigore et calore ftmul intra terram: The holy Scriptures do not as^ree with the Naturalifls, concerning the Origlnall of Rivers and Fountains, which ( Eccle- fiaftes J. ^ faith to flow hy diver s channels or paffages out of the Sea, and to flow again un- to their Fountains., faying. All rivers enter into the Sea , and the Sea is not the greater,
P 2 they
io8 Mofaicall Phihfofby,' Book«j,
they return a^a'in unto the fl ace from vp hence they came ^ &c. Whereby it is plain, that he mult accufe his Malkr of falfe doftrine , or elfe he muR condemn Solomon in his Judgment. For if the one be contradidory unto ; heother , it ought of all ^ffife-mento be chafed away, or expelled from Chriltian mens remembrance: Now it were a foolilli thing for any religious perfontofay, that thedivinely-wife Solo- mon lied, to favethe reputation of the tthnick or diabolically wife ^'rijlotle. But if they would, yet will I teach them in the next Chapter , by an evident ocular demonftration, that Solomo>^% affertion is moft true , and that of Arijhtic's molt erroneous and fantaHicall,
1 conclude therefore, that I gather out of the aforefaid places of the Bible , that this following Definition doth bell agree with the nature of a Fountain.
A Fountain is a continuated Flux of water , ifluing from the Sea , as from his beginning, and flowing into bowells of the earth, and after that from the bowellsof the earth, as from the mean by which it pallet h , unto the upper or higher Superficies of it, by vertueof thedivineaft, in the mundan Spirit, as well pofitive or dilative , as privative and contraftive; for the benefit and fulknancebothof manandbeaft. In which definition, plain water without any alteration of his fliape , is expref- fedfor themateriall caufe , and is faid to have its beginning from the Sea, from whence it moveth unto the Mountain's tops. The efficient caufe of this work, we find to be the aft of the Divine Word, in a double property , as iliall be more at large demonftrated in the next Chapter. And, hereupon 5o/6iw»« faid , Sapie»- tiaeratapui JeHO^AM inprincipio vt£ fntt cunEia componens , cjita do roborabat fames etbjffi, & ponebat mart fiatttm : JVifdome was with JEHQ'/'AH inthebegtnning pf his waieSf as a compofer of all things , when he did efiablijh the Fountains of the ' ab)'fe , andfet the Sea within his limits or bounds. Andlaftly, The fi nail caufe is to
give drink and food unto both man and beall , as we may gather out of the fore- mentioned Text of the royall Prophet. We come now unto the demonllration,
CHAP. IX.
ffherehi Solomon'j affertion touching the Fountains and Rivers, is maintained^
partly by an ocular demonftration y and partly b]i true Phi /o-
fophicall reafons , which are founded thereon,
I Did advertife you (Learned Reader) in my precedent difcourfe, that Gods Spi- rit doth operate annually in the common Element of the Sublunary world, by a double vertue, whereof the one is dilative, which is effefted in his poncive, and manifell property, namely in his light, aftive, and warm difpofition, the prin- cipall Treafury andftore-houl'ewhereof he hath made the Sun: Forafmuch as his bright emanating Spirit of Wifdome , dideleft that purevelTell for his Taberna- cle. The other is contraftive, whichiseffefted in his privative , and fecrec con- dition, namely in his dark fixing and cooling difpofition, whofe principall treafury is about the poles: Forafmuch as it being contrary in effedwiththefirll, is feared in the farthelt quarters or points of the world from the Sun. So that as the vivify- ing Spirit which is feated in the Sun, doth by his prefence , operate onely by dila- tation in the common fublunary Element, in banifhing of the Northern cold, and undoing the anions thereof , by the way of Rarefaftion: In like manner by the abfence of the Sun, the fpirits of the Polar property, doth take poffelTion of that portion of the Element , and undoethby the way of congelation, all the fubtill adlions of the Spirituall and active folar vertue. As for example ; all that in the winter time among the nations of the Southern world, that is to fay , beyond iheline, the Sun being then in the Northern Hemifphere, caufingby his vertuous Spirit our Summer feafon , the Antartick pole's cold property doth effect, name- ly in thickning the aire ; raifingthe Fountains or Springs , and multiplying the waters, producing the Snows, Froft, Ice, and Hail : mortifying the herbs, fruits, and plants, and fuch like, theSunat hisnext vifitation of thofe quarters, which will be in our Northern winter, by the vetue of that dilating and vivifying Spirit, from the Fountain and Father of Light, which aboundeth in it , will undo; con- verting the thick aire tothin, ftriking down the Fountains more towards the bo- wels of the Earth , which were raifed in the winter : difiolving the Snow, Froft,
Ice,
Sedt. i^ MofaicallFhilofofby. lop
ice. and hail, and of fix and opake bodies , making them movable and tranfparent waters, reviving the fpiric of the trees, plants, and herbs , which were almoli live- leflethrough congelation, and renewing their mourning bodies with new green garmentSjbloffoms, and flowers, and laltly, with whoUome fruit. To conclude, there is nothing that the polar cold prevaileth over in the one hemifphear , but the folarheat operateth contrarily by the fame proportion in the oppohte region of the world; for elfe the world muU endure an augmentation , or a'diminution in its fubftance, that is, fomctimes it would be bigger, and fometimes leffir : But, as So- lomon averred, that the fcas , for all the comniing in of rivers, are never the greater, foalfoj though fountains rife in one part of the world, and finke in another ; and although alfo the aire by attenuation, madi- by the active fpirit of the Lord, mo- veth from the warm or fummer hemifphear, unto the cold and winter hemifphear, yet is the world no bigger or leffer in its exi{tency,for all that. What therefore the winter properly doth operate in one hemifphear of the world, the fummer-hemi- fphear mulf needs aft in the fame proportion in the contrary; for if beyond iheLinc are made great raines in their winter, we mult needs have great drought in the fum- mer on this fide the Line. When it is hotteit with us, it will be coldeft with them ; if it prove temperate with us, it will be fo with them; as the Sun being in theiEqui- noftiall, makethdaies and nights equally long, andthefeafon temperate to both hemifphears. Thefe things therefore being confidered maturely in the firft place, I proceed unto my prafticall condufion : and my naturall obfervation thereupon is, that the aire included in the Weather-glafle is made Hybernall, or of the nature of winter, by the dominion of cold ; for as foon as the head of it feeleththeexter- nall cold, the contained aire will immediately fhrinck up , andcontra£t it felf into a little fpace, and confequentlytheaireis made more denfe and thick : and that this isfojitappearethby the mounting oratrradtingupof thewater , for there is fuch a naturall tyebetwixt the one and the other, thatif theonecontrafteth it felf in a narrower place , namely the aire, then the water will immediately mount up with it, and to it, becaufe it is contiguous unto the aire. By this therefore it is apparent, that the cont rafting and art rafting vertue ofthe northern fpirit , or rather divine puiflance, which is made manifertm cold, doth firtt atcraft , contraft, and con- denfe thedilated aire, and then the aire fo contrafted by the northern fpirit , doth draw or attraft the water from beneath upwards, and that without alterinoof that water which was beneath, in any thing from that which is above;fo that in conclu- fion,it is but one and the felf-fame water. Lo h;re therefore it is by this demonltra- tion proved feazible and pollible, that water may be fucked and drawn from the ca- verns ofthe earth, which is foftered and maintained by the fea,even unto the top of the high mountains , and that by a naturall means or operation , without any ne- celTity of altering the form ofthe water into vapour , as Ariftotle doth vainly fur- mizC) and that contrary unto his axioms Fruflra. fit per plura tj'tod fieri potefl per patt- chra. That is vainly done by many, which may be effected hy a fewer. Contrariwife we fee and obferve in the Weather-glafle , that if the dilative vertue of the prefenc Sunorhot winds, doth heat the head ofthe Weatber-glaffe , or inflame the out- •■ ward aire, then the aire within the glafle will alfo dilate it felf, and by its dilatation will flrike down or precipitate the water,that the aire contraftedby cold had fucked or drawn up ; and again, the vifible finking ofthe water doth point at, and prove , the invifible dilaration ofthe air.
CHAP. X.
That the aEiions of ccntr action and di/atat:en,and confeqitentlj of attraction andexpttlfion of aire in the fVeather-glaJfe , with the ejfetls of the elevation and depreffim ofthe water which are can fed thereby ^are mofl conveniently ap- ply ednnto the aire ani water in the werld.
WE muft confider,(as I have faid before)that the catholick air and water in the vvorld,filleth the whole vaulty cavity thereof nootherwife,then the air in the Weather-glalTefilleththe hollownefsthereof;ro that the fountains ofall the world jfl"uing from one fea,do feem to penetrate into the bowells ofthe earth, and fill the generall veines thereof , being fucked and drawn up unto them by that felf-fame reafon, by the which the water is exalted intotfeie uppcrmoftparc ofthe neck of
the
IIO
Mofaicall Vhilofojhy.
Book
the "laffe; and by this reafon there is an evident relation between the fountaines of the northern hemifphear, and rhofe of the fomhernj forafmuch as it is exprefl'ed be- fore, that the foutherly aire, which is on that fide the j£quinoftialUine , is conti- nued in his homogeneall nature with that on this fide the line : So that the flying dilated airepaffeth from the fouth, and is condenfed into clowds in the north. Wherefore it is apparent , that the matter which feedeth the fountains in the north, are more or leffe continuated unto thofe of the fouth , as the waters that are raifed up into the higheft degree of the glafle are continued with them in the lower all which is fed and maintained with the pot of water, which we compare unto the fea.
We conclude therefore thus, when the hot fpiritoftheSunin the depth of Sum' mer, dotbmarvellouflyrarifie the aire in our northern hemifphear , then that aire feeking every where to make place for her enlarged fpirits, ( as we fee in the extra- ding of the fpirit ofVitriol, it breaketh the Receiver , tofeeka larger place to a- bide in) doth no otherwife depreffe and beat down the northern fountains , by di- lating it felf, than the aire included in the glafs doth the water that is therein. And again, the cold which at that feafon doth domineer in the fouthern part , by reafon oftheabfenceof the Sun, doth as faft fuck, attraft , or draw up the fountaines of that part , by thecontraftingof that aire, no otherwife , then the externall cold doth ccntraA the aire in the Weather-glafs , and by contradion -attraileth and fuckethordraweth up the water therein. So that here we have two means of rai- fing and depreflmg of fountains,for as the fpirits calefying acl doth Itrike them down overall the northern hemifphear in the Summer ; fo the fpirits cold adl doth raife them up in the fouthern hemifphear , in which winter hath his dominion. So that there are two agents to puUit down,oriodeprefsit in the northern parts, namely, the prefenr northern Sun , or divine pofitive a6t , and the abfent fouthern cold, or divine privative aft. Again, vvhen the Sun is removed from the northern regions into the fouthern , havingpafledtheiEquinoftiallbarr , thefelf-fame effetlswill happen,but in contrary parts, namely, then the cold of the north will help to raife them in the north,and pull them down in the fouth; and again, the fouthern heat will depreffe them in the fouth , and confequently help to raife them up in the north. This is detnonrtrated thus :
Soutn Pole
In which figure, E F G is the northern hemifphear, where the Sun ^^ abreot . and therefore winter inhabiteth there, and cold hath his dommion. £ i^O jstheiou- thern hemifphear, where the Sun is prefent, and therefore fummerdwelleth there, and heat hath dominion. £ G is th e ^quinoftiall line, which is as it were the ba r that dividech the noithsrn regioa from che fouthern. A and B is the hpUow ve n
MofaicallPhilofofby.
in
Sea.i;
intheearrh, which cominueth from die northern region to the fouthem, that there might be a relation between, or continuation in feme meafure, of the nor- thern and fouthern waters , as well as of the northern and fouthem aire of heaven j forbeing the wide fea 'A which ftretcheth from north to fouth, is the head, from whence all fprings and rivers do originally arife, I fee no reafon thacit fliouldfeem Itrange to any man, that I lay, the n )rthern fountains have relation by a continui- tyoflubrtance unto the fouthern , and therefore the fouthernunto the northern. Wherefore I conJude, that when the catholick northern aire of the hemifphear £f G is cold, it fuckethor contracteth unto itthe aire in the vein ot the earth A , the which aire being cone racled, elevateth of the water out of the wide fea D , as is evidently demonitrated by the Weather-glafle ; for when the cold externall aire hath contracted by congelation the aire in the head and neckof theglaffe, (which head and neck I compare unto the veine in the earth ; for the vein of the earth is clofe, and expireth no way ) then the water is drawn up by the contraction of the aire, out of the vail water in the pot or balm , which I compare unto the fea. On the other lide, in the lummer or fouthern hemifphear E H G^ where the Sun is pre- fent, the catholick aire is fubtiliated or ratified ; and dilating of the aire about the fountain, and in the cavity of the vein , beateth down and abafeth the water in the fouthern mouth of the vein in the earth B, towards C: fo that oftimes in the fum- mer, the fprings are found either dried altogethetjor at the ieaft-wife much depref- fed. Now therefore 1 fay, that by reafon of the deprelTion of the waters ill the fum- merly fouth, by way of fubt illation of the aire, and exhaulting or drawing them up in the winterly north by the cold, the water is the apter to be raifed in the cold north. Again, the elevation of the waters in the north, which were the fummer be- fore depreffed, isefteftedby the empty aire's contra£tion , which pofleffeth the place in the fummer time in theveinof earth where the water was, as we fee in the Weather-glafle, and by the dilation of the aire in the fouth, the water is eafily there hid in the earth. Sothatit appeareth , that it is partly driven and prefsed down in the fouthby heat , and confequently with the greater eafe drawn up at the north, and partly elevated in the north by the cold winter: as ifa chord were put into a hole of a great piece of timber, downward at one end, and did afcend upward at the other, rhus :
If from the north A the chord be llrongly pulled up ; and again from the fouth B it be as ftrongly puiVied or deprefsed down, it willrhe e^fier hnk by the fouth B , and mount inthenorth A.
The felf-fame will happen , but in con- trary order, when the Sun, and confequent- ly fummer is in the northern hemifphear EFG , for then the fprings will be there deprefled, and in the foutherly parts exalted. The feas draining or foaking into the bowells of the earth D, being the commttne medrnm, or ciftern of both extreams, as well to receive the water prefled down, and diHributing upward of that fuperfluity unto the furging, increahng, or winter fountaines.
Thus thereforedo you fee evidently , how Solomon^s faying is proved true , All Ecclef. i. rivers rttn into the fea, andthe fea is >Jot the ^rearer • they return into the p/ ace from whence they came, th.it they may run or flow again.
But let us examine Artfj-otles o^inxory a little better , that we may the more plainly exprelfe the abfurdity thereof : If that it were a vapour which was fent up out of the bowells of the earth, it mult proceed from fome mighty heat which mult alterthatgreatmafs of cold water, which is in the bowells of the earth , into that vapour; but admit that this were fo , thenmark what abfurdities would follow: Firft, heconfefleth , that the fountaines are colder in the fummer than in the win- ter, becaufe the externall heat doth /jf*- Antperfiafn , or by a contr'ary act pre- ferveandkeepin, and therefore multiply the inward cold of the earth; which be- ing fo , as it appeareth by the coldnefs offountaines mthefummer, thenbythat feif-fame reafon, this fortified cold of the earth in the fummer feafon , muft needs alfo keep in, preferve, and fortifie in the center ofthe earth, that inward heat which caufeth thofe vapours, which are the originall of fountains. Mark the ccnclullon, for ift"ha^befo, namely , that the central! hear in the fummer fhould be greater, then would the vapours be in greater abundance in fummer , for the greater the fire is, the more will be the fmoak. And again, by reafon of the great CDld_ in the ca- verns
lU Mofaicall Philofofby. Book 5*
verns of the earth, thofe vapours would be more fuddenly conienfed into watry drops, and confequencly by that means, we fliould have higher Fountains, grea- ter Floods, and more TweUing Rivers in the Summertime then in the Winter ; all which experience teachech us to be erroneous; and, to conclude , yiriftotU* lion in this mutt needs be falfe. Bur it will be (I know) objected , that it is ma- nifetled unto the eye, that Itanding ponds, ana fuih like humid places , are dried by the Summer heat, and how can that be , butbecaufe the Sun doth attraitthe moiliureandconfumeth it by converting it into vapours ? I anfvver: For the firll, that the Sun doth not draw but onely rarity , and then the thing ratified doth tend upward. But that the Sun lliould fpend all thofe moitiures of Lakes and Ponds that way, namely by converting in intoaire; If that were pnffible , I will tell you what abfurdity would follow , namely that the Sun by reducing all the waters into vapours, lliould thicken the aire, when contraiiwife our Weather- glafs teacheth us by that model of aire, which is contained in it, that it doth attenuate and rarity the aire and not thicken it. Again , a greater errour would fall foul on the neck of AriflotU's Doflrine concerning the Genera- tion of dovvd^, if this were fo. For whereas his Opinion is , that a clowdisoe- ne;aced from vapours extracted out of the earth and water, by the atrraftive force of the Sun and Starrs ; it would follow then, that in the Summer- time we fhould have more clowds and more rain then in the winter: Bur this is as falfe as the rert. But I fay rather, that becaufe the aire i> more rareand thin in the Summer, by rea- fon of the prefence of the divine act in the Sun, which rariheth and artenuateth the aire by his alTidual atlion, and therefore we have fewer clowds in the Sommer- For (as I proved before) the clowds are made by the compretfion of aire, and the aire a- gain is by a circular courfe renewed , by the refolution of thofe Meteors it produ- ced into their firlt invifible matter which was but aire. I mult confefs that fome part of the waters are fubtiliated and by dilatation thrult into the winter Hcmif- phere , but the greareft part doth fink down by the infenfible pores of the dry and rhirdy earth , which drinkethitup, andkeepethitinherbowells, till it be fucked out by the contraction of the aire, which nlleth the pores and cracks thereof: which contraftion happeneth by the cold of the winter following. Forwe fee that if there be bur a Hog(bead full of water, it will indure a long time before the hot Sun will exhale it by fubtiliation. Moreover, it is certain that what the Sun doth rarify in the day time, fo that it riferh in a vaporous form upon the earth- in the night time, it fallcth commonly again in foggy milts and dew. So that it is removedoutof a cont raited place, and dilared and befprinkled in miftand dew over the wide and fpacious fields. Now that this is fo, it is made evident , be- caufe we fhall ever obferve , that the Summer milts and dew is mo(t frequent about Lakes and Rivers. I will for a conclufion of this Book and whole Seftion, on ly examine our princely Peripateticks Opinion, touching the Lightnings andrhe Thunders, that we may perceive therein alfo the validity of his Phyficall Do
CHAP. XI.
The hiohtnin^s and Thunders Are defcrihed in this Chapter^ M'cord'nir
an I !> KuikntXt's Sentence : v.'hich u a fterrv/ird confuted
hj leflintonj of Huly fVrit.
HAvingrhnsmadeagenerallinquiry inrorhePhilofophy of Ariflotle, touch- ing the Oiiginall ot'the Winds, the Clowds, and Fountains,! cannor now but cnrer inro his thoughts , conrerningthewonderfuU beginning or p-imary caufes and admirable ett'eds of the Lightnings and Thunders, beinq in venry rhey are Meteor^ of fo great m.uvell, that they require the profoundeitfpeculation to con- Jider them juftlyand as they ought to be, and therefore I doubt not but that if a dneexsmmationbemadeof -^'ifioi/e's validity concerning the refearch anddifco- very of fo great amyltey, it will be more faulty then all the reit. Let us then ob- ferve in rhefirll place , whirhi'^mind is tou hing the effence of the Lightnings. ^r;/?of/c's Opinion i exhalation, drawn our of the earth , snd elevated inrothe middle region of the aire, by the vertue of rhe Starrs : where partly by reafon of a (tron^ colliiion or concuftion of clowds , and partly becaufe of that antiperiflaf's which is had be- tween
Sedt. I.' Mofaicall Philofo^hy, 1 13 «
twcen the heat of the exhalation and coldnefs of the region , that inflamable mat- ter fo woarc^ed into the belly of the clowd is fet on nre , and breaking out of his prifon doth tend downward , by reafon of his terrelHall and compacted difpofui- on: andheconcludeththatthe violenceof this eruption , is, that noife which ^jj. i_ M'.u». men do commonly call by the name of Thunder. This I fay , is the fu nmary of ^r//fff//c's mind touching the Lightning. And verily, Artfioile feemeih in fome fort'tobeexcufed, if heerre in this inquiry , being that it is adoubr not calily to berefolved, and therefore not only he, but alfo all other Philotophers almolthave been inconliant in their refolutions, tou^ hing this point : Forafmuch as therein they have fo daggered, and varied in this refearch , and have g-oped as it were by dark-, for the finding out of the true light thereof. For £wp^2^5f/fi judged the Lightnmg to becaufcdby the interception, or Hopping of the defcenr of the Sun- beames. But AnaxAgorm would have it to be a p irtion of the asthereall or heaven- ly fire, which defcended from above , inio the concavity of the clowd, within trie whii h afterward it was inclofed ; and faith, th.it this light skipping and gliding out of the clowds, is called the Lightning , theeftei^ of vvhofe breaking forth, is, the Thunder. Others will have thefe flafl-ies of fire to proceed from the dry winds, which being compalfed about, compreffedorcoardated within the clowcis, thefe clowds are by them are fet on fire,&; thereupon cometh that noife which followetb, thatturmoilein the clowds. And again, many others have otherwife determined of it. So that we may jullly fay, touching this point, and that rightly : Quotho- m.nes., totfenteviii. And now concerning the Opinion of Ariftni.'e , it is in it fdf fo contrary and contradictory unto the authority of the true Wifdome , that fome of his learned ChrilHnn Difciples, have in the plain field of the Peripateti:all Combat againlt the Truth turned tayl ( as the comm^in phf^afe is) and become Aportats orRenegado's or relinqu'lliers of their Faith, which they h:yd in their Mailer's fincerity, touching this Dodrine. For we find it thus written by .'?/^>- .
faritti Philofophie (.is is before faid') O it dam Phi ofuoherttm confiderantes mhabdcm f^' /- / '• '" fulmirnoferattonem, tpJHmnctt '>jHS Niuur£,jtajunr,m Deieifectum immediatum ar- biiratt funt : Some of the Phi/ofophers confideri?!! ihe admirable operation of the L'lgbi- nings, have affuredly heldor thoHght it,notto be awoi\of nature, but the immediate effeli of the mofi hi^h God.
But to come unto the particulars of his Definition" Hefaith, that the material caufeof the Ligh'ningi; taken from the Earth ; the Agent in "he elevation is the Artrall vertue, theexternill , accidentall , or adventitious effitient is the colli- fion , concullion or knocking together of opp')fit clouds^ by reafon of the n-/i- tiperijfarts that is made between the heat of the Exhalation, and the cold of the aire's itiidle region; whereby the acceniion, orfettingonfire the Exhalation, is made- And lailly. He fheweth the reafon, that the Lightning moverh downwards, namely becaufe the Subilance or matter thereof, is terreltiall and of an earthly co^padion. I will therefore confute every one of thefe particles in order . ana thatfirftbyPhilofophicall or naturall reafons, andlaltiy, by the Authority of the holy Scripture.
As concerning the materiall Subftance of the Lightnings, which he fairh is a hot and dry exhalation , and terrellially-compaded Subilance , which is derived from theearth: FirR, itfeemethtobe but a figment, becaufe it is proved, that theSta-^rs have no attractive vertue or force, as is p-oved before. Then, forthat if thewin- dy exhalation, which is light and more apt to arile and penetrate, by reafon of its fubtility, be denied paffage into the middle region of the aire, much more mult this kind of exhalation have his palfagebarredor hindered inro that cold pLice, be- ing it is(as he confe{reth)gro{rer, more terreltiall and apter to be inflamed: But this impofTtbility will alfo be demonflrated by the authority of holy Writ, Fu/^nra ^ ^ frocedtima Ihiotjo: Li:htti'>ig poceedeth fum the Throne of God. Again, he is fob 25/ iiid Ftt/gitr are luminefiio defuper ,cardlnefqne maris operire : fu enlighten with h^s Pfal. 17. 9. light from above , anito cover with it ihecompajfeofth; Sea. Andagain, ignis nb ore ejus evolavit ; Fr,e came fi-':r>i his mouth. htid^°3.\n,Fliirf7ma ex ore eifij prodiii : A fianie came f cmhis momh. Again, lilaxeruKt corufcationes tuaorbi terrd: Thy corufcatiotis a.»°P^'- '*• Lightnings did (hue over the earth. hs,i\T\, Fumus i» iraejifS, &ig>^'safaciee']usex- '• ^' arjit : Smoak^ ijjued from him In his anger, and pre did flame forth- from his Jacc. What ? Shall we imagine that this flaming matter was, as Arifiotle faineth, drawn or ekfted from the earthb^ the Starrs , which God fo familiarly fendeth forth ? or dare any true Chriftian imagine, that fobafe and tciviall an excrement of the earth
Q^ _ would
iii4 Mqfaicall Philofopby. BooL^.
vvouldby the Patriarchs, Prophets, and ApoUles, vvithfuchaboldnefs,bsafcribed unto God's efsentiall power, and to be derived frotn his prefence? Nay, had it noc been an impudency inthemtofay, in regard of thedivinenefs otthe thing, thac God is a conluming fire, as we finde it written both in the old and new Teltament? or would the Prophet telUhe, x.hM he m^^de his angels winds y and his mimfters fia-' mi»/ fires t How bafely might a true fpeculator into the divine mylieries judge, of the beginning of the Angells and ipirituall lights , if their materiall fubftance were accidental! exhalation ? Again, we are taught , that the heaven or aire is the trea- fure-houfe, from out whofe bowells the winds, the clowds,the fnow, the hail, and lightnings , and rainbow is extracted, and proportioned by the Spirit of God to do his will .And therefore,as before, Dfw/rf/xVwf/rf///^! aptatpendns aeri, & appendic fjw '° ' i>esi» >ftcnjnra, facie plavufidtucaO- viam fitUeiro tofiitrHf.w. God hjh'iswifobm doth
jiroportionaie the rve'^ht of the aire, and hangeth the c'owdi or waters in meafttre, /Kakfth lawes unto the rain, and avuay unto the lightnings of the thunders . So thac it is evi- dent, that the matter of all meteors,be they watry orfiery,ishewenby the word or wifdomof God out ofthecatholijkaire, & confequently not outofthe earth,nei- ther is there any fuch need ot the Harrs attraction or elevation in the biafinefs, be- ing the pure matter of the lightnings is evermore in the divine puifsance, and re-, ferved in his fecret treafure-houfe, to be called or chofen out at his will , who hath created all things to work how and which way he pleafeth ; for were it not ( I be- feech you) a wonderous thing, that at an inltant lo great a quantity of exhalations fcguld be drawn out of the earth, and elevated by the l+ars, as did fuddainly and un- Idokedfor, rain down fire and brimUoneon Sodi.ni iv.d, Gomorrah ? But our AriHo- telians will fay, according unto cullom, that it was iryraculous. 1 anl'wer, thac for all that, the meteor was materiall, for it was fire and brimltone. Now I would fain know of them, out of what magazine or Itore-houfe it came, and whether the ftirsd.ew It up from the earth , and whether God did not colleA it immediately out of his own aieryor invihbletrealury or (iore-houfe ?For St. /"^MKaith, that all vihble things were firit of things thac werenotfeen. Secondly, touching the agent > he is more deceived in it then in the matter ; for firft, hemaketh the agent which draweth up the exhalation, theattraftive vertue oftheftars ; then he furmifeth , that the efficient caufe which enlighteneth it , mulf be partly the dafliing together of two clowds, and partly the contrariety which is between the heat oftheexhala- tion, and coldnefs of the place, which meeting together, do caufe the accenhon of the exhalation. Good God, vvhataGallimofry he would make, and what a confu- fion of externall actions, or efficient caufes doth he fain? when there is but onely one indeed, whii.h isniolt int»rnallorefsentiall,thacmovethwhiohway it li(t, and operatethall inall. Are thefefuperficiall, accidental! , andexternall forfnall a- gents, the primary movers and animators of the bright lightnings ? And yet it is faid,that God doth animate and vivifie them with his prefence. What can weChri- ftians imagine of the Ariltotelian doitrine,when it would faign the immediate aft of God in his prime angelicall creatures, to be fopoor and mean, as are the adventi- tious elevations of fumes by the itarry creature, and the conculTion of clowds happeningby chance, and a conflict betwixt heat and cold? Verilyit wasnonur- velljifwhenhis invenciondidfail in the refearchoffo hiahamyltery , he was put tofiuhweak (liifts , asin the eyes of wife men are fcarce probable : For when we behold the ndmir.ible effects of the light nins;, how it pierceth thefcabbard without any hurt unto it , .ind melteth thefword , entereth thepurfe, andliquifieth the mon y, nay> pierteth thebarrell or hogfhead, and drinketh or confiimeth the wine, the veff'ell not altered ; yea, and what is more , that it hath underltandine; and rea- fon to punill) wicked contemners of this wondrouswork ofGod , ashavingan angelicall reiifon to correct the prefumptuous; We cannot but fay of yir:flot!e , that he is onely cmbiied with the wifdomofthis world, and not with that whichis from God, fceingthat hedoth fooliflily imagine > that the lightnirgs have notan inrernall principle , and mod eOentiall agent , which makeththemro work and move at will where rhev pleafe , even as the winde is faid , fpirare ubi vult, to blow where it liff-. The lightnings 1 fay ) a'C agitated and carried when rheywill, and have confequenrly a volunry , being that their internall and centrall agent is thac eternall Spirit of wifdom, which , as Svlonm^ faith, e/fcmttibfi rebus rAob]Hor& foie WiW. 7« fitcifif (icll'is prttflantior-t^tque cmnlre peneirabiUcr ; A'fere movable then all things in this
wiild, and more v.orihy in I'njht thayr the fnn and flars , a»d more piercing than a^'J Pfal. thin'T, Andthcr
fired
Seft. I. Mofaicall Philofofby^ n,-
tred with tight as with a garment. And, /« /urn nc fuimstt, /« Numine htmen • /» /icht ti divlt'lt]; , ti»d in 'i'y'"i'7 >/ i'S^J't. And this is the reafon of the brightnefs in die Lighcning,and of his infinite fwiftnefs, and fubtlc penetration. And therefore ic was but toolilhly done oiA/tftotle., to aflignc unto the compolkion and animation of the lightningsjonely externall and adventitious eificient caufas, and no internal! and efsentiall caufes. But I will tell you two famous ftories of certain cafes , which happened in our time, to manifeH unto you, that there is a divine volunty in the lightnings.
In Ireland^ there were two wenches which came from the market , whereof the one had bought her a pair of new llioes j thcfe two travelling on foot homeward, and pafling through a field not far from a wood , it chanced in the mean time that they were overtaken by a teiTipelt of thunder and lightning; The one of the wen- ches feeing the thunder to approach, ran fait and called to the other wench, to ha- ftenandflielter her felfunder the trees. But (he laughed at her, lagged behind, and fcorning, like a gallant, the thunder, faid. Let the thunder kifsmy back-fide (dap- ping her buttock vvithher»hand);foas it hurt not my new iTioes,! care not. Which when flie had uttered, the lightning Itruck off onely her pofterior parts, and fpa. ed her (hoes, which were not touched; and fo the contemner of Gods wondrou'? and fearful! works died (according as rtie had faid) miferably. Loe here, you Chriftian Pcripateticks, and lee, whether there be not an intelleftuall mover, and divine vo- lunty , in the lightnings , clean ot another nature than your malter ArijhtU hath taught you. There was alfo a young towardly fchollar, a great follower of Ariftotk^ f and adifputer in the Schools , a man (as it (liould feem) more confident in Arifl'. t/e*s doftrine , than in the documents of holy Writ : This man being born at Sa- iisburyi and having been commended for his induftry and learning, was elected Ma- tter of the free-School there. Upon a time he having been at the^Aft at Oxford, return home-ward in the company of lonie Merchancs,or other travellers,beinoon horfe-back. It happened, that as they travelled over Saiijl^urj-^h'm , a great tem- pert of thunder and lightning did arife } and whereas the company which were with this fchollar was very much dilmaid, he encouraged them, bidding them not to fear ; For, faid he,it is nothing but a naturall thing, caufcd of a hoc and dry exhalati- on , which being drawn up by the Sun, and being included in the cold clnwd, is there kindled , and fo breaketh forth , and this is the caufeof the noife you hear. Which when he had faid , he onely of all the company was by the lightning itruck dead , and fome of the reft fomewhat alloniOied. Loe here, the lofs of a miferable man, through his fo confident an obfervation of the HeathenilVi doftrine.' For if he iiadrejeaed that kind of learning , which is foundedon the terrene and diabolical wifdoni, and hearkened untotheinftru(ftion of thctrue fapience, he would, in lieu of that profane fpeech, haveworfl^ipped him that Ipeaks in thunder , andjoyned with hif companions in prayer, befeeching him to diverchis wrath from them , and to hinder his fiery minilkrs from harmino them , and then no doubt , both he and they had pafsed free from dammage : Then would he, by rejeSing rhe forgery of Anfitule,hA\t known the power of God, by rhefe authorities of holy Writ : JVc/fj fpargunt lumen fuum qua cun^a Inflram per e.rcnitum , qnocuncjHe eas movet voluntas **'
Creantts , agit cmne ejuodfmceperat illi ifuper faciem terra, fve fit adfijgellum , five in beneficentiam: The clowds do fpread ab.oai their light ^ which enlighten all peripheric callj, or circularly , wkitherjoeverthe volunty of the (yeator ffioveih; it peyformeth whatfeever the Creator commandeth ^ beit topUi.ifh, or toaffeU-with fioudyie^fe. And again, fulanra nune^uid mittis, & revertentia dicent tibi, Adfumus : Dofi thou not fe»d^°^ ^** etit the lightnings} and when thej return, they will jay, Loe we are here. ' Again, Ibum direBeem'flionesfMlgHruTn& tanquam a bene curvntoarctt admetAm \ The .tojhtninrs^^^^' ^- **• teingemitted,will go direllly umo themark^,asifthey were (hot out of a wel.'.bentbow. But, to come nearer, it is faid in another place , /g^nis exiens a confpeElu JF.HOf'^ty£ I-«^- '*• *• exanimavitfilios Aaronis : Fire or lightning iffitina from the afneEl or face offEHOyA didkjll the fons of Aaron. And again. Ignis eore^us kjEUOV A confnmebat centum Numb.id.j. tjuinqn Agmta qm admoverum thus : Hre or lightning proceed! n ft from the ftice of JE- HOrA d'd confume the hundred and fifty men which did offer franc incenfe. And (as before), Fulgura procedthant a throno , Lightninqs did go out from the throne. Rut in ^^^' ^' another place, all this is more lively exprefled thus : Afcenditfumustn ira ejus, & pfj^ 17. «. ignis a facie ejus exarfiti c^rbones accenfijunt abeo,&c. Pritfulgerein confpettu ejus, nubts tranfierunt , grattdo & carbones ignis ., & intonuitdecilo Dominus & alt'ffimtti dtdit vgctm fuam. Afmoak^did afcend m his auger, and fire did flame out from h'.sfaccy
Q, 1 coals
ii6 MofaicallPbilofopby. Book 5*
coales of fire rvcre kjfdledbj him , Sec. By the Lightning m his ftght the c owdi ad move, hall and conies of fiffy the Lord d'd thunder from heuvt;fi , the moft Hiah did t-J^ ter forth his -voice. By thi which fpeech it appeareth evidently, that it is oivly God, which doth effentially effect all thele things , and although we fay in ourcoramon phrafeot" fpeech, that the Lightnings do caufe the Thuiider, or,in fpeaking move myliically, that the Angells inflame the aire by their iiery prefence, yet, in verity, ' ic is God in his fiery Angells or flaming MinilterSj as alfo in the thick clowds, and
watry fpirits , who produceth all thefe things to accomplifli his will and pleafure. And therefore the Apoltle: Deus operatur oMuiatnomnil'ius , Godoperateih hILk all. \ Cor. ir. ^,-|J elfewhere : De:'s omniHm Pater, a quo onmi.i : Godu the Father of all, from whom I Cor. 8. are all thi»ffs. And agsin, E.x-eo,per eun:^ & in co funt omnia: Ofhiw, by him , and
Rom. I . in him are all things. But all this in our Meteorologicall bulinefs is more plainly expreffcd in the precedent words continued thus at large, in another pla. e: Afcen- z King. i». 8. ditfr.mr-fs de nartbiis jEHOyt/£ > CT ig^s de ore ejxs Vi. ravir, carbones f. ccey:fi fnt ab ifo, & inclinavit calos & defcend.t^ & caligo fiibfedibis ejus, cr afcendit Jc.pcr Cheru- hin, O" volavit feu lapfus eft fnper aloiventi , pofttit tenebras in ci; cn-'ta fi cribrans aquas de nr.bibfis coelorum : fra fnlg re in confpeciu ejus nubes fucccnfi fttnty carbones ianis vo!abant,tonabat de cveloDominus, & excelfts dabat vocem f:am, mi fit ftgitt^u fnns, & difparptiteosfiilgttr : Smoak^afcendedont of the noftrils of jEHOl^Ay and fire flew out of his mouth, coles of fire ivere kindled from him, andhe inchnedor bow- ed down the heavens and did defcend, and darknefs was under his feet , and he mount ei upon aCherubin, and fiew or glided upon the wings of the rvind, made dark>iefs ro:ind about him his hiding place, fifing forth ram from the clowds of heaven. 1 he clow i.s were kJndUdat the brichtnefs of ha face , coles of fire did flie , the Lord did ihuf:der fom heaven^ and the mofi high did utter forth hts voice , he fent forth his arrows^ and ihe Lightn'.ng did difperfe them. By all which it is made evident, that there is no ef- fentiall efficient caufe which is naturall, butonely Godin nature and beyond na- tureoperatethallin all. For in the precedent defcription ic is not faid , that the clowds or winds fent out corufcations , or that fire came from the Sun , or o- ther heavenly bodies, but fmoke went out of the noltrills of J EHOVA, and fire out of his mouth ; neither chat vapours and Exhalations did gather clowds in the middle region of the aire, but J EHOVA bowed down the heavens or aire, and coUeded themat hispleafure ; neither the coldnefle of the middle region did accumulate them intoadark mafsor heapby condenfation: Buc JEHOVA collected and gathered together by his p-ivative and condenling pro- perty, that da'-k chaos or confufedabyfle; neither was it any Angelicall efficient, buc JEHOVA mounting upon the Cherubin, did animate it to move according to his pleafure. Nor was it the winds , that moved of themfelves , but the fpiri- tuallCherubinbeingnrrt animated by JEHOVA J did excite the wind> to move; neithet was that exceeding darkneffe made for a fecret Tabernacle unto J EHOVA, meerlyby theact of the Angelicall wind : But JEHOVA moving on the Cheru- bin, incited the Cherubin CO caufe the winds to collect, and gather together the clowds;neithcr was it the refolutive faculty of the Sun , that melted the clowds into rain but J EHOVA that did fift or cribrate forth water or rain out of them;nei- ther was it the roUillon or dafliing together of the clowds , or antiperifiafis, which was between thehor exhalation and the coldnefs of the place,whi^ h caufed the aftu- all Lightnings or inflammation of theclowds,but thebrighrnefleand inexplicable liaht of hisp-efene did fee the clowds on fire; neither was it the contentious drivings which was made between the fire and water, in the cleaving of theclowd, whifh'mnketh the fearfull found from heaven, butit was JEHOVAthat didthun- der from heaven ; it was the mofi high ( I fay) that did utter his voice from hea- ven, andfent forth his Lightning as arrows to deitroy the wicked. Which being fo, what hive we ChrilHans to do to look after any naturall efficient csufe , with theacuti". cies of -^rtfiotle-, which ( forfooth) mult ad andoperare per fe of them- felves, wirhout any confideration ; when by the precedent Text ir appeareth that St. Paul was no liar, when he C:i\dthiiGodoperateth all i» all. And as for that Peripateticall diftindion of cauja principalis and ferunlan.t, or fu^a'- terna , you fee here that it is utterly difannuUcd by the Text before mentio- ned: Fortheonely efficient caufe as well in the firrt , fef end , third- and fourth Ort^.inor Inilrumenr, wasGod : For it was he that infpired the Che-ubin ; it w.is he in and rpon the Cherubin , which did animate the winds ; ir w.is he in and up- on the Cherubin by the winds, that gathered the clowds together- it was he thit
in
Sed. I. Mofaicall Pbilofofhy. 117
in and upon the Cherubin, by the winds, did (ift out water and rain out of the clowds, and did fct them on fire, by fending forth Lightnings from his Throne. And, in conclunon, though he uie many Organs, yet the client iaUa(f;t vvhichope- rateth in and by them all , doth illue forth fiom one hmple and fincere identity, which comprehendethno otherwife all diings in himi'elf , then unity in Arithme- tick is atluredly teckoned for the faiher of multitude. Thus we fee that the fore- faid young- man was lo:ijby hi? too too mu^h prefuming cnthe vain and predigious dottrine of his Peripatctuall Mailer: For whereas he taught unto the honeft ChrilUans which were his Companions, thefalfedoftrine of his Ethnick Malier, in their greateLl need, namely when the angry hand of the Alm'ghry was in the heavens ready to menace them, if chey called not out for grace, from him who fpake out of the clowds in time , and did wifh them to abnlilli all feare , making them believe that the Lightnings were contingent things in nature , and made as ic were by hap-hazaid, and not indued with lenfe or reafon , as being framed and fhaped out, yea, and informed by external! and fuperficiall Principles; he with his compinions fliould have rcmembred that faying , fo often repeated by the Wife- man, Timor Dorrin'i efl prificiplnm Sapient'ia : The fi are of the Lord is the begmiing- of PTifdom. If then both he and they had acknowledged that it was God that fpoke in Thunder, being environed about with his potent Angells, they would then not; have been fo carelefs , but have p-ayed unto him hartily ; have utterly forgotten this abfolute acting-nature of Arifiotle , conlidering that God is the onely Natura- tingNatureof Natures. I could tell you of many other wonderfull llories to jny knowled:^. but I will rnely infill upon thefe two. About fome five or fixyeares fince, there was one Piper 'j daughter of CoUbrook^ , who being agleaning of Corn after theharvell was carryed, in the company of her m^ither , and another young woman newly married unto a Glover in CoUbrok, who had been my fervant : and alfo there was another daughter of the faid goodwife Piper. The tempelf ap- proached when they were in the field , the elder daughter who had been , oy their report, very difobedient unto her Parents, and would fearfully curfeher mother oft-times , feeing the Lightning to'flaih about her, cried our, Fy upon thefe Light- nings, I cannot indure them, I will go home: and when ("he was willied by the company to call on God, fhee would not ; but they hallned unto an h'gh Oke, which flood not far from a Park-pale, againll the body whereof (he placed her back, and laughing fhe faid, flie feared not now : For (faid fne ) I am as fafe as m my mother's parlor. The new married wife that had been my maid, leaned her elbow upon her knee, being alfo far down, and the filler fata little nearer the Park- pale, the mother flood under another tree hard by , and, in a dry ditth under the Oke, another wench did fhelter her felf: But lofor all rheir imaginary fafety, they could not fly the wrath of God : For the Lightning fell on the very top of that Oke, and the bolt plowed or made a furrow all along down the Oke, continually without intermilfion , and came diretlly upon the eldelt daughter , that thought, her felfe fo fure, and flruck fier Hark dead; and took away, for a time-, the ufe of the new married wive's arme, rhat leaned on her knee that was (lain , the wench in the ditch was flruck in an amazement as if llie were dead , the fiiler that fat more near the pale faw a globe of fireasit diddeiVend thetree, and found her felf fo hot as if fhe had been in a furnace, but had no other harm; themorher under the next tree, havingher foot fet out towards thetree, where her daughter fat , was (Iruck lame on that foot ; the new married wife was (truck in fuch fort , thit in a kind of diflraition fhe ran up the lane, crying out fliil as fine ran. Lord open thy holy hea- vens , Lord open thy holy heavens : At lall they were all convayed with the dead maid in a cart from rhe Village unto the Town of (oL- brooks, where the rell did re- cover within a few dales, 1 faw the place immediatly upon this , andfpoke unto the new married wife , that was my fervant , and had all thefe things confirmed unto me at her own houfe, where alfo her husband did relate unto rr.-e a wondrous cafe befell him in the interim •• For being very carefuU of his new married wife, he perceiving theTempe(l,did put on his new cloik,and took his old under his arm, and fo went out into the temped to meet his wife, and as he went through a field, great flakes of firepalfedby him,whofe fore-parts wereblont, ?c their hinder-parts flaapedlike fire-drakes, and on the fuddain, as if it were by a great gull of wind, they blow off his hat from his head; which when he followed and ffooped to reach up, he found a piece of his new cloke which he wore , foartificially cut out , and in fo neat a Triangular form , that he did admire at it ; and there he fliewed me
the
Jig Mofdcall Phildfoj/iy. Book]^.
the phcc of bis cloak , out of which it was cut, which was fo n;acly done, as it it had,after an exact geometrical triangular t"orm,becn cut out by a pair of (hee s.- Thefecond Aory is this. In the great Ucknefs time, 1 came out oifVa'es, and rer mainin^' for a vvhilevvirh my noblefriend , the Lord Bifhop of « ercefer at Harti'e- ^«)-)'-(>nle, there I was advertifed of a Hrange mifchance which happened by liohtenino and thunder, about five weeks before my comming thither , fome three or^ur miles from the CalUe. I would needs go fee the place, and in the company of my worthy friends lAr. Fn.cb, and Sr. / homas i hor»bo)ow ; I took a view of the place, whii-hwas under a tall and well-fpread Elme , uponalittlehill,w here it was related by the inh.ibitants which dwelled dole by it, that two yeomens fons of "ood wealth, pafsed along with a load of hay , drawn with four oxen and two ho°fes,whi-h one of their fathers fervants did drive: The tempelt of rhunder over- taking them, he drew up the hill , and placed his load and cattle under the Elme , and himfclf hooped under his load of hay , and the two youth- got upon a bench or ~ feat of turf made round about the tree: at lalt there cameafeariull ilroke.ot thun* der , at which the hu. band-man , who Hooped under thecart,. faid , Good. Lord , what a crack was thu 1 At which words, the boyes laught out aloud, and mocking of him, faid, A. crack/ But immediately a noife was heard on the upper boughe? of the tree> and a folid matter all on fire came down directly between the boyes , and (truck the hair of one of theminto thetree , and fet the other ^o on fire., rhar the man under the cart, with others, wereforcedto rundown th:h'll to fer h w.icer toquenchit;and when it was quenched, his skin was as hard as rolkd pork. Thus they payed full dearly for their feoffs, and contempt of Gods judgment- , whenas: indeed they ought to have prayed God, to have preferved them fro n t he miniilers ofhiswratn.lt is a dangerous thing to fport with, and laugh at the Saints. There is the rhunderer from above, who hath mellengers, able to revenge his .. aufe, if he but nod unto them, in the twinckling of an eye.
1 know that fome Peripatetick will reply, that it isbut metaphoiically meanc, when Scriptures fay , thatGod fpeaketh in thunder , and nor really to be under- ftood as it i^ fpoken; which 'fit were true, then is the plaincli phrafe in Sc ripture tobefoalfounderrtood, namely, clowds,fnoWj hail. Sec. fothat tiher it was a. reall fpeech, or not reall j and if not reall, it would rather draw me to errou: than truth. But Scripture is full of this kinde of fpeech, and therefore the whole harmo- ny of holy Writ doth take and conllrue it for reall. Again, orhers do acknowledge the fpeech to be real 1 ; but, fay they, where God fpeaketh in thunder, that act is mi- raculous, and not naturall. TowhichI anfwer with the mouth of the patient 7o/',, fayino , Pro irrifMtonefatigat Dens denfam npibsm, & dijoergit lucem tinbis fita j God.
Job If. 40; ^^^ weary the thick^ctowds , and differfeth abroad the light of his clowds, far die wate-s ring of tht earth. Whereby it appeareth, that God doth ordinarily oather together the'clowds, andmakethrhemhis organicallinlhuments, to utter his voice unto mortall men, for the pre fpering of the annuall fruits upon the earth- And tberef ire
Job 3*. jj^^^ JP anotherplace , SI confderaret home extenfiones denfarum ntibium^fragores in
tHguno mitts exiei.di fuper illttd Ittcem fHam,cttm his judicaturns eft fofulum ^ da'H- rus cibum ^bunde. Alfo in another place all this is more plainly exprelTed, where it
E«lnt.43.i4 '^ f^^d > ^"^^ ^>'«"«'» 0- bened!c earn ^m fecit ill.m , valdt fpecio fus eft in fflendore f:,o j ' gyravt cmlunt in circniiH gloria ejus, manus Excelfi aptaverunt illitm : imperio fm ac- ccleratniveryi & aicekrat co'rufcationes emitterejudiett ^tti. PrafUreaMferti funtthc" fauri & evo 'arum nebuU fcut a ves , in magnit udine fua pefu'it nubes, & confraiii funt /apides grandinis , in confpeHii e;us movcbantur montes & in votuntate fua fpi.svit Ne- tus. rox toniiruum ejus reverberavit terram , tempeftas Aqtnlonis& cox^regatiofpiri- tHS af per git ii.vetn, &c. Beholdtherainbow, andblejfehJm that made it ; />tf nondrous ie ami full in his brightr/eft'e ^ tt did compajfe the heaven in the circ'e of his glorj , the hands of him that »> on hi^h t»ade it . Bj his command he haftens thefaew , and makftb fpeedto fend forth the lightnings of his jHdgment. Therefore are the t'eafures opatfd , and the claivdr fly forth like b.rds. He placed the clowds in his greaptelfe ^ andtheftones of the hail are broken. /» his fifht the mountains did move^ andaxcrrdinr to his will the foiith-tviide hath blown, and th"i voice tfhis thunder have reverberated t^t earth. The tentpcfl of the north, and the congregation of fptri'.s, doth fpread atrsAd, or btffrinkji the ^ fnoiv, (jrc.
In this fpeech of the fon o^Syrach , the Lord of lordsis proved to be the fols
e
lightnings, the clowds, the hail, thethunder, the winds and te-cpelte; asalfoic
J , Oiewecb,
Se(^,i. MofdcallPhihfoflj. up
flieweth, that thematter of them is the aire. Wherefore he faith in the conclafion , 7 he congregation offp!rtt deth fp>-ca.i (•broad thejnoiv, LaUly^ it tellet h US, that the handsor Spirit of God are not idle, in theefteaingof fuchworks, as ^ri/j?»f/ meth narural,ahd therefore operatech not only primarily,but alfo fecundarily,yea» and catholically, in and over all things, as well in theirgeneration, as prefervation and corruption.
To the laftclaufe of his definition , wherein hefeemethtoaver, that the light- nings move downward , becaufe theftuff of it is of aterreltriall compatted nature. lanlwer, that this reafon is over weak, confideringtheGigancean author tfiatal- ledged it ; for it may in the felf-fame manner be inferred , that the Gun- powder , which is of a fargrofler (luff then is that of the lightnings , mult therefore flrikc downwards; and yet we fee by experience , it rifeth in fpight of a mean refiftance , by its narurallincUnation upward, as we may perceive by places that areundermi- ned,and fquibs,whi; h are violently carriedupward. I come therefore unto fuch true definitionsof lightning and thunder, as are maintained and allowed by the Book of Verity.
CHAP. XII.
How the lightmtigandthe thunder oughtrightly to be defcrihed by the true Philofopherf and that ferlo^t [ly , according untothe tcnotirofholylVrit.
Since therefore it huh been made manifeft in the precedent Chapter , that Ari- Ih^'i hath Utterly erred in his conceit, touching as well the materiall , as eflen- tiall and formall caufe of the lightnings, let megather, as near asmy weak capacity will give me leave, what /hould be the true nature, and originall eflentiall caufe of fhe lightnings, accordin" unto the harmonicall confent of holy Scriptures. Lightningis a cercainfiery aire orfpirir,animated by the brightnefs of JEHOVA, and extracted out of his treafury,whichis the heavens.or cacholick aire,to do and eKecute his will, for the good or detriment of the creature. Or elfe in this manner. Lightningis a (hiningbrightneffe, proceeding out of the clowds , being the pa- Tilion of JEHOVA, and is fent from the throne ofGod, even down unto the earth, covering the furface of the feas. But ifwe would defcribe the lightning with all his accidents, and confequently expreffe the whole eflence of the thunder , which is a mixed nature, we may effea it thus, out of theteltimony of theholy Bible.
Lightning is a fire burning from the face or prefence of JEHOVA, at the fight » or conta£tofwhofeb:ightneflethe clowds dopafsaway, and the Almighty doth thunder and utter nis voice from heaven , and fendeth forth his arrowe'j for thedeltru£lion of the wicked. Or thus.
Lightningis a fire proceeding from JEHOVA , being fent out of his datk taber- nacle from abive, at the fight whereof, the waters or clowds, a-; being terrin- ed , and the abyffe as it were troubled, dohalteaway ; in which turmoil, the voice of his thunder moveth circularly , and the fiery or kindled coals are fent forth, as arrowes fent out from a well bent bow, to effed his will, as welt for benediction, as for vengeance, both in heaven and earth. Grin this fort.
Lightning or corufcation is a clear and pure light in the clowds above, the
which the winde that pafTeth by doth purifie, &c. By the firft ofthefe defcripcions, ihemar.ifell materiall caufe of the lightning is exprefTed to be a fiery aire ; the place out of which it is drawn is the treafure- houfe of God, or the heavens. Alfo the formall caufe is exprefled , in that it is fet down to be a fiery fpirit or aire ; the efficient caufe ( I faid ) according unto the truths tellimony, to be the will or word of God, on which dependeth that fpirit of wifdom, by which God operateth all things. Laftly, the finall caufe is alfo noted , forafmuch as it is faid , That it was created to do the will of him that ordained it , either for the pain or pleafure of mortall men. All which is evidently confirmed out of the places of Scripture mentioned before.
The fecond definition is confirmed out of the Revelation, which faith , PulgtirA Ap°c- 4-
froce-
no Mofaicall Phihfopby.' Book^,
Job 3^. procednfit a throno : Lightnmgsfroceed from the throne. Again, he is (z\d Fulaurare
Iktntnep-^o defuper, card.ncfque mai is ope' ire : To ii(Jnen vcnh his briglitnefs from ab^ve,
Pfal. 1 7. 9; ^^^ ^g cover with it the corners of the Sea. And againjf^ce fulgore in cunfpt:'cu ejus nnbes
tranfterunt : The clowds did move by reafon of the Lightning, and bnghtnefs which rv.ts
Job 41. 18. in his flight or pre fefice. And again, igmsahore CjUS evoiavit : Fire flew out of his
mouth. And again, y^boree/HSveut ladaprtenntes, dr qi.aft halitus ejus ca- bones
Pfal. 16. 17. acce/idcre«t , & flamma fx ore ejus predicret': From his rnonth pajj'ed as it were torches,
- andas itwere hisbreaihdidkindie coales , a»d flame came out of his month, Alfo thi
•'° ^' effe£t of this defcriprion is verifiedbythefe words , -///^ATfr/m rffrwyr^f/cwf/ tpiitor-
bt terra ■ 7 hy Lightning ,hified over the earth. Again, Extetuiit ntibes quaft tentorium
fuffmtft fulgftret lumine fno defuper.
The members of the third defcripclon ( out of the which alfo the v\hole nature of the Thunders is enucleated) are confirmed by the page of verity, ForHrit,the materiall caufe of the Thunder is pointed out in thefe words : 1*hat it is a burning fire or fiery aire : alfoin thedefcnption of it, his forraall caufe is feleded : the ef- ficient caule is noted to be JEHOVA in his wrath; the immediate effect there- of is the exagitation of the dowds, and the lowd noife or voice of the thunders. Laflly, it concludeth, that the end or finall caufe, is to exercife God's vengeance on the wicked.
The fourth and fifth defcription, in this- Jamtion refpiciu.^t homines /ucem ^ cum nitida efl infuperioribus nub. bus , quas ventus tr an fens purgavlt : Notv m:n do not re- ' fpeEl the Liaht, when it is pure and neat in the higher dowds , the which the wind that paffeth hj doth depurate.
As for the Xhunder, I gather out of the Holy Scriptures j that it is to be defi- ned thus ; .
The Thunder is a noife, which is made in the dowdy tent orpavillion of JE- HOVA , over the which extending the beams of his Light , he covereth the fuperfcies of the Sea, and illuminateth the earth , that thereby he may judge the people thereof, andgive them meat abundantly. *
To prove this by fac red authority : 'job faith. Si confideraret homo extenfones den- Job. ^6. farum nubiufv, fra^cres m tufurio J/ius-, extenditfuperilludlncemfuam, c;:m his ju- dicaturus eft- popr.lum, & da urus ctbum abunde : If man doth confder the extention of the thickj:lowd\ \he noife andlhu-ndcr sin his tent or pavillion , be extendcth his li^ht upon it- with thefe he doth judge the people, and gtve them meat til abundance. In which wordsit is apparent, that/ntj^er, or the noife and bruit is the formall caufe , and the lioht from JEHOVA theefficient : The Organs of the voice are the thick clowus, whicharecalled the cottage or dwelling place of JEHOVA: andthere- Pfal, ij. fore in another place : Pofu.t tenehras latibr.lumjui.m incircnitu: Prtefulgore in con- t fpeUu e]::s i.ubes tranfterunt, .& intonuit decalo D^minus : He put darkneffe about his fccret place : I he clowds d'ldp^fs avuay at the fight of his brightnefs , and the Lord did thunder from heaven. To conclude, thefinall caufe of the Thunder and Lighrning is explained in this, namely that it is as well to judge the people , as togive thern - meat in abundance. And threfore it is manifeliby this , that Godappearethin Thunder, as well to the effefting of things which are naturall and neceifary, both for the punifliment and nourillanent of his creatures, as miraculoudy. Or elfe it may be defined thus ; Thunder is the vioce of themofl High, which is uttered out of adowd, and accompanied wirh flame and Lightning, being ordained by God for therftii- dtion of the wicked. In the which definition, the materiall is the Organicall cloud, the formall caufe isthevoice with Lightning, the efficient is JEHOVA, and the finall, that it is ef- fected for the punifliment or fcourge of the wicked. All which is confirmed out P&l of the precedent Texts: /;,?««»/?( faith D^wW) Domin-is de cx'.o , dt'ffimis dtd't
vocemfuam, grai^dinem &carbo»es tgnts, & mi/it fagitias fuan::r difpa> uit eos , ful- eura mult:vlicnv:t & canturhavit eos : The Lord t hundred, from heaven , the mofi 'jj/zrh did utier forth bis voicc^ hail andcoales of fire, and he fe>:t his arrows and did fe- ver or difperfe them • he multiplied his Lightnings and troubled them. Or after thi? manner ; Thunder is a voice or found, proceeding from the Lightning, which ifTueth from the Throne of God, and is fent by the divine power out of the cavity of the dowds into the open aire , to execute his will , either to the creatures good
or harm."
Where
Stdt.il MdjaicallTbilofofby] m
Where, the materiall or Organicall caufe of the voice is the dowd, the formall is the voice and found; the efficient is the Lightning from God, andthefinall is either for benediction ormalediftion. And this is confirmed out of St. John: DrApoc. 4,; Thronofrocedunt fttl^um : The L'tghttthun proceed from the Throne. And Job : Atum^nid mittis ftilgftray & ihanty & rcverrentiadicenr, Adfiimtn f Dofi thou not fend]ob^i. forth [he Lightnings^ andthej go forth, and returning agAin they rviU fay , We ere pre- ^^^- ^i- fent. And the Pfalmift : jifcenditfHmutlniraejus^&igniiafacieejHsexarfit: A fmoak^afcended tn his wrath , and fire did flame forth from his face. Again, Nubescff caJigo in circhiiu ejus , ignis ante ipfttm procedit, C^ inflammabit in circuitu ejus , illux- Pf»''97» *• erunt fulgur A ejus erbi terra , C lowds and darknefs were about him; fire goeth out be- fore hiwt And will burn round about hlrrt : his Lightnincrs gave light unto the earth. ^^*'^' '** Again, f^ecemdederunt nubes, etemm fagittiz tua tranfierunt : The cloxvds made a. noifcy for thine arrows went out, 8cc. Where by arrows is meant the Lightnings, as if he had faid, bccaufethy Lightnings broke out of the dowds, therefore they madeanoife, or uttered a lowd voice. And Salomon -. Ibunt direUe emiffimes fulgurum, & tan- Wifd. 5. «* quam abene curvato arcu ntibium : Thy emtffions or fending forth of Lightmngs mil go direQly to the market to argue, that the dowds do utter their vioce , by reafon that the Lightnings do pierce rhem. Or in this fort ;
Thunder is the voice of God, compaffed about by the waters or dowds, before whom the fire goeth forth, and doth inflame and fet them on fire circularly round about him.
Hereupon Job- Numquid elevabis in nube vocem tuam, & impetus aquarum operiet /©b 38. 34, te ? lytlt not thou elevate thy voice in the clowd,and the abjjfe or power of the waters will cover thee ? And again , as before: Nubes & caligo ejus in arcuitu ejus , ignis ante Pf»l. 97. »• tpfumproceditf & infiammabjt in circuitu ejus : Clowds and darl^efs are about him, fire goeth btfore him, aud will inflame or burn circularly round about h.m. Or thus ;
Thunder is the the voice of God , at thifioife whereof he caufeth a multitude of waters in the heavens or aire, aild effefteth Lightnings and rain.
For Jeremy {uthy Ad vocem fuam d.tt multitudinem aquarum in cceloy & elevat ne- ^t^""^- **• ^3» aulas ab extremitate terre^fulgurain pluviamfacit, educit ventume thefauris fuis: At hiS voice he caufeth a multitude of waters in heaveit, anddi-th elevate clowds from the extremity of the earthy and turneth his Lightnings into r^in, and bringeth the wind out of his Treafuty. Or in this manner ;
Thunder is the multitude of the found of waters, or the voice of the dowds, being effecled by the corufcations and Lightnings of the Almighty. Or thus ;
Thunder is a found of the multitude of waters being troubled, fearing and bray- ing at rhe bright afpeft or prefence of JEHOVA.
In which defcription the materiall Organ of the voice is the dowds or waters, being as it were afraid and troubled at the emiffion of the Lightnings , whereupon they give a loud voice or found , by reafon of that penetrative power , which the bright and fhining, or fiery prefenceof JEHOVAH, (who is the worker of won- ders) doth effect : Whereupon the royall Vavd (as is faid) pr^fulgure i-a confpcRu ^^^^ ^^^ ejus nubes tranfierunt, (rrando & carbories ignis , intonuit de coclo Dommns : At the brightnejfe of his pre fence, the clowds did move or p.ifs their way ; hail and coales of fire; the Lord did t hinder from heaven. And again, Vlderunt te aquii. Dens., & timutr^tnt, P.'a'. 9^. *7' & t»rbat£ funt abyffi, mulsitudo fonitus aejuartim, vocem dedeimt >iubcs ^ vjxtonitrui tuiinreta: The waters have feen theeyO God, and were afraid, and the abyjfe was trou- bled, a multitude of the found of the waters, the clouds ecchoed forth a voice , the no'tfe of the thunders wheeled abouty Scc. Alfo the formall caufe is explicated in that it was made by a great noife and Lightnings. The efficient caufe feemeth to be the Light- nings from God, or rather the fiery afpedt of God, animating the Lightnings, and direfting them unto a determinated mark. So that it appeareth, that the Lightnings are as it were the Inllruments of God in his Wrath ; no othervvife then a fvvord is the inftrument of the man that Itriketh ; when we fay that it isthis or that man which did ftnke and not the fword : And for this caufe , I fay with ths ApoHle, that as it is onely God who is thefole ^dour in things; So alfo is hethe Father of the Thunders , who fendcth out his Lightnings is ar»ws from his
R. Thron«.
Job 37.
o
12^2 Mofaicall Pbihfofbys Book^,
throne. Laftly, I fay, that the finall caufe expreired in them is, to accompliili the divine will of tlie Creator.
To cont lude, it may be defined thus :
Thunder is the voice, fpeech, or eloquence of the Almighty, or a found going cut of themouth of JEHOVA, which is dirededunderthe whole hea- vens, with light, dilperfed over the face of the earth ; after the vvhich, there followeth a loud noife or rumbling , or God thundereth with the voice of his excellency ; the which when it is heard, is not found. Auiihe{im\\Joh^cnm tremor e voCi:m,feu loqueUm ,vel elocj:{tum ah ore ejus e jreAiens , qHodfub loto C'jelo dirigit & lucemf.iper terminos vel or as terrx. Pofi earn rugnfi/Miti*}, tonatvoce extellemit [n£ , & mninvefiig^mr cum auditAfucrit vox eipts. Hear with tremhlirig; he direUeth the voice, fpeech, or eloquence, proceeding from his mottth, under the whole heavens, and his light over the ends of the earth , ^fter him roarcth a found , he thundereth with the voice of his excellency, the which when it is heat ii^ not found.
To conclude . it is moft apparent by this which is already faid , that the opinion of thePeripateticks , as well Chrittian as Ethnick, is molt inconfiderate and erro- neous, in averring, that the lightnings are hot and dry exhalations, extratSed out of the earth, and elevated on high, even unto the middle region of th.; aire, by the ac- traiSivevertueoftheSun, and that they being in;.luded into a dowd , andkindkd, partlyby the coUilion or knocking together of other clowds, and partly by the coldnefs of the place , d' by the eruption of their flames caufe the thunders, I would have every wife Chriliian to obferve duely , by what hath already been faid, wh.uher themyliery of atempeltand whirl wind do confui and Itand upon a thing of fo fmall moment, and poor efteem, as Anjtoile would make us believe ; or if ic arife not out of a far more profound and infctutableabyfle or profundity , eefng ,,that the lightnings' are reported by truth it fell, tobe fuch fiery lights of God, as iffucorproteed from' his throne, and the thunders are julily termed , the voice, word, and eloquence of JEHOVA. And for this reafon, JEHOVA reprehending the boldnefsofthefe kind of worldly Philofophers which prefume fotar tocen- fujr^hisinfcrutable anions, or to dive into the depth of his mylieries, touching theeffeiitiallcaufes of thefe meteors, without the warrant and aiTiftanceof Gods Spirit, and fallly to make the world believe , that his hidden andabftrufefecretsare effected after their vain imaginations , (which vanifh in the conclulion, and be- come as nothing, becaufeindeed they are grounded on nothing elfe, but foolii'h and felf-conceited phantafies and vanities) feemeth to utter unto them thefe fpee- ches: Auribus percipite^ & confiderdie mirabili^ Deifortis, Nofii cum difponat Deus de lob 38. lUis-iCum fplendeat lux nubis fu£\ Nofli-ne de libramentis denfs nubls mirabilia. Dei
■perfeUifcicntiis ? Qusnam efi via , tjua in partes d'JJiltt lux} Cujus atsro cgrejfa ej} gln^ cies ? yitttfruinamcccLquis genuit^. Quanam via itur Sibi habitat lux, & tenebrarum fibi efi locus ? Perceive with your ears, and confider the marvellous workj of the firor.g Cid. Dofl thou kpotv whenQod difpofeth of them, when the light of his clowd doth fhine forth > Doft thou underfl and the marvails of God , who is per felt in fc fence f , toi ing the bal lancing and fondering of the thick^ clowds } ^'hich is the way in which the lig htnings do sk^p forth, being divided into parts} Out of whofe womi} doth the ice proceed, tr who hiith bigotten the frojl of heaven } Which is the way that direCleth c leadeth untr> the habitation of I ght, and which is the feat of darl^nejfe} This faith JEHOVA, (I fay) the rtrong God, in checking of the vain-glorious wife-men of this world, for their prefumption ; and efpecially he pointer h at the bold Peripateticks, whoprefump- ruoufly profefs, that they of themfelves ( without the teaching of the true wif- dom) do know all thefe things: And yet thewifell amonglt men fpeaketh thus, r. , -Animadverti totum opus Dei , nonpojfe hominem ajfcqui tlludopus cjaodft f'b fole ,
"' '" tjuam laboriofe homo quarat , non tamen affecutum ejj'e ; ijuinetiam fi cogitet fipientijji- mns cognofcere, non tamcn pojfe ajfcqui. I obferved every workjofCod, that man is not a- ble to attain unto that work, which is under the fun, how l,ihorio':fly foevtr be feek^cth .Yea verily, i f the wifejl man thinkjth to know it, he will not be able to attain unto it. By which words, 6' without theconduct ofthefpirit ofwifdom, to attain unto the knowledge of Gods mylieries, which alfo he doth feem to intimate in thefe words; Quishominum Wad, 9. cognofcit confiliam Dei} namratiocinationesmortaliumfant timid
trtiones eorum. Infejlum enim corruptioni corpus aggravat animam,& deprimit terrena habitatio ynettcrn plenam curis multis ; & vix conjicimus ea qutt in terra funt ; {ju£ au» tern in cxHs funt quis invefligavit ? CT* conflium tnum qais noverit,nift ta deder'ts fc.pien~
tiartt
Sed. I. MofakaliPbilofofby. izj
tianf y & m'tfcris fanEium Sfirimm tHum e /ccis alt Jfimis , fte enim correct fumeorum qua, In terns f urn fem:t£ ; itaejfie fapientia fuerinr fai-w^. fVh^t man doth k»orv the conn - fell of Gody for the reaforiin£S ofm^riall men are d3nb^ill , and unJiMe Are their cogt- tttions. Tor the body heme fitbjel} unto corruption ^doth aggravate the fouly a/id an earthly habitAtion doth deprejfe the mind^ which is full of cares. And we do Jcarcely gnejfe at the thinos which are upm the tarth , who is then able to pndom the thin gs which are in hea-^ ver, ? Or who can know thy cor.nfell unlejfethoH jhalt give wifdottt, and fend thy holy Spi- rit from above • fjr bj that means were the ivalcs offuch men oi were ttpcn fhe earth cor- reiied and amended , and therefore were they favcd or preferved by wifdom, O'c. Ouc of which golden words, I gither , fir(t, That the heachen men were ignorant in the myftcries and abltrufe operation"; of God , becaufe they wanted the true fpirit of wifdom, which God revealeth unco his Elect, by the vertuous infufion and influxi- onof his holy Spirit. Next, that for this reafon, the fubjeft of truePhilofophy is not to be found inA ifotlrs works , but in the Book of truth and wifdom , foraf- much as it is a copy of the revealed Word. Thirdly, that it is a great folly for Chri- ftians to feek for the truth, where it is not to be found; I mean, in the works of the pagan Philofophers, and that IS made manifeft, forasmuch as it contradifteth al- together the verity of Scriprures ; and therefore it is pronounced by St. Jamesy to be terrene, animal, and diabolicall. Verbumfaplenti.
CHAP. XIII.
A csnclufion of this worl^y including an admonition H»to alt goodChriJliatts^ to beware of the Ethnich Phi 'ofph/y and to fiicl^ and cleave f^J} unto that which is taught us by the Scriptures , and that for reafons herein fet down.
LEt it now be lawful 1 for me, in the concluding of this Seftion, ( O ye turopit* ans , who feem fo ferioully and zealoufly to fpend your daies in the Chriftian Religion) to turn the fliarpedge of my pen, and the rougher file of my fpeech un- to you, who being too too much feduced by the falf doiirin oi-^rifiotle,ao think and imagine the mereors,but efpecially lightning and thunder,to be a common natural thing , of little or no eRimation at all, as being onely produced of nature, by reafon of ahot diltemperof cheair.I would requelt you, as a trueCbrilHan ought unto hts brethren,to obferve well,and attend with diligence, this admonition which I will for a Farewell beltow upon you , befeeching you not to fcorn or reject my prece- dent aflertion , which hath told and fufficienrly proved unco you, that the light- nings and thunders, yea, and all other meceors , are che immediate works of Gods hand, being that by this endeavour of mine , you may no§ onely bring a comfort and confolation unto your foules, when you hear the terrible voice of the Lord, and make you to call to mind your pafsed fins and iniquities, and to pray him hear- tily to pardon you, and not to call your offences unto an account in his anger; but J®"??* alfo give the honour and glory unto him, who thundering from above , workech marvelloufly.
1 would have you therefore to know, that the worldly wife-men of this our ChrilHan world,who are,as it were,pages or followers of the EthnickPhilofophers, have hitherto blindly, or after the manner of lunatickp;rfons , erred in their im;i- einaticns , forafmuch as they being inftrufted in the blind wifdom of this world, by their Ethnick tutors and dodors , will noc be brought to believe, that God doth work immediately a' 1 things in heaven and in earth, onely by his word ; but mediately,namely,by ochir neceffary natural or fupernatural means,as effential effi- cient caufes;when as the holy Text doth in plain terms inllruit us, that it is one & the felf-fame effence, which doth aft and operate all in all by his word, uling each , Creature onely as his organ or inrtrument , wherein and by theVvhichhe moveth, and worketh his will. Is notthis their tenet or aflertion (I befeech you) altogether oppofite and contradiftory unro the divine authority, which faith , Though there ^j^^ j. j^ bs that are called oods, whether in heaven or in earthy ( as there be many gods and moiry hrds) yet unto m there is but oe God, which is that father, of whom are all things, and r*e in him; and one Lord lefus Chrift, by whom are allthinaj, and we by him. But every man hath not that knowledge, &c ? Out of which words we may gather, that though we worldlings attributethis or that work unto anjels, or ftars, or winds, or a ere- , ated nature, according unto the doilrine of the Ethnick wifdom ; yet fuch true '
R 2 Chtifti-
J 2.4 MoJatcaU fbilojopy. l50ok* 5 .
Chriilbn PhilGfophers as Sc. P'M was, d d acknowledge but one God , of whom proceed all action,; in this worldj and one Word, by wnuhonely , and not by any creature in the world, each thing is im>nediately eff^i£ted in this world. All whuh, alt^'jugh unto realiChriwians it feemeth verity and truth , yet unto the Phllolo- tihers and wilemen of this world, this kind of dodrine , ifsuing from the heavenly wifdom,is rejected and deridedjAnd why? Foriooth becaufe(as the Text doth teach \x%) every man h^th not [hn kj.oiv/edgc ; and the reafon is,becaufe they refpedt more the wifdom ofthis world, which is terrene and animal, and, as St. Pan lairh, meer fooUfhnefs before God, then that whi^h is from above, namely? from the Father of lioht, Etjic cvunuerunc t» imaginatijnib^ts fu'iJ ■,A»d fo ihey did Vi-i»'tjh in their imaginfl- tions. I heartily willi you therefore, which are brought up and made f Amiliar in the holy Bible , andnoucilliedfpiritually , and guided by the law of our Lord Jefus •• Chrirt, to conceive ferioufl y , and perpetually to revolve with your felves, that God created the firlt confUtence of things, namely, the humid and fluid waters, by his word , and they remain in the word, andby the word , in the felf-fjime humid or moillelUte as they did, even unto this very day. AUohe framed out of this fatholick water the heaven and the earth by his word, (as St. /"fffr faith). Again,- 1 pet, 3. j^^ ^^j produce by his faid word the light in heaven , the Sun , the Moon , the Starrs, the day, the night, and all other creatures , and did ordain them to ferve for divers Organs, by the which he might varioufly adl or operate his volunty , as well in heaven above, as m the earth and waters benearh, AH which do move and work in and by the Word. And, in condulion , God by his Wo-d doth exa- ctly and foly operate all in all, as the Apoftle faith : whichbeingfo, I would fain know where is this Phylicall nature of thePsripateticks, unto inewh'nh they af- fign an eflcntiall form of at^ion of it felf andby it felf ? Verily , ic is mo;f appa- Joh. t. rent:, that there is no fuch catholicka6tor, as the Peripateticks do fain: But it is
Ephef. oneonely Word of God; onecarholickChrift, which fillerh all things; onee-
WM. I. ternall Sapience whii:h repleniflieth theworld ; one incorruptible Wifdom which Wild. 12. 1, is in all things , thatonely worketh and effedeth immediately all in all. And therefore it is apparent, that without it nothing can exill and ad.
Forafmu-h therefore as the aire is a part of the celel'tiall confil fence, it follow- eth that it was made by the Word , and that it doth as it were fwin in the Word : Forafmuchasit comprehenderh all things (asin many places of Scripture it isex- prefly let down,) and it is moved and guided by the Word; yea verily, and in the aire, (being it Ls the univerfall Treafury of God) there are many peculiar cabinets, out of the which, by his Word, (which is effected by his ilrong and powerfull An- gels, as Daiid telleth us) hedoth produce divers kinds of Meteors, (as is proved be- fore,) which arecommitted unto the government and prelidentfhip of divers An- gellsor Spiiits, thev^ichalfo are created of aire, and exift in the aire, bythe Word, and therefore move and ad in the Word, or in and by one and the fame di- Ezek. 37. vine Spirit, which the Prophet Ez.el^;el called from thefour winds , to make the dead to live again) by whofe adminiltration (the Word moving them , and opera- ting in them ) all >/«wr«/d»(?;V^fpecies or kinds are brought forth and procreated intheaire; yea, andallrhofe wonderfuU rempeRs, which happenin theworld are efteded or produced. And hereupon it is faid , that he made his Angells winds, ■and his Minilkrs flames of fire. Again. DeicHrruttmdHafi'.ntmyriades,miiItiTy>iU Ffal. 68. I9- liA An^elorttm, Domififff cum illis e(i ^ Domwus Sinai in SanUuario habhans x There are tivomymd', even mayiy thoi4ptnds of An^ells^ the Lord U with thcm^ the Lord of Si~ nai ifJj'ibititigin hts SanUuary, Where he meanethin his apparition in a tempeft, as he did upon the Mount Slua}. Thefe fpirits therefore ( whic h in regard of their externall were made or created of aire, and with the aire ) do exercife their office orMinirtry in theaire, and are by Gods Ordination conveffant about the diredi- onsof Te!npe(ts, Clowds, Rain, Snow, Hail, Froft, Lightning, Thunder, Co- mets, Chafmus, Floods, or Inundations, Heat, Cold, Moyfture, Drowth, and all other Accidents which do appear in the aire. And hereupon it is infifled by the Apoc, 7. Revelatnur, that by the Ordination of God, four Angells were appointed as Pre- lidents over the four winds, of the fourcorners of the earth, unto whom it was afligned to hurt the earth and waters, and trees, and fruits. But there it is faid, that they had not any power to execute their harmfuU or tempefluous violence, on iheearth and warers , tillthe imperious Angell had exxited or moved them unto