19 



CHAP. III. 



THE origin, however, of the generation of man 

 was not derived from the earth, nor that of other 

 animals, nor of plants ; but the proper order of 

 the world being perpetual, it is also necessary that 

 the natures which exist in it, and are aptly ar- 

 ranged, should, together with it, have a never- 

 failing subsistence. For the world primarily al- 

 ways existing, it is necessary that its parts should 

 be co-existent with it: but I mean by its parts, the 

 heavens, the earth, and that which subsists be- 

 tween these ; which is placed on high, and is de- 

 nominated aerial ; for the world does not exist 

 without, but together with, and from these. 



The parts of the world, however, being consub- 

 sistent, it is also necessary that the natures, com- 

 prehended in these parts, should be co-existent 

 with them ; with the heavens, indeed, the sun and 

 moon, the fixed stars, and the planets ; but with 

 the earth, animals and plants, gold and silver; with 

 the place on high, and the aerial region, pneumatic 

 substances and wind, a mutation to that which is 

 more hot, and a mutation to that which is more 

 cold ; for it is the property of the heavens to 

 subsist in conjunction with the natures which it 

 comprehends ; of the earth to support the plants 



