184 STUDY OF GOD S WORKS. 



LIB. iv. they have a more perfect being ; and therefore have neede 

 of a more perfect foode and nourishment ; for the search 

 whereof, Nature hath given them a moving and feeling to 

 , discover and discerne it. So as the rough and barren earth 

 vis as a substance and nutriment for mettalls ; and that 

 which is fertile and better seasoned a nourishment for 

 plants. The same plants serve as a nourishment for living 

 creatures, and the plants and living creatures together as a 

 nourishment for men ; the inferiour nature alwaies serving 

 for the maintenance and sustentation of the superiour, and 

 the lesse perfect yeelding vnto the more perfect : whereby 

 we may see how much it wants, that gold and silver and 

 other things which men so much esteem e by their covetous- 

 iiesse, should be the happiness of man, wherevnto he should 

 tend, seeing they be so many degrees in qualitie inferior to 

 man, who hath been created and made onely to be a subject 

 to serve the vniversall Creator of all things, as his proper 

 end and perfect rest, and to which man, all other things in 

 this world, were not propounded or left, but to gaine this 

 last end. Afyho so would consider of things created, and 

 discourse according to this Philosophic, might draw some 

 fruite from the knowledge and consideration thereof, making 

 vse of them to know and glorifie their Author. But he 

 that would passe on farther to the knowledge of their pro 

 perties and profits, and would curiously search them out, 

 hee shall finde in these creatures, that which the Wiseman 

 saies, that they are snares and pitfallcs to the feete of 



Sap. xiv. fooles and ignorant, into the which they fall and loose 

 themselves daily. To this intent therefore, and that the 

 Creator may be glorified in his creatures, I pretend to spcake 

 of some things in this Booke, whereof there are many at 

 the Indies worth the report, touching mettalls, plants, and 

 beasts, which are proper and peculiar in those parts. But 

 for that it were a great worke to treate thereof exactly, and 

 requires greater learning and knowledge ; yea, much more 



