XVI 



we see the stars surround the earth, the orbs 

 beyond dispute immure the stars ; but the 

 heavens encircling both the orbs and ele- 

 ments, plainly demonstrate that from the 

 divinest, every created individual has both 

 ends and means naturally and specifically 

 appropriated to it self, whereby to make it 

 visible ; and visibility terminates in time. 

 Which notion, to explain in a philosophical 

 sense, seems to imply, that both matter and 

 form results in their own proper and natu- 

 ral beginning. Know therefore that cor- 

 ruption is the child of putrefaction, and pu- 

 trefaction is the prison and sepulchre of 

 death ; death therefore precedes the resur- 

 rection, and the resurrection is the clavis 

 that opens eternity. 



But, gentlemen, pray excuse me if I wan- 

 der too far from the water-side, to gaze and 

 admire these glorious metaphors, the divine 

 oracles of him that made them, so not on- 

 ly lose my opportunity of angling, but en- 

 danger to lose my self in these solitary me- 

 anders ; rarely frequented and trod by the 

 vulgar. Give me leave therefore to retrieve 



