The First Book 39 



and half evil. So in this and very many other places in that 

 law, there is to be found, besides the theological sense, 

 much aspersion of philosophy. 



10. So hkewise in that excellent book of Job, if it be revolved 

 with dihgence, it will be found pregnant and sweUing with 

 natural philosophy ; as, for example, cosmography, and the 

 roundness of the world, Qui extendit aquilonem super vacuum, 

 et appendit terrain super nihilum ; ^ wherein the pensileness 

 of the earth, the pole of the north, and the finiteness or 

 convexity of heaven are manifestly touched. So again, 

 matter of astronomy ; Spiritus ejus ornavit coelos, et ohstetri- 

 cante manu ejus eductus est coluber tortuosus} And in another 

 place ; Nunquid conjungere valebis micantes Stellas Pleiadas, 

 aut gyrum Arcturi poteris dissipare?^ Where the fixing of 

 the stars, ever standing at equal distance, is with great 

 elegancy noted. And in another place, Quifacit Arcturum, 

 et Oriona, et Hyadas, et interior a Austri ;* where again he 

 takes knowledge of the depression of the southern pole, 

 calling it the secrets of the south, because the southern stars 

 were in that climate unseen. Matter of generation ; Annon 

 sicut lac mulsisti me, et sicut caseum coagulasti me? etc.^ 

 Matter of minerals; Hahet argentum venarum suarum 

 principia : et auro locus est in quo conflatur, ferrum de terra 

 iollitur, et lapis solutus calore in as vertitur : ® and so for- 

 wards in that chapter. 



11. So likewise in the person of Salomon the King, we see the 

 gift or endowment of wisdom and learning, both in Salo- 

 mon's petition and in God's assent thereunto, preferred 

 before all other terrene and temporal felicity.' By virtue 

 of which grant or donative of God Salomon became enabled 

 not only to write those excellent Parables or Aphorisms 

 concerning divine and moral philosophy ; but also to com- 

 pile a Natural History of all verdure, from the cedar upon 

 the mountain to the moss upon the wall, (which is but a 

 rudiment between putrefaction and a herb,)® and also of 

 all things that breathe or move.® Nay, the same Salomon 

 the King, although he excelled in the glory of treasure and 

 magnificent buildings, of shipping and navigation, of service 

 and attendance, of fame and renown, and the like, yet he 



* Job. xxvi. 7. • xxvi. 13. • xxxviii. 31. 



• ix. 9. » X. 10. • xxviii. i. 



» I Kings iii. 5, seq. • Nov. Org. ii. 30. • i Kings iv. 33. 



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