28 Of the Advancement of Learning. L i b. I. 



In -iimxa yon hdve fto l{t2on>lecJge of Antiquity , nor Antiquity of Knoveledge : Let 

 us take a view o^xhe Ceremonial Lave of Mofes^ and we Ihallfind (be- 

 fides the prefigu ration of Chrift, the Badge or Difference of the peo- 

 ple of God, from the profane Race of the world j the exercife and ira- 

 preflion of obedience^and other facred ufes and fruits of the fame Law) 

 that feme of the moft learned Rabbins, have travelled profitably 

 and profoundly in the lame, intentively to obferve and extrad, fbine- 



levit. 13. times a Natural^ fometimes a Moral fence of the Ceremonies and Ordi" 

 nances : For example, where it is faid of the Lepro^Qyllf the vehitenefs 

 have over-fpread the fief}}, the Patient may pafs abroad for clean 5 but if 

 there be any whole flejh remaining, he is to befentenced unclean, and to be 

 feparated at the dtfcretion of the Frielf. From this Law one of them 

 collects a Principle in Nature , That TutrijaCiion is more contagious be- 

 fore maturity then after. Another raifeth a Moral inflruftion 5 That men 

 ore fpread with vice, do not fo much corrupt public^ Manners, as thofo 

 that are half evil and but in part only. So that from this and other like 

 places in that Law, there is to be foundjbefides Theological fence;imuch 

 afperfionof Philofophy. 



^ So likewife that excellent Book^ of Job, if it be revolved with di- 

 ligence, it will be found full and pregnant with the lecrets of Natural 



Job ad. Thilofophyj as for example, ofCoJmography, and the roundnefs of the 



. Earth in that place, ^i extendit Aquilonem fupcr vacuum, C^ appendit 



Terram fuper nihilum, where the Penfilenefs of the Earth j the Pole of 



the North; and the Finitenefs or convexity of Heaven, are raanifeftly 



touched. Again, of Jjironomy and Conjiellations , in thofe words. 



Ibid. Spiritus ejus ornavit Ccelos, d^ obifetricante manu ejus eduBus eji colu^ 



^°° 3'' btr tortuofus : And in another place, Canfi thou bind the fweet infiu* 

 enecs of Pleiades^ or loofe the bands of Orion ; where the fetled and 

 immoveable configuration of the firft Stars , ever ftanding at equal di- 

 flance, is with great elegancy defcribed. So in another Place, Which 



Job o. maketh Ar&tirus , Orion and Pleiades and the fecret chambers of the 

 South : Where he again points at the deprefCon of Southern Pole, de- 

 figning it by the name of the fecrets of the South , becaufc the Sou* 

 them Stars are not feen upon our Hemifphere. Matter of Generation 



Job 10. of living Creatures, Hafl thou net poured me out like milkj, and condenfed 

 me li^e Curds .<? Matter of Minerals, Surely there is a Aline for S/ her, and 



job 28. a place wherein Cold is fined -, Iron is digged up out of compared duji, and 

 Brafs extract ed from jione diff'olvcdin the furnace, -and fo forward in the 

 lame Chapter. 



§ So likewife in the pcifon of Solomon the King, we fee the endow- 

 ments of wifdom, both in his Petition and Gods affent thereunto, prefer* 

 ed before all terrene and temporal felicity. By virtue of which Dona- 

 tive and Grant, Solotnon being Angularly furnifht and enabled, not on- 

 ly writ thofe excellent Parables or Aphorifms concerning Divine and. 

 Moral Philofophy ; but alfb compiled a Natural Hijiory of all verdure 



I R.eg.4. or vegetables From the Cedar upon the Afountain, to the Mofs upon the 

 Wall-^ which is but the rudiment of a plant, between putrifaftion 

 and an Herb; and aljo of all things that breath or move. Nay the 

 fame Solomon the King, although he excell'd in treafureand the mag- 

 nificence of Building, of Shipping, and Navigation, of Service and 

 Attendance, of Fame and Renown, and the like train of Glory, he 



reaps 



