the Hiftorie of Nature. 



A thofc elements by which it hangeth in a coimterballance. Thus it alone reftetti vnmoovcable, 

 \vhiles the whole frame of the V^orld turneth about it : and as it is knit and united by all ^ fo all reft 

 and beare upon the fame. 



^ Of the feuert Planets. 



Erwcene the earth and heaven, there hang in theft me fpirit o'r element of air^ 

 abovenamed/even ftarrcs/evered one from another, and diftanc afunder cer* 

 tainefpaces, which of their variable motion we call wandering planets, where- 

 as indeed none ftray and wander lefle than they, hi the middeftof them the 

 Sunne taketh his courfc,as being the greateft and moft puiffant of all the rel^ i 



^ the very rulerjnot of times andfeafons onely, and of the earth, but alio of the 



Starresand Heaven itfelfe. Beleevewe^ught,thisSunnetobe thcverylife,and(cofpeakemore 

 plainely)che fouleof the whole worldjyeajand the principal! governance of nature : and no kffe I . 

 than a God or divine power,confidering his workes and operations. Heit is chat giveth light to 

 all things,andriddeihthemfromdarkenc(re:hechideth the other ftarres,and(heweth them a- 

 gaine: he ordereththeleafons in their alternative courfe: he tempereih theyeere, arifing evcc 

 frefh and new againe,for the benefice and good of the world.The lowring dimneflc oft he skie he 

 difpatcheth,yea,and cleareth the darke mifts and clowdinefle of mans mind ; to other ftars like- 

 vsife he Icndeth out his owne light. Mod excellent,righ t fingulat hee is,as feeing all^nd hearing 

 all. Forthis,lfee,isthc opinion of ^i'W£r(thc prince oflearning)as touching him alone. 



Chap. VII. 



Suppofe therefore that to fecke after any ifhape of God, and to affignc a 

 forme and image to him^bewraieth mans weakenelTe. For God,wholoever 

 he be [if haply there be any other,but the very world] and in wiiat part fo- 

 ' ever refiantjall fenfe he is,all fightjall hearing ; hee is all life^all foukjall of 

 ' himfelte. And verily to beleeve that there be gods innumerable, and thofe 

 ^ according to mens vertues and vices, to wit, Chaltitie, Concord, Vnd^r- 

 ,sf^ ^ ^1 {landing, Hope, Honour, Clcmencie, Faith 5 or (as Vemcritm was of 

 opirtion)That there are two gods onely,and no morc,namely,Puni{hment5and Benefite : thefe, 

 conceits,! fay ,make mens idienefle and negligence the greater. But all commeth of this.ThaCf 

 fraile and crafie mortall men,rcniembring well their owne infirmitie,have digefted thefe things 

 a part, to the end that each one mighi from thence chule to worfhip and honour that whereof 

 he flood in need moft. And hereupon it is,that in lundrie nations we find the fame gods named 

 diverfly,according to mens devotion : and in one region ye fliall have innumerable gods . The ) 

 infernall powersbsneath likewife,ye3,and many plagues have been raunged by themfelves,and 

 reckoned for gods in their kind » whiles with trembling feare wee defire that they were pacified. 

 Which fuperftition,hath caufed a chappel to be dedicated to the Fever,in the mount Palatium, 

 even by publick order from the State : iikewife an altar to Orbona^ ncere the temple of Lares \ be- 

 fides another ere6led to Bad fortune in Eiquilix. And thereby we may conceive that there are a 

 greater number of gods in heaven above,than of men upon earth : fincc that every one of theiE 

 own accord make fo many gods as they lilf, fitting themielves with hmoes and Gentjioi their pa- 

 trons.Now,certain nations-there be that account beafts,yea,& fome filthy things jfor gods^yeaj 

 and many other matters more fhamefuli to be fpoken : fwearing by flinking meats^ by garlicke, 

 and fuch likc.But furely,to beleeve that gods have conttaded marriage,$c that in fo long conti- 

 nuance of time nochildren fhould bee borne betweene them : alfo that fome are aged, and ever 

 hoarie and gray: others againe young and alwaies children : that they be blacke of colour arid 

 complexion5winged,lame,hatched ot cgs,livingand dyingeach other day ; are mecre foole- 

 rics,litde better than childifh toies.ButitpafTeth and exceedeth all fhameleile impudencie, to 

 imagine adulteries among them : eftfoones alfo chiding3feolding,hatred,and malice: and more 

 than that^how there bee godsj patronesof theft and wickednefTe. Whereasin very deed^ god 



